Here’s your curated Hartford event calendar for December 2022.
What makes this list? Events that I would either attend or recommend to a good friend.
Check with each venue for information about Covid protection procedures and to verify that an event is still happening.
ADD TO CALENDAR
- WINTERFEST: Free ice skating and skate rentals in Bushnell Park through January 8th. Mondays through Fridays, 12-8 PM; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM – 8 PM. Start asking now why they don’t just change this out to an outdoor roller rink when the weather is warm.
- POPE PARK PLANS: Learn about and give feedback on the plans for changes in Pope Park West, Pope Park North, and the Bankside Grove trail. It’s unclear how much this discussion will matter since the plans are already apparently in progress, but you can show up to find out on December 1, 2022 from 6-8 PM at the Parkville Community School.
- WINTER KARAOKE: Drop by Arch Street Tavern for fun, 9 PM until midnight on December 1, 2022. This is ages 21+. Can’t make it tonight? Come by on another Thursday night– same time, same place.
- WINTERFAIR: A holiday craft market inside of Hartford’s Union Station on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 23, 2022. Fridays: 5-9 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays: 12-5 PM.
- PRATT STREET WINTER VILLAGE: Craft vendors and entertainment on Pratt Street on Saturdays and Sundays this month, through December 18, 2022. Booths will be open 11 AM – 3 PM. Each weekend there is a different rotation of vendors.
- TREE FARM: Get your cut tree without schlepping out to the middle of nowhere. This is December 3, 2022 from 12-5 PM at Hog River Brewery. Pre-order your tree or wreath.
- IMPROVISED HALLMARK & LIFETIME MOVIES: That whole genre of ridiculous Christmas romance movies? You know you want and need the improvised rendition. Go to Sea Tea Comedy Theater on December 3, 2022 at 7 PM. Admission is $10.
- AN IMPROVISED CHRISTMAS CAROL: Whether you love A Christmas Carol or think it’s played out, the way to see it is improvised at Sea Tea Comedy Theater. The adult (could be sweary) shows are December 8-10 and December 15-17 at 8 PM; adult admission is $18. The family shows (not sweary) are at 2 PM on December 11 & December 18; adult admission is $18 and youth admission is $10.
- EASTERN WHITE PINE: This program takes place at two venues. The first portion is a walk in Keney Park to look at large pine trees at 1 PM; then, Real Art Ways will host a multisensory reception at 2:30 PM, with a screening of Eastern White Pine: The Tree Rooted in American History at 3 PM. A Q&A session follows the documentary viewing. This is a free event on December 10, 2022.
- PARKVILLE HOLIDAY MARKET: Pop-up craft market on the second floor of Parkville Market on December 10 and 17, 2022 from 12-6 PM.
- CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS: Listen to carols in the Trinity College Chapel on December 11th: 4 PM and 7 PM. Admission is free.
- RIVERWOOD POETRY SERIES: Listen to poet Terry Blackhawk at Real Art Ways on December 14, 2022 at 7 PM. This is a free event.
- HOLDING HISTORY AND THE PRESENT MOMENT: Nicki Green will be giving a free virtual artist talk, “Holding History and the Present Moment: Rethinking Jewish Ritual Objects from a Queer Perspective,” on December 15, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 PM. Register online.
- CRYPTID STORYTIME: Drop by Curioporium for a free, family-friendly storytime with the Grinch on December 18, 2022, from 10 AM – 1 PM. Space is limited, so register in advance for a time slot.
- BARAKA: One chance to see Baraka at Cinestudio this year. You can catch this on December 18, 2022 at 2 PM. Tickets are $10.
CULTURAL ASSETS
For ongoing free education, entertainment, and resources — like 24/7 food pantries and libraries — check out this map. Zoom in and click on the icons for more information. More sites have been added since November.