First Night Hartford is an annual event that takes place every New Year's Eve. The family-friendly party is Hartford's way of bringing in the New Year. To accommodate children and families, the event begins in the middle of the day and lasts throughout the night.
There's an early fireworks show at 6 p.m. for children to enjoy and another at midnight. First Night Hartford is an alcohol-free event with multicultural exhibits and entertainment from professional musicians, performance groups and artists.
Riverfest is an annual family-friendly event organized by Riverfront Recapture and it takes place during the summer. One of the biggest draws is the fireworks show in the evening. Riverfest offers a number of family attractions such as live music, kids' activity tents, clowns and games. The event is also open to boaters who can take part in festivities on the water. All Riverfest festival sites are wheelchair accessible and alcohol free.
Rose and Garden Weekend is an annual event taking place during the summer at three Hartford locations: Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and Butler-McCook House & Garden.
All activities at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden are held in tents on the main lawn and are free to the public. At this location, families can tour 15,000 rose bushes and enjoy poetry readings, family and children's activities and share picnics.
Admission into the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center location is open to the public but admission fees apply. Families can participate in garden tours, free activities and painting sessions.
Admission into Butler-McCook House & Garden is free. Families can view the garden and enjoy light refreshments.
The Mark Twain House is a museum designed for adults and children. Families are welcomed into the home year round for guided tours only. Once in the home, families can visit Mark Twain's personal library, his children's rooms, the servants' wing and the billiard room, where he wrote one of his most famous books, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
The tour also includes a visit to the Mark Twain Museum Center for a look at different exhibitions. Although The Mark Twain House is open year round, a variety of special family-friendly events are held at different times throughout the year.
