Portions of several West Hartford roadways will be closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday, Aug. 30 for the annual ‘block party on wheels.’

By Ronni Newton

The West Hartford community will once again be able to “take to the streets” on their bikes, scooters, strollers, or feet for the ninth annual Center Streets block party, hosted by Bike West Hartford and scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cycling, strolling, rollerblading, skating, and dancing – or sitting and watching from a local restaurant – will all be encouraged at the open street festival which will allow attendees to experience West Hartford Center in an “open streets” festival environment, organizers said. The event typically draws between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees over the course of the four hours.

It will also be easier to get to this year’s event without driving, because Center Streets will also be the occasion for the official opening of the new two-way bike lane built that has been under construction this summer on Farmington Avenue between Trout Brook Drive and Main Street. “After testing a safe connection between the Trout Brook Trail the last two years, thanks to Town of West Hartford, this year will debut a permanent connection on the north side of Farmington Avenue  from Trout Brook Drive to Main Street! That connection was used by hundreds of bike riders the past two years,” said Ethan Frankel of Bike West Hartford.

The “block party on wheels” is open to folks of all ages, but although two- and three-wheeled devices are very much encouraged – and of course unicycles would also be welcome – motorized four-wheelers are not permitted in the blocked off area for the car-free Center Streets morning.

Center Streets started in 2016, and was inspired by New York City’s “Summer Streets,” where for three Saturdays in August seven miles of Park Avenue are shut down to car traffic. West Hartford was the first town in Connecticut to host this type of event, said Frankel.

Thanks to the assistance of West Hartford Police and the Department of Public Works, the parts of Farmington Avenue, South Main Street, Memorial Road Extension, and LaSalle Road that form a rectangular loop through the center business district will be closed to vehicle traffic for the duration, allowing participants to ride their bikes, scooters, or walk in roadways free from automobiles.

Three bands – Urban Escape Plan, Hartford Hot Several, and a surprise local group – will provide live music, and giant puppets will roam the streets. The MDC water truck will provide fresh water and CTDOT will provide bike safety training during the event. Play It Again Sports will also have representatives on hand to fill tires and make minor adjustments to bikes.

A children’s play area will feature various games and activities such as hula hoops and chalk drawing, and there will also be an ebike display area.

“Center Streets is for all ages. It is free thanks to Bike West Hartford and many generous donors, especially Metro Realty, Doro Restaurant Group, and Peoples Bank. Other top donors were Franklin & Frankel Law Firm and Recover Together. Thank you as well to Bergenn Financial, West Hartford Orthodontics, Mozz & Co, Mathnasium, and Focus,” organizers said.

Center Streets has become a highly-anticipated end-of-summer tradition for many town residents. The event is the signature community initiative of Bike West Hartford, Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes bicycle-friendly policies, programs, and infrastructure in town.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.