Celebrate! West Hartford returned for its 37th year for a fun-filled weekend of food, art, music, rides, games, and more June 8-9, 2024.
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Bridget Bronsdon
The start of summer wouldn’t be complete without the long cherished Celebrate! West Hartford tradition featuring delicious foods, dozens of artisans, carnival rides, music, games, and more. As residents know all too well there’s nothing quite like the weekend of Celebrate! as the Town Hall grounds come alive to welcome an estimated 40,000 guests from in and out of state.
As always, the festival had something for everyone. Whether it was a ride on the ferris wheel, a shopping spree in the arts and crafts booths, or cooling off with a snowcone, the weekend was one to remember.
This year, the festival hosted over 150 remarkable artisans for the time-honored arts and crafts show. Rows of tents lined South Main Street displaying handmade clothing, paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, woodwork, and anything imaginable. From birdhouses to windchimes to home decor, there were enough options to keep guests browsing for hours.
While some shopped, others enjoyed the carnival attractions and for many West Hartford kids, what could be better than winning a green blowup alien and sporting face paint? There were rides and games for the whole family as guests enjoyed the carousel, a rock wall, miniature golf, a petting zoo, and more. Nonprofit and business exhibits also offered prizes, giveaways and freebies.
As for food, guests certainly didn’t go hungry. More than 20 diverse vendors lined the grounds to offer everything from classic burgers to traditional Thai cuisine. Whether it was crab, falafel tacos, bubble tea, iced coffee, or kettle corn, Celebrate! had it. Guests also made sure to leave room for dessert as the vendors offered every sweet treat imaginable, deep fried oreos, fried dough and ice cream galore.
While event-goers stopped for a bite, Celebrate! had a wide range of musical guests and featured West Hartford’s middle and high school bands and other performing groups on Saturday and professional musicians on Sunday.
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
After much hard work from vendors and volunteers, another incredible year of Celebrate! West Hartford is complete.
Take a look at some weekend highlights below!
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Bridget Bronsdon
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Scenes from Celebrate! West Hartford. June 8-9, 2024. Photo credit: Helen Rubino-Turco
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West Hartford looks much more fun now than when I lived there 1942-1965.