MEDIA RELEASE: Hartford Bonanza Announces Expanded Fourth of July Festival to Host the Statewide 250th Commemoration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Through a two-year planning partnership with the America 250 | CT Commission, Hartford Bonanza is a cornerstone 250th initiative as the annual arts, culture & civics festival expands programming and prepares to host Connecticut’s statewide America 250 Independence Day commemoration and fireworks celebration.
Hartford, CT — April 28, 2026 — Hartford Bonanza, produced by community-centric nonprofit First Night Hartford, Inc., and America 250 | CT Commission, administered by CT Humanities, are proud to announce a full day of programming on the Fourth of July in Downtown Hartford for the statewide commemoration and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Residents and visitors from around Connecticut and beyond are invited to engage in a wide variety of free programs hosted by Hartford Bonanza and inspired by the Commission’s four guiding themes: Doing History, For the Common Good, Power of Place, and Tell Inclusive Stories. Activities include ceremonies to honor veterans and Revolutionary stories; performances celebrating Connecticut’s contributions to the American music canon and our diverse cultural landscape; inclusive civic engagement opportunities for people of all ages; and interactive zones showcasing our state’s rich history of innovation and creativity through arts, culture, civics, community, food, small business, and recreation.
Planned events for the America 250 Capital Commemoration begin in the morning at the State Capitol Building and the Museum of Connecticut History at the Connecticut State Library and continue throughout the day in nearby Bushnell Park with official Hartford Bonanza programming on two stages and through interactive experiences designed by the Bonanza team to activate the entire park, including art exhibitions, history tours, food trucks, and unique zones such as an America 250 CT Expo, Veterans Welcome Tent, Small Business Marketplace, Make It Here Zone, Civic Marketplace, the Bushnell Park Carousel, and Games & Recreation areas. A headlining America 250 Commemorative Concert on the Bonanza Mainstage co-presented with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra with Hartford Chorale and surprise musical guests will culminate in the region’s largest Independence Day fireworks display at 9:30 pm over the Capitol.
This announcement marks a major collaboration in a series of partnerships and initiatives as Hartford Bonanza prepares to host the statewide commemoration of the 250th anniversary, bringing together civic and historical organizations, artists, local businesses, visitors, residents, and public servants from around the entire state to reflect on the nation’s past while imagining its future in collaboration with leaders brought together through the America 250 | CT Commission.
“The 250th anniversary, like the Bicentennial before it, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Jeff Devereux, Executive Director of First Night Hartford, Inc. “We want to celebrate it in a way that feels true to Connecticut–creative, collaborative, and community-centered. Partnering closely with the America 250 | CT Commission to expand our annual Hartford Bonanza festival to serve as a statewide gathering for residents and visitors of all ages is the perfect way to meet this historic moment.”
Sponsors for Hartford Bonanza 2026 + America 250 Capital Commemoration thus far include The Hartford, CT Humanities, Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, William and Alice Mortensen Foundation, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Nutmeg Federal Credit Union, and AARP Connecticut. Funding has been provided by the Connecticut State Legislature and is administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Generous funders to date for the Hartford Bonanza + Hartford Symphony Orchestra America 250 Commemorative Concert include the Katharine K. McLane and Henry R. McLane Charitable Trust; Talcott Financial Group; the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation; Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; and the Roberts Foundation for the Arts.
About Hartford Bonanza
Produced by First Night Hartford, Inc., Hartford Bonanza is a free summer celebration in Bushnell Park that brings together live performances, local food and businesses, family programming, and the Hartford region’s creative community for an annual and inclusive Independence Day tradition. In close collaboration with the America 250 CT Commission administered by CT Humanities, Hartford Bonanza will serve as a hub for statewide events honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States during Independence Day Weekend in particular, along with auxiliary America 250 CT programming leading up to the festival. www.hartfordbonanza.org
About America 250 | CT Commission
July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The America 250 | CT Commission was created to help Connecticut commemorate this milestone. In addition to honoring 1776, the Commission aims to inspire grassroots efforts that promote inclusivity and belonging among Connecticut’s residents, looking back beyond the last 250 years and ahead toward a shared future. On July 1, 2022, Governor Ned Lamont established a commission responsible for planning the State of Connecticut’s multi-year commemorations, celebrations, and reflections on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States of America. https://ct250.org/
About First Night Hartford, Inc.
First Night Hartford, Inc., a community-centric 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, produces two beloved annual community celebrations in Bushnell Park with art, music, food & fireworks--First Night Hartford (New Year's Eve tradition) & Hartford Bonanza (Independence Day Weekend festival)--that showcase our capital city's arts and cultural ecosystem and promote civic joy, social cohesion, and community pride.
About CT Humanities
Founded in 1974, Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, programs, and collaboration with other organizations. CTH is supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources.
CTH has earned public trust through its responsible stewardship of federal, state, and private funds, its peer-review grant-making process, its online educational resources, and its work to support, stabilize, and strengthen the organizations and communities it serves.
CTH values and promotes inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in our workplace, on our board, with our partners, and through our funding.
Hartford Bonanza Media Contact:
Jeff Devereux
Executive Director, First Night Hartford, Inc.
firstnight.hartford@gmail.com