West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka joined Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and others at the Bushnell Park Skating Rink, which will officially open to the public on Nov. 28, 2014.

From left: West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, Bob Crawford of Champions Skating, and iQuilt Chairwoman Bonnie Malley. Submitted photo.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Mayoar Scott Slifka helped launch Winterfest Hartford 2014/2015 Thursday at the soon-to-be-open skating rink in Bushnell Park. Slifka joined Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra as well as iQuilt Chairwoman Bonnie Malley and Bob Crawford from Champions Skating to kick off the winter season just hours before the area saw its first flakes of snow.

According to a news release, last year more than 100,000 people from throughout the area participated in Winterfest. The festival featured free skating and free skate rentals, as well as a free learn-to-skate program at the Bushnell Park rink. The rink will officially open to the public at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 and will remain open through Feb. 1, 2015.

In addition to the skating rink, Winterfest Hartford includes music and arts programs and family-oriented activities. For more information, click here.

The Winterfest Hartford rink in Bushnell Park will be open from 4:30 until 10 p.m. on opening night, and daily from noon until 8 p.m. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day the rink will be open from noon until 4 p.m. and on New Year’s from noon on Dec. 31, 2014 until 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015.

There is a fundraising component associated with Winterfest, and according to the news release, “the public is encouraged to donate new or gently used hats, gloves and scarfs and bring them to the skate shack at the Bushnell Park skating rink anytime throughout the Winterfest season.” The iQuilt partnership will also accept financial donations to support its programming at: https://www.crowdrise.com/winterfesthartford2014/fundraiser/iquiltpartnershipinc.