This year the 48th annual Festival’s focus is on expanded activities – bringing a whole season of enjoyment, in hopes that people will see the lights at Bushnell Park and Constitution Plaza and come downtown over and over again.

See photos from the kick-off tree lighting event on November 26

SKATING IN THE PARK

Construction is already underway for a skating rink in the park that will open December 10 and offer free public skating and free skate rentals through January 6.

Mayor Pedro E. Segarra will host the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the rink on Friday, December 10 at 4 p.m. The Hartford Public High School Show Choir will perform. Following the ceremony public skating will be open until 6 pm, and from 7 – 9 pm. International champion skaters will perform a skating show from 6 – 7 pm.

Beginning on December 11 and continuing until January 6, public skating hours will open at 11 am every day. Here is the detailed schedule:

School Vacation week:

• Monday – Thursday Dec. 27 – 30:  11 am – 8 pm
• Friday Dec. 31 (First Night):  11 am – 6 pm & 7 pm – 1:00 am  |  Champion skating show 6 – 7 pm

Holiday skating hours:

• Christmas Eve (Dec 24) and Christmas Day (Dec 25) 11 am – 5 pm.
• New Years Eve – First Night (Dec 31) until 1 am
• New Years Day (Jan 1) 11 am – 9 pm

See photos of the rink under construction 

Stop in and See Santa

Bring the whole family down to the Bushnell Park Pump House to meet Santa and donate a new, unwrapped gift to Toys For Tots. Santa will be in the park following the ribbon cutting on December 10 until 7 pm and on December 11 and 12 from 2 – 5 pm.

Take a break from the cold to enjoy free cocoa and cookies provided by Center Church. These will be served in the ground level dining room of the Center Church House, 60 Gold Street, on Fridays, December 3, 10, and 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

This year’s Hartford Festival of Light® is a city-wide collaborative event, presented by the City of Hartford, in partnership with the Greater Hartford Arts Council, The Bushnell, and The Whale. Thanks to funding from many of the region’s corporations and foundations, Hartford Festival of Light will offer a full season of enjoyment for everyone. And best of all, it’s free.

Happy Holidays and We'll See You at the Park!