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EnvisionFest Pushes Hartford’s Walkability

By Hartford Business Journal Staff

August 27, 2012

The iQuilt partnership will host 25,000 people on Sept. 29 in Hartford for a free festival with multiple events and performances in order to showcase the walkability of the city's downtown.

EnvisionFest Hartford is designed to send festival-goers around the city's various arts and cultural attractions, helping fulfill iQuilt's goal of turning the city's downtown into a year-round destination for visitors.

“EnvisionFest is really a celebration of Hartford,” said Jackie Mandyke, program manager for iQuilt and EnvisionFest. “It is a celebration of the walking culture and innovation in Hartford.”

The iQuilt partnership is collaboration between the city and the state along with various business and cultural groups such as MetroHartford Alliance, Hartford Business Improvement District, and Greater Hartford Arts Council. Through an organized improvement plan and various small and large capital projects, iQuilt wants to redesign the area around Bushnell Park to tie together the city's various attractions.

The focal point of EnvisionFest will be Bushnell Park, but events will happen throughout the downtown region, including at the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Bushnell Theatre, the riverfront, and the State Capitol.

EnvisionFest events include jazz concerts at the corner of Gold and Jewel streets, an acrobatic performance accompanying a concert at The Hartford Stage called Cirque Le Jazz, the University of Connecticut Marching Band performing with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra at the Bushnell Park Pavilion, a world record attempt for the largest Zumba exercise class, and a performance at the Wadsworth by lyrical and world play artist RapOet.

“It is truly an exciting festival,” Mandyke said. “EnvisionFest encourages people to walk around Hartford.”

Information about the festival will be shared via Twitter (@EnvisionHTFD), posted on its Facebook page, and at www.envisionfesthartford.com.