Many crowdfunding campaigns fall short, but not Winterfest’s.
Get Instant Access to This Article
Subscribe to Hartford Business Journal and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
- Critical Hartford and Connecticut business news updated daily.
- Immediate access to all subscriber-only content on our website.
- Bi-weekly print or digital editions of our award-winning publication.
- Special bonus issues like the Hartford Book of Lists.
- Exclusive ticket prize draws for our in-person events.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
Many crowdfunding campaigns fall short, but not Winterfest's.
Offering several months of free ice skating and other holiday events in Bushnell Park, Winterfest's future was uncertain following the loss of approximately $150,000 in city aid.
But the crowd responded, donating $221,000 as of last week on the CrowdRise.com campaign site.
Last week, as workers from Champion Skating Center were wrapping up their work setting up the rink, Jackie Mandcyk, managing director of the iQuilt Partnership, called the result extraordinary and said it shows that area residents, companies and foundations value the event.
The money will allow Winterfest to run from Nov. 25 through Jan. 8 — approximately two weeks shorter than in previous years.
Winterfest organizers are planning a press conference Nov. 15 to announce this year's schedule and other information. One change is that the opening ceremonies, typically held on Nov. 25, will take place Dec. 3.
Despite the fundraising success, Winterfest will likely face the same funding challenge next year, so Mandcyk said the fundraising campaign will remain open through the end of the festival.
IQuilt organizers will likely sock some money away for next year, though it's possible they will extend the event beyond Jan. 8, depending on any further donations received.
“We will cross that bridge when we get to it,” Mandcyk said. “We would love additional funds.”
Winterfest will also be launching its own website for the first time, winterfesthartford.com. The site was expected to be live by Monday.
— Matt Pilon
