Things to Do in Hartford (2025)

America’s oldest public art museum anchors downtown with European masters to contemporary standouts and lively First Thursdays. Celebrated by national arts press and a constant in local calendars, it’s Hartford’s cultural cornerstone.

In Parkville’s former factories, this artist-led hub pairs contemporary art with an independent cinema and community events—open nightly. Praised by local arts writers for decades, it’s a reliable pulse-check on Hartford creativity.

Hartford’s grand stage brings in-touring Broadway and symphonic specials; the 2025 slate includes major musicals alongside Hartford Symphony showcases. A classic night out that still feels plugged into the city now.

A nimble, downtown company known for smart, intimate productions and playful holiday traditions. Its 2025–26 lineup—covered by local critics—keeps the focus on bold, contemporary storytelling in a jewel-box theater.

Tour the Victorian home where Twain wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Recently highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler and state travel editors, it’s a richly guided window into Hartford’s literary era.

Across from Twain’s home, Stowe’s house leans into living history and literary activism, with dialogue-forward tours and rotating programs tied to equity and civic life. It’s history made conversational.

A lovingly restored 1914 Stein & Goldstein carousel spinning weekends and seasonal days in Bushnell Park. Family-friendly, affordable, and undeniably Hartford—its 2025 operating schedule is back on track.

From free fitness and concerts to August’s Dragon Boat & Asian Festival, Riverfront Recapture turns the Connecticut River into a community stage—an essential warm‑weather hang that’s distinctly local.

A beloved Frog Hollow gathering place where Latin American groceries meet counter-service kitchens—Colombian, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican—praised by local guides for affordability and flavor.

A social‑enterprise cafe, bar, and restaurant serving pan‑American dishes while training Hartford residents for culinary careers. Recognized by Connecticut Magazine editors, it blends mission with serious cooking.

Family‑run since 1933 and inducted into the state hospitality Hall of Fame, this neighborhood stalwart serves burgers, wings, and local history with equal gusto—an old‑school Hartford hang that endures.

Makers of organic Wild Moon liqueurs offer tours and tastings at their Parkville distillery and inventive cocktails downtown. A local, women‑led spirits brand that doubles as a social spot.