The 39th Celebrate! West Hartford returns on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, and here’s a guide to what you need to know. PDFs of the complete festival program as well as a list of vendors can be found below.

By Ronni Newton

For nearly four decades, crowds have flocked to West Hartford in early June for the town’s signature festival, and the not-to-be-missed event, which began in 1987, has grown from a small town fair to what is now a two-day event that includes something for everyone.

Now in its 39th year, Celebrate! West Hartford will be held on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 7, from noon to 6 p.m. on the grounds of Town Hall.

When it began, Celebrate! was a one-day event, but it has now evolved into an award-winning festival that according to estimates regularly attracts an estimated 40,000 people during the course of its two-day run – town residents, people from throughout Connecticut, and tourists who come to West Hartford specifically to enjoy the great food, fun, music, crafts, and exhibits of civic and community resources that the festival has to offer.

“Community spirit is at the core of Celebrate! West Hartford. It’s what makes the event so special,” said Linda Geisler, event organizer. “Artists and athletes, businesses and nonprofits, and people of all ages come together in a fun and festive atmosphere. Whether you’re running your first 5K, buying a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, playing mini-golf, seeking thrills on one of the rides, or dancing along to the music, you’re part of something bigger – helping neighbors through every ticket, ride, or race bib,” she said of the event, that is not only fun but also benefits the The Town That Cares and the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund.

“Over the years, Celebrate! West Hartford’s donation to the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund has helped enable children from low-income households to attend summer programs that would otherwise be out of reach,” said Helen Rubino-Turco, director of Leisure Services and Social Services. “This program has a profound impact – both immediate and long-term – on children, families, and communities.  Each contribution helps break economic barriers, exposing kids to nature, teamwork, and confidence-building experiences that can shape their development for years to come.”

Attendance of course depends entirely on the weather – but the event will go on – rain or shine – as long as the weather is not potentially dangerous.

With a great line-up of music, more than 150 arts and crafts exhibitors, 26 food vendors, and the return of Smokey’s Greater Shows – which participated for the first time in 2025 – operating the carnival and Midway, there is something for everyone. “They’re a very family-friendly operation,” Geisler said of Smokey’s Greater Shows. There will be 10 rides, she said, and the giant gondola will be back.

“Celebrate! West Hartford wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and volunteers, whose dedication and generosity bring the event to life each year,” said event Co-Chair Marsha Jacobskind. “We’re excited to see all of our sponsors on the grounds of Town Hall, and appreciate their support in making this a beloved community celebration every year.”

“The Celebrate West Hartford Festival is truly representative of West Hartford, inclusive of the families, businesses and town departments that make the town so popular, said event Co-Chair Peter Travers, who also chairs the FUNd RUNS committee. “With amusement park rides, a food court, live entertainment, 150 select arts & crafts vendors and a Sunday 5K road race, there is something for everyone. Proceeds of festival benefit the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund, enabling kids in need to go to summer camp, as well as the Town That Cares fund, which provides temporary financial assistance to neighbors in times of crisis.  Admission to the grounds is free and we look forward to having visitors from around the region each year!”

Mayor Shari Cantor is excited for the return of the annual festival. “On behalf of the Town of West Hartford, I am delighted to welcome everyone back to town for the 39th annual Celebrate! West Hartford,” Cantor said. “This signature event draws people from all over the region to our town to enjoy the festival and while they are here, to experience first-hand the dynamics that make West Hartford an award-winning place to live. Come and have a great time,” she said.

Celebrate! West Hartford is open to the public and is held rain or shine. There is no admission charge and ample parking is available. More information can be found at www.celebratewesthartford.com. A PDF of the complete program guide can also be found below.

Here’s what you can expect to find at this year’s Celebrate! West Hartford.

Juried Arts & Crafts Show

Celebrate! West Hartford has developed a national reputation, and is a multi-year winner of Sunshine Arts Top-200 Best Shows in the country. Master artists and crafters come to Celebrate! West Hartford from up and down the East Coast.

This year’s juried show will feature the original works of more than 150 master artists and crafters from all over the country, offering shoppers an eclectic array of items including jewelry; pottery; photography; fine art; wood, metal, and stone work; personal care items; and more that can be purchased directly from their creators.

“We strive to curate a show that includes something for everyone and includes diverse art forms,” said Arts & Crafts Show Director Rebecca Holmes, who spent several months reviewing applications from potential exhibitors. “Items offered are unique and one-of-a-kind; only the original work of the participating exhibitor may be sold. It’s a great place to find unique gifts and special items for yourself.”

Once again, there were more applications from vendors – a record 205 – than spaces available, and Holmes encourages those who were disappointed at not getting in to apply early for the 2027 show. While many of the vendors have returned from past years, “We are pleased to welcome new artists who will provide diversity and new items for visitors to enjoy,” Holmes said.

The Arts and Crafts show will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

A list of vendors is published on the Celebrate! West Hartford website and included in a PDF below, and programs listing the artists and crafters, their works, and their locations will be available at all three information booths, including a booth located in the arts and crafts area on South Main Street.

New this year is a NextGen Innovators pop-up market. Nine student entrepreneurs will offer their creations on Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m. on the sidewalk sidewalk along Memorial Road.

Food

Calories don’t count at festivals.

Even if you don’t start out hungry, the smells coming from the 26 food vendors at Celebrate! West Hartford will get your taste buds excited.

“There aren’t enough hours of the festival to enjoy the full array of food at Celebrate!” said Geisler. Over the years there has been an increase in food trucks rather than tents, which has increased the ability to offer more extensive menus.

Geisler said there were many applications by potential vendors for this years festival, and the committee chose many that are local businesses as well as nonprofits.

In addition to traditional festival favorites like fried dough, ice cream, kettle corn, hamburgers and hotdogs, shaved ice, and fresh lemonade, visitors can choose from a wide range of ethnic foods including Tibetan, Greek, Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, and Jamaican offerings.

The selections include vegan and gluten-free options as well.

Come for lunch, stay for dinner. There are more than 100 menu choices in the food court, as well as food like soft serve ice cream and fried dough available within the carnival area.

Vendors include:

• Banh Meee – Beef Banh Mi; Spicy Garlic Noodles, Dumplings, Boba tea
• Beef & Fowl – Hot roast beef, Brisket, Chicken sandwiches, Fries
• Ben & Jerry’s* – Ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, soda, water
• Chompers – Fried Two-Bite Balls
• Crave – J’s Crabshack – Lobster roll (hot or cold), Clam strips, Fried shrimp
• Cuckoo’s Hawaiian Shave Ice – various flavors and toppings
• Flavors* – Caribbean-inspired menu, drinks, desserts
• Good Ole Boys Lemonade – Fresh Squeezed Drinks
• Grandpa’s Kettle Korn – Kettle Korn
• Greater Hartford Host Lions Club – French Fries with seasonings; soft drinks, water
• Happy Tail Coffee* – Coffee, Matcha, breads, cookies, banana bread
• Harry’s Bishops Corner* – Cheese and Pepperoni pizza slices, including gluten-free options, drinks
• Hoffman Bread – Bread, croissants, danishes
• Prime Concessions – Italian sausage, cheesesteak, chicken pita/gyro, corn dogs
• Rotary Club of West Hartford – Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and drinks
• Sultan Kebab LLC – beef gyro, chicken gyro, falafel, quesadilla
• Sweet Chilli* – BBQ chicken, Pad Thai, fried rice, orange chicken
• TasteHouse Food Truck* – Chopped and loaded sandwiches, plantains, fries, Puerto Rican fusion
• The Bridge Family Center* – Avery’s soda and bottled water
• The Green Teahouse* – Iced tea
• The Kitchen at Futures Inc.* – Flavored iced teas, sweetened and unsweetened
• Tibetan Peace Seeding Center – Vegetable, beef, and chicken momo (dumpling), drinks
• Veegmyeats – Vegan sweets, Cupcakes, Cookies, Cheesecake slices
• Urban Elote – Mexican street corn, Drinks
• Vinci’s Concessions – Fried dough, lemonade, strawberry lemonade, bottled water, soda
• World’s Best Sundae, Inc.* – Soft ice cream cups/cones/sundaes, floats, frozen cappuccino

(* indicates gluten-free options available)

Carnival Rides and Games – plus some fun freebies

Maybe this part should have come before the section about food, but for many young and young-at-heart, the carnival rides are the best part of Celebrate! West Hartford.

Maine-based and family-friendly Smokey’s Greater Shows returns for the second year and will operate 10 different rides and an assortment of midway games, providing exciting fun for people of all ages. “We are especially looking forward to the 90-foot Gondola Wheel,” Geisler said.

Credit cards will be accepted for purchase of ride tickets.

Young children will enjoy the petting farm. “In a reflection of the times, West Hartford Solar is the sponsor this year,” said Geisler.

Folks of all ages can also enjoy the chance to try for a hole-in-one at West Hartford’s own recently-refurbished 9-hole mini golf course. Each hole of the course replicates a well-known landmark such as the West Hartford Town Hall, the First Church Congregational, Noah Webster House, the Westmoor Park Barn, and a West Hartford fire truck.

Many are focused on living a healthy lifestyle – which includes bicycling, and those who choose to cycle to Celebrate! West Hartford can find secure bicycle parking on Burr Street courtesy of Bike West Hartford. There will be no fee, but donations will be welcomed. For more information on Bike West Hartford, visit www.bikewesthartford.org.

Nonprofit and Business Exhibitors

There are more than 50 sponsors and about 100 businesses overall that serve the local community and that have reserved tent space at Celebrate! West Hartford once again this year. Visitors to the event can stop by the booths to learn more about the organizations.

There are plenty of free activities at the nonprofit and sponsor booths as well, ranging from coloring pages and puzzles, raffles, martial arts challenges, games to win prizes, and loads of giveaways.

PeoplesBank is again the presenting sponsor of Celebrate! with a $10,000 donation to the festival. Their booth is the first one when you enter the festival grounds, and Geisler said be sure to stop by for a free bag of popcorn.

“The businesses and non-profit organizations exhibiting at Celebrate! will offer lots of different family-friendly activities, giveaways, contests and games,” said Geisler. Exhibitors include health and wellness businesses like medical and mental health practices; recreation organizations including tennis, fitness, and youth programs; religious groups, environment and sustainability businesses. “EnergizeCT will have a display showing how homeowners can make smart energy choices, and Sienna Private Wealth will have piggy bank decorating for kids,” she added.

A map showing the locations of all of the exhibitors can be found on the website, as a PDF below, and printed copies will also be included in the Celebrate! West Hartford program that will be available at the Information Booths both days of the festival.

America 250

In recognition of the country’s 250th birthday, special activities and exhibits will be included at this year’s Celebrate! West Hartford. They include:

• Free “I love America” activity book
• Craft projects such as Betsy Ross 5-point star and popsicle stick flag
• Collection box to respectfully retire worn and torn American flags
• Display of 80 international flags representing countries where West Hartford residents are from

Music

Music is an important part of Celebrate! West Hartford, and the main stage will feature a variety of entertainment throughout the two-day festival.

On Saturday, the showmobile stage will feature a variety of ensembles from West Hartford’s schools, beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting through 6 p.m. Sunday’s will kick off with a performance by RipChord – 102nd CT Army National Guard Band, which is stationed in Rockville and performs a variety of musical styles. Two other professional groups offering a variety of musical styles.

Geisler noted that one of the most beloved traditions of this event is performances by West Hartford music students on Saturday. “After 39 years, by now multiple generations of some families have taken the stage on Saturday to showcase their talents. The crowds supporting the school jazz bands are sure to be well-entertained. This is the longest concert many of these students play all year. It is a culmination of their year-long learning, practice and work together. It’s a special way to end their year,” she said.

“The bands on Sunday have great regional followings,” added Geisler. “The KC Sisters are four young women from Avon who have been performing together since they were young and were featured on Nickelodeon’s ‘America’s Most Musical Family.’ All are graduates of Trinity College, and the band includes their father, an accomplished keyboardist.”

Closing out the festival on Sunday will be Locomotion, a regional favorite dance band that has performed many times in West Hartford. This is their first time at Celebrate! West Hartford, Geisler said.

For those strolling through the arts and crafts area, Sergei Novikov will provide music throughout Saturday and Sunday.

The schedule of musical performances (at press time) features:

Saturday, June 6

• 10-10:45 a.m. Northwest Catholic Band and Jazz Singers
• 11-11:45 a.m. Bristow Middle School Big Band
• noon-12:45 p.m. King Philip Middle School Jazz Band
• 1-1:45 p.m. Sedgwick Middle School Jazz Band
• 2-2:30 p.m. Conard High School BeS#arp
• 2:45-4:15 p.m. Hall High School Jazz Ensemble and Concert Jazz Band
• 4:30-6 p.m. Conard High School Jazz Band and Concert Jazz Band

Sunday, June 7

• Noon-1:30 p.m. RipChord, 102nd CT Army National Guard Band
• 2-3:30 p.m The KC Sisters
• 4-6 p.m. Locomotion

Road Races

In 2024, organizers charted a brand new course for the 5K, which for years had headed south along Raymond Road and then through the Webster Hill neighborhood. The route change was initially prompted by safety considerations to avoid having to cross Park Road near the I-84 interchange, but the new USATF-certified course also gives participants a chance to experience a different West Hartford neighborhood as the route heads north through the Center before turning east and heading to the picturesque new Trout Brook Trail.

The FUNd RUNS, which will be held on Sunday morning, June 7, 2026, are part of West Hartford’s signature Celebrate! West Hartford two-day outdoor festival – with the named changed from the former “Road Races” during the pandemic to emphasize the charitable nature.

The non-timed Kids K begins at 8 a.m. in Blue Back Square and includes medals for all participants. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. in front of the Noah Webster Library, and offers prizes in 10 age divisions as well as to overall male and female winners and West Hartford male and femail winners.

“The Celebrate! West Hartford 5K FundRun is a certified 5K taking participants through much of what makes the town so great,” said Race Committee Chair Peter Travers. “Starting in the town center and making its way past historic landmarks, through neighborhoods and onto the Trout Brook Trail, it is a fun and scenic course. Proceeds help fund the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund, enabling kids in need to go to summer camp, as well as the Town That Cares fund, which provides temporary financial assistance to neighbors in times of crisis. The race draws participants of all levels from around the region and around the country, many of whom make it an annual event. The well attended Kids K event, before the 5K, allows families to include their youngest members.”

This year’s official 5K commemorative race shirt has a patriotic theme in honor of America 250, featuring a red and blue design on a white, moisture-wicking tech shirt. The shirt was designed by Hall High School junior Milo Cohen, whose art was chosen from among 35 submissions from both public high schools.

The races traditionally draw great crowds and are one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of the weekend.

Registration can be done online in advance. Race day registration will also be available.

More information about the FUNd RUNS can be found here.

General Information, including Parking, Traffic, and Pets

Key information as well as fun photos will be posted both in advance and throughout the Celebrate weekend on the Facebook page (@celebratewesthartford) and on Instagram (@celebrateweha). Use the hashtag #CelebrateWH with your tweets and photos to keep up with the latest news and information from the 39th anniversary of the event.

Celebrate! West Hartford is open to the public and is held rain or shine. There is no admission charge.

Eight handicapped parking spaces will be available on Burr Street, and will be monitored by staff.

Due to the large number of people expected to attend Celebrate! West Hartford, event organizers are encouraging through-traffic to avoid the center of town. People coming to the event are asked to consider walking, biking (free bike park on Burr Street), using the bus, or carpooling are suggested.

“With this many people ascending on West Hartford Center, here are some tips to keep in mind when planning your trip to Celebrate! West Hartford,” said Geisler. “Biking is a great option. Members of Bike West Hartford will staff a free bike parking service on Burr Street during festival hours. They will keep your bike safe while you enjoy the event. Public transportation is another good option. Town Hall is just off the Farmington Avenue bus route that runs between Hartford and Farmington. If you need to drive, the Town of West Hartford will offer free parking in Isham Garage during festival hours. Of course there is pay-as-you-go street and surface lot parking as well. And Town Center Garage at 29 South Main Street will also have parking available for a fee.”

One final note about your four-legged friends: Although we love dogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes in West Hartford, organizers of Celebrate ask that you please leave them at home.

“Public events are tough on dogs: the hot asphalt (which can cause scalded paws); the hordes of people towering above them; the multiple of smells from the food court, the music and shrieks of delight from the children enjoying the rides, all combine to form an anxiety-producing, sensory overload for your dog,” West Hartford Animal Control advises.

More information about Celebrate! West Hartford, as well as online registration for the races, is available at www.CelebrateWestHartford.com.

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