Major events in downtown Hartford are expected to draw large crowds starting Thursday and through the weekend.
The 33rd Annual Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz — the largest free jazz festival in New England — will open Friday and run through Sunday.
Held in Bushnell Park, the festival will feature live performances by more than a dozen jazz artists. Also, there will be an array of food and craft vendors.
Over three days, the festival is expected to attract more than 150,000 people.
The festival kicks off with Nigel Bello & Friends at 6 p.m. Friday. Bello, a trombonist, is a 16-year-old junior at East Hartford High School.
The performers range from student musicians to internationally known artists.
This year’s festival line-up includes Ralph Peterson Legacy, The Blackbyrds, Art Frm Da Heart, The New Mosaic, Jonathan Suarzo & Ricano, Jon Coffe’, Foru 80 East with Jeff Kashiwa, Loose Ends and others.
On Saturday, the festival continues from 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
New this year, the jazz festival is offering paid VIP tickets for people looking for additional perks including premiere seating in front of the stage.
According to the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the jazz festival has more than a $3.1 million impact on the local economy and will create over 30 temporary jobs., including for local artists.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers.
Click here for the 33rd Annual Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz’s full schedule.
The festival is free thanks to contributions from jazz fans and donations from foundations, businesses and corporations, in addition to grants from the city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut.
The Riverfront Food Truck Festival
A few blocks away, another event, the Riverfront Food Truck Festival, begins at 11 a.m. Thursday and continues at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.
More than 30 food trucks will be lined up around Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Blvd. There will be a variety of musical performances throughout the event, including DJs.
Participating food trucks include: Blue Chip Creamery, Bricins Festival Foods, Cerella’s Sweet Teas, Chompers, Clyde’s Cupcakes, Cousins Maine Lobster, Da Caribbean Flavors, Gina’s Foods, Grilled to Perfection / Shrimp Shack, House of BBQ & Bacon, JAMINGZ, King Shawarma & Falafel, Lucans Grill, Macken’s Sliders, New Haven Pizza Truck, Poutine Gourmet, Request A Chef, Scatz Holy Smokez BBQ, Scatz Twisted Phillyz, Smash Pad, Soulfully Vegan, Tacos los Mexicanos, Texmex Fusion Food Truck, Thai Kitchen, The Rolling Roti, Twin Beaks Fried Chicken, Underwater Yummies, Villa of Lebanon and Ydanis & Co.
Click here for the full schedule.
