The festival marks the nation’s semiquincentennial with free and ticketed events across Hartford’s most iconic venues.

Submitted

The City of Hartford will host Long Weekend, a five-day citywide festival from July 1 through July 5, 2026, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through film, music, culture and technology. The event is Hartford’s answer to America’s 250th offering something for everyone, from families looking to enjoy the long weekend to history buffs seeking to commemorate the milestone in meaningful and thought-provoking ways.

Hartford will become a living stage across its most iconic venues including Connecticut’s Old State House, the Wadsworth Atheneum – the oldest continually operating public art museum – and Bushnell Park. Artists, filmmakers, musicians, technologists, chefs and neighbors will gather to explore the American story: where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.

“Two hundred and fifty years of American history runs right through Hartford, and Long Weekend is our invitation to the whole region to come experience it together. Whatever brings you here – the concerts, the fireworks, the food, the conversation – there’s a place for you,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “We’re offering five days of cultural experiences that will culminate in what I believe will be my and my family’s favorite event – America’s Potluck.”

The festival includes music tributes to Woody Guthrie and Jenny Lind, a film festival organized by West Hartford residents Jane Owen – founder of a global public relations business – and filmmaker Fernando Ferro, featuring five films with connections to Connecticut including Mystic Pizza and Revolutionary Road. There will also be live theater, historic talks and salons, the state’s largest fireworks display, and America’s Potluck community dinner. Many events are free and open to the public.

Along with numerous free events, six festival badges are available for purchase offering different curated experiences around the festival’s music, film, and tech & conversation tracks. Tickets and full event information are available at LongWeekendHartford.com.

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