Here’s your curated Hartford event calendar for August 2024.

What makes this list? Events that I would either attend or recommend to a good friend.
What doesn’t? Nonsense that costs $100+ for concert tickets in a public park that is then shuttered to city residents; venues and/or event organizers that have proven disappointing and/or problematic.

Review events with the host/venue to confirm details have not changed since publication.

ADD TO CALENDAR

  • THE PUERTO RICAN WAR: Local artist Pablo Delano will be having a conversation with author John Vasquez Mejias about his book The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History. This is an in-person event at the Twain House on August 1, 2024 at 7 PM. Tickets are $10.
  • FOLLOWING HARRY: Also at 7 PM on August 1, 2024 is a screening of a documentary about Harry Belafonte’s committment to social justice. This is at the Wadsworth Atheneum; admission is free.
  • BARBIE: And, also on August 1, 2024, watch the Barbie movie in Elizabeth Park at 8 PM. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to the East Lawn. They suggest showing up at 7:30 for “fashion show fun.” Free.
  •  SOUND PIPERS: Visit the Old State House Farmers’ Market on August 2 from 12-1 PM and hear the lively Sound Pipers Band. Free.
  • CLOTHING SWAP: Free clothing swap at 12 Charter Oak Place from 12-5 PM on August 3, 2024. They say: “this year’s theme is Out The Closet; we will be celebrating and highlighting the role clothing/style plays in our self-expression and identity journeys as queer folks.”
  • TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN: The annual Taste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival is coming back to Riverfront Plaza on August 3, 2024 from 1-9 PM. It’s free to hang out and enjoy the music and dancing; bring money if you plan to eat. They’ve gotten better in recent years about having more true vegetarian options, and I’m hopeful that this will continue.
  • CUJO: You will not find me here. I am still haunted from this movie, decades later. But, maybe you have children to scar for life with this film? Come by the totally haunted Constitution Plaza for a free movie on August 3, 2024 at 8 PM. Bring a chair and snacks, and yourself, to the clocktower area for this installment of Spooky Popcorn.
  • 86GO AT SEMILLA: Runners, go meet up with others in the running community at Semilla Cafe on August 4, 2024 at 10:30 AM.
  • KARAOKE IN THE PARK: Free, family-friendly karaoke at the Keney Park Pond House (Edgewood entrance) on August 6, 2024 from 5-8 PM.
  • DANIEL SALAZAR ENSEMBLE: Listen to Spanish classical guitar in the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden on August 7, 2024 from 6:30-8 PM. Free.
  • CESSA AND THE ZACH: Have some live and free music with your farmers’ market shopping from 12-1 PM on August 9, 2024 at the Old State House.
  • AUDIOJANE: Farewood and Audio Jane will be playing on Pratt Street from 5:30-7:30 PM on August 9, 2024. Free.
  •  NATURAL DYE: Whether you’re looking for a way to make your artwork better aligned with the planet or you just like the look of natural dyes, come to FREE HART to learn about and “experiment with bundle dyeing, hapa zome and solar dye using raw natural dye materials, fresh plants and food waste on cotton and silk.” This is a single-session workshop offered on Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM. Tickets are priced on a sliding scale from $15-60.
  • LETTERHEAD SCRABBLE CLUB: At Semilla Cafe on August 10, 2024 from 11 AM – 2 PM. Here’s what they say: “Hello Queens, Kings, and in betweens! Join us for our first Letterhead Scrabble Club meetup. Whether you’re a Scrabble pro or a newcomer, there’s a seat for you. […] So just bring your whole self, come make some new friends and have fun!”
  • THE FOG: This edition of Spooky Popcorn involves a film with mystical fire and fog. August 10, 2024 at 8 PM at the appropriately haunted Constitution Plaza. Free. I am not responsible for the nightmares you give yourself by watching this.
  • DANCE FOR EVERYONE: The University of Hartford’s Hartt Community Division along with the Greater Hartford Arts Council is offering free dance classes for adults, August 12-16, 2024 from 4:45-6 PM. You can take all five classes or just one. Learn contemporary styles on Monday, ballet on Tuesday and Wednesday, jazz on Thursday, and hip-hop on Friday. This is free, but register.
  • NAT REEVES: Listen to a jazz performance by Nat Reeves and a few of his friends on August 14, 2024 from 6:30-8 PM in the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. Free and open to the public, as concerts in public parks always should be!
  • TWIST OF FATE: The Charter Oak Cultural Center is offering a free virtual program about “how Lionel Romney, an Afro-Caribbean civilian, became a prisoner in Mauthausen, a Nazi concentration camp.” His daughter will be speaking about his experience. This is on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM.

  • THE BARDS OF GUNGYWAMP: How can you resist showing up for one of the best named bands ever? Listen to the Bards of Gungywamp at the Old State House farmers’ market on August 16, 2024 from 12-1 PM. Free.
  • PRATT STREET SALSA SOCIAL: Unironically the highest and best use of a street. Come dance in the literal street. This is August 16, 2024 from 5-8 PM. Free!
  •  DRAGON BOAT & ASIAN FESTIVAL: Don’t think you care about boat races? What if the boats cosplayed at dragons and someone on the boat drummed? Come to Riverfront Plaza to watch this happen on August 17, 2024 from 8 AM until 4 PM. There will also be Asian music, dancing, and martial arts demonstrations to check out. Free.
  • TALE OF TWO SISTERS: Here’s another free film for those who like horror movies. August 17, 2024 at 8 PM in the clock tower area of Constitution Plaza.
  •  THE PHILADELPHIA STORY: Come to Cedar Hill Cemetery to watch this classic featuring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to the free movie in the cemetery. This is on August 22, 2024 starting around 7:30 PM.
  • BIGFOOT DIARIES: The Bigfoot Diaries will be playing at the Old State House farmers’ market from 12-1 PM on August 23, 2024. Free.
  •  MUSHROOM WALK: Want to learn more about mushrooms? Joe Lenoce of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society will share basics with participants at Cedar Hill Cemetery on August 24, 2024 from 10 AM until noon. Bring a bag or other container for collecting mushrooms. Tickets are $10.
  • ALIEN: Come by Constitution Plaza to watch this classic (45 years) with Sigourney Weaver. August 24, 2024 at 8 PM. Free. Bring your own seating.
  • ALI KAT AND THE REVELATORS: Listen to them perform from 12-1 PM on August 30, 2024 at the Old State House farmers’ market in downtown. Free.
  • NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: The first month of this year’s outdoor horror movie festival wraps with a screening on August 31, 2024 at 8 PM on Constitution Plaza. Free. Bring something comfortable to sit on.

REPEATS!

Bring your own yoga mat or towel; free, no registration required

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.

This was last updated in July 2024. If you know of things that should be added to the map, contact me. I can’t be everywhere at once.

GETTING TO EVENTS

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.
Ask for the kind of world you want to live in.