Here’s your curated Hartford event calendar for September 2023.
What makes this list? Events that I would either attend or recommend to a good friend.
Review events with the host/venue to confirm details have not changed since publication.

ADD TO CALENDAR 

  • TURNING RED: Come to Bushnell Park to watch the computer animated comedy about a 13-year old Chinese-Canadian student who, whenever experiencing strong emotions, transforms into a red panda. The outdoor film will be shown near the Pump House on September 1, 2023 at sunset. This is free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
  •  THE GOONIES: You can watch this on the big screen at Cinestudio from September 1-4, 2023 for $10.
  • THE OMEN: Another classic! Though, this one probably deeply haunted half of the people in my generation. Watch this Spooky Popcorn selection on September 2, 2023 at 8 PM on Constitution Plaza. The movie is free, and as a bonus, you’ll have many sleepless nights after.
  •  32 SOUNDS: A film about the power of sound. This will be at Cinestudio. They say the movie “explores the elemental phenomenon of sound by weaving together 32 specific sound explorations into a cinematic meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us. Join Oscar-nominated filmmaker Green as he takes the audience on a journey through time and space — exploring everything from forgotten childhood memories, to the soundtrack of resistance, to subaquatic symphonies.” This plays on September 5 & 6, 2023. Tickets are $10.
  •  HARTBEAT MUSIC FESTIVAL: This is a free, family-friendly musical event from 11 AM – 9 PM on September 9, 2023 at the Riverfront Plaza. There will be three stages and two dozen musical performances. Last year there were free boat cruises offered on the Connecticut River during the event. Show up to see if there’s a repeat of this, look around for art, and just hang out with friends by the river.
  •  HARTFORD PRIDE: This is September 9, 2023 from 12-6 PM on Church Street.
  •  NOPE: Showing at Constitution Plaza as part of the free Spooky Popcorn horror movie festival, this film features horses, and as someone who finds horses downright creepy, this seems very right to me. Movie starts around 8 PM on September 16, 2023.
  •  REMARKABLE WOMEN: Learn about some notable women in Connecticut history including Virginia Thrall Smith, Isabella Beecher Hooker, and Anne Tracy Morgan by taking a guided walking tour of Cedar Hill Cemetery. This two-hour event begins on September 23, 2023 at 10 AM by the flagpole at the cemetery. Tickets are $10.
  • HARTFORD BRASS BONANZA: It’s a free afternoon of brass band performances at Real Art Ways featuring Fiesta Del Norte, Rara Bel Poze, Hartford Proud’s Drill Drum and Dance Corp., Extra Syrup, and of course, The Hartford Hot Several. This is 12-6 PM on September 23, 2023.
  • IMPROV STEPHEN KING TALE: Improv actors will amuse and/or horrify you with their performance of a Stephen King story on September 23, 2023 at 9 PM. Tickets are $10 (or use a pay-it-forward-ticket).
  •  SOURCE TO SEA CLEANUP: Every year the Connecticut River Conservancy organizes cleanups along the Connecticut River from where it starts to where it joins Long Island Sound. Most of these will be on September 22 and 23, 2023, and you can search for options. In Hartford, there is one planned for Sunday September 24, 2023 at Riverside Park from 9-11 AM, and you can register for that here. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, but bring own trash picker if you desire. There are t-shirts and bandannas for participants. Register so I know who is coming! This will end on time.
  • CONNECTICUT BOOK CLUB: September 27, 2023 will be the first gathering of the ConnectiCUT Book Club, a roving event for nerds who want to read and then talk about texts dealing with climate, urbanism, and transportation. You can learn all about the book club here, including picks for upcoming months. For the first gathering, we will be talking about Streetfight by Janette Sadik-Khan. (Time & place details and registration form are here)  A few quick things: not all meetings will be in Hartford but they will all be within short walking/rolling distance of public transportation. We’re starting with Streetfight because it’s fairly accessible as a text, but also as an object since most libraries seem to have it. There is no fee to attend; however, some meetings will be held at independent restaurants/cafes and the expectation is that unless someone is having financial hardship, attendees will order something more than a free water because local businesses do not stay afloat on vibes alone.
  • LIZZIE: An all-female musical focused on the days leading up to that famous double murder in Fall River. The run begins on September 29, 2023 at Theaterworks. Ticket prices begin at $75 (but there is a pay-what-you-want showing in October, so keep this on your radar)
  • CLARE GALLERY ANNIVERSARY: An event is scheduled to celebrate 20 years of Clare Gallery, with a talk by Steve Balkun, master woodcarver, and a musical performance. View the exhibit at this time, or during its run from September 7 – October 15, 2023. The event is 4-7:30 PM on September 30, 2023. Registration and donation are requested, but not required.

RECURRING THROUGH OCTOBER
Free yoga every day of the week! Bring your own yoga mat and water.

  • Sundays: Colt Park by Wethersfield Avenue entrance at 10 AM
  • Mondays: Bushnell Park by Pump House Gallery at 5:30 PM
  • Tuesdays: Elizabeth Park by Rose Garden stage at 5:30 PM
  • Wednesdays: Bushnell Park by Pump House Gallery at 5:30 PM
  • Thursdays: Elizabeth Park by Rose Garden stage at 5:30 PM
  • Fridays: Keney Park by Woodland Street entrance playground at 5:30 PM
  • Saturdays: Pope Park near parking lot at 10 AM

CULTURAL ASSETS
For ongoing free education, entertainment, public art, and resources — like 24/7 food pantries and libraries — check out this map. Zoom in and click on the icons for more information. Keep in mind that murals, take/give pantries, and free libraries are ephemeral; I try to keep this current, removing entries as murals are painted over or someone’s well-intentioned food pantry abandoned. This was last updated in July 2023:

See CTtransit for bus schedule. If you would like better bus service, contact CTtransit. If you would like bicycle parking at a venue, contact that venue directly.