10th annual Winterfest to kick off Nov. 29
Photo | Contributed
The 13th annual Winterfest Hartford begins Friday, Nov. 24.
Hartfrod’s Winterfest is scheduled to kick off next week, marking the start of the holiday season and free ice skating in downtown Hartford.
The iQuilt Partnership, a nonprofit that oversees Winterfest activities, said Thursday the Bushnell Park ice skating rink will open Friday, Nov. 29, and continue until Jan. 20. That’s a longer run date than last year, when the rink was open for 45 days and drew 80,000 skaters and spectators to the city.
“We would not be able to bring this amazing family activity back to the Capital City without the generous support of local foundations, the corporate community and the many individuals who give to make Winterfest a reality,” said Jim Carter, chair of the iQuilt Partnership board.
Last year’s Winterfest raised more than $250,000. Winterfest has already raised $303,000 for this year's event and has a fundraising goal of $310,000, a spokeswoman for the event said Friday.
In recent years, due to cuts in the city's budget, the rink lost a significant portion of its government funding, forcing corporations, foundations and individuals to step up and underwrite the event.
Highlights of this year’s schedule include:
- Free/open skating daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Free learn-to-skate classes are offered on Saturdays beginning Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- A weekend game room.
- Free photos with Santa Claus on Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas.
- The Bushnell Park carousel will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of Winterfest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. offering rides for $2.
- A carol sing on Dec. 12th on the steps of UConn Hartford on Prospect Street.
Winterfest sponsors to date include: Launc[H], Travelers, United Bank Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Eversource, Bissell Foundation, The Hartford, LAZ Parking, Comcast/NBC/Telemundo, Roggi’s Automotive, People’s United Bank, Max Cares Foundation, Community Health Solutions, Hartford Steam Boiler, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Robinson & Cole, Global Atlantic Financial Services, SINA, Reid & Riege, Betty Knox Foundation, Gaylord Hospital, Freed Marcroft, Bushnell Park Foundation, Nassau Re, and blumshapiro.
Winterfest’s media sponsor is NBC/Telmundo.
Other partners include: the MetroHartford Alliance, the Hartford Business Improvement District, Business for Downtown Hartford, the City of Hartford, Coursey & Co., and the New England Carousel Museum.
The rink is constructed and operated by Champions Skating.
This story has been updated to include fundraising totals
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments