Winterfest

Presented by the iQuilt partnership and the City of Hartford. Winterfest is a free, public ice-skating rink under the canopy of historic Bushnell Park.  The festival will officially open on Friday, November 23, 2012 with a festive procession starting at the Memorial Arch at 5:15 p.m. and will end at the skating rink site for a brief speaking program, a skating show and a carol sing.  Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, First Lady Cathy Malloy, and iQuilt Vice Chair David Fay will participate in the program. The rink will run daily through Monday, January 21, 2013. Last year 50,000 people from throughout the region enjoyed free skating and winter festivities.

This year there is a bigger rink and once again, ice time will be 45-minute intervals and the wristband system will be used.  Public skating hours are from 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon - 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Holidays the schedule will be Christmas Eve and Christmas  -- noon to 4:00 p.m. On New Years Eve/ First Night Hartford the rink will be open from noon to 1:00 a.m. Every Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. there will be a free Ice Skating Performance featuring figure skaters from throughout the region.

The Bushnell Park Carousel will be operating on opening night from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday’s and Sunday’s,  November 24 – December 30 from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.($1 per ride)

The Pump House Gallery in Bushnell Park will host free pictures and a visit with Santa Claus on opening night from 5:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday’s and Sunday’s through noon- 3:00 p.m. through December 23, 2012.