Plans are underway for Celebrate! West Hartford to return in its traditional format in June 2022.

32nd Annual Celebrate West Hartford. June 9-10, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s signature festival will be back in its traditional, in-person format in June 2022, and organizers are very grateful to PeoplesBank, which has already expressed support for the event as presenting sponsor with a contribution of $10,000.

After two years of COVID-19 modified events, including virtual road races in 2020 and 2021, and an online arts and crafts show in 2021, Celebrate! West Hartford will return to the grounds of Town Hall on June 11 and 12, 2022, with plans to include live versions all of the elements traditionally enjoyed by festival-goers: the award-winning arts and crafts show, carnival rides and games, live music, a diverse food court, and expo booths for nonprofits and local businesses.

Sunday morning, June 12, will also feature the FUNd RUNS, live and in person, with a certified 5K road race as well as a half-mile dash for kids.

Linda Geisler, event director of Celebrate! West Hartford, is thrilled to not only be confidently planning for the return of the complete event after two years of cancellations and modifications, but also to have the support of PeoplesBank, which recently expanded into West Hartford with the opening of a branch at 102 LaSalle Rd.

“PeoplesBank is the first Presenting Sponsor in Celebrate! West Hartford’s 35 year history,” Geisler said. “This sponsorship is the largest single contribution the event has ever received. To me that says, PeoplesBank is very community-minded, and its leadership wants to make an impact on this town.”

Having the support of PeoplesBank, and other sponsors, is an important indication that Celebrate! West Hartford is still an eagerly-anticipated event that remains vital to the community.

Sponsorship is critical to the success of the event, which is free to attend, Geisler said. “Celebrate! West Hartford cannot happen without sponsors. Tax dollars are not used to pay for the tents and the bands and the many different vendors hired to perform services for the festival. It must be a financially self-sustaining event. We are fortunate that many local businesses offer financial support year-after-year which is why we can have an award-winning event.”

“We have found the town, the businesses and the residents of West Hartford to be so welcoming to us, and we are happy to support a fun, free event for everyone to enjoy,” Matthew Bannister, SVP of Corporate Responsibility for PeoplesBank, said in a statement. “The fact that proceeds help to fund important local causes makes this an even better fit for us.”

Celebrate! West Hartford attracts as many as 40,000 people per year of all ages who attend the myriad family-friendly events that take place over the course of the festival weekend. A portion of proceeds from the event are donated to benefit The Town That Cares Fund as well as the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund, both of which benefit residents in need.

According to Geisler, “the festival has won the Hartford Magazine’s readers choice award for best festival many times and garnered a Top 200 Best Craft Show national ranking from Sunshine Artists magazine several times.”

Any business or individual interested in sponsorship opportunities or participation as a nonprofit exhibitor or as an arts and crafts show vendor can find more information on the website www.CelebrateWestHartford.com or by calling 860-561-7512.

More information about PeoplesBank can be found at BankAtPeoples.com.

Celebrate! West Hartford director Linda Geisler (left) with presenting sponsor PeoplesBank representatives including (from left) Assistant Manager Kris Lueke, Banking Center Operations Specialist Kevin Hernandez, Regional Manager Roma Odedra, Banking Center Specialist Karmeliz Camacho, and Mortgage Loan Officer Eric Coutinho. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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