Envision Fest

You can get the full tour of downtown Hartford for free if you come on this one Saturday in September. EnvisionFest is a terrible name but a great idea. Just about everything you want to see downtown is here: free museums, historic buildings, plus a big dose of music, shopping and food trucks. You can really speed along, too, going from a grounded hot air balloon to the top of the Travelers building to watching bands in under an hour. Plus, the Governor’s Footguard roams downtown in their wool reds with marching band. Kid-​friendly activities abound, from face-​painting and sidewalk chalk to giant puppets roaming the park. Word of advice: park at your closest Fast Trak station so you don’t have to bother with parking downtown. Way smoother experience.
Free Museums
The Wadsworth Atheneum, the Connecticut Science Center, the Butler-​McCook House & Garden and the Old State House. Plus, the Bushnell stages 20-​minute selections of their current show on an outdoor stage (we saw two numbers from Cinderella, which was impressive to hear up close and personal, even if it was sans costume).
Don’t pass up the free antique carousel in Bushnell Park, which is worth the embarrassment of imaginary riding next to four-​year-​olds to touch these gorgeous hand-​painted horses while the ancient Wurlitzer plays piano. An easy highlight.
Free Music & Dance
Music is being made wherever you turn. We caught the Hartford Steel Symphony playing Calypso-​inspired tunes outside of the Old State House. Two main stages, one in Bushnell Park and one on Gold Street, play host to musicians, dancers and other acts. Inside the Wadsworth, Hart students arrived en mass to take over the Great Hall, and the Connecticut Lyric Opera belted out selections from a Gertrude Stein opera over the entry balcony.
Food Trucks
The food trucks converge along Bushnell Park for easy pickings. We saw artisanal grilled cheese at the Whey Station, fresh guacamole at Agave Canteen, pressed sandwiches at Toasted, vegan cakes at Amor and the Ben & Jerry’s truck.
Open Historic Buildings
Wander City Hall or tour the original Tiffany glass windows at Center Church, which comprise their own 14-​window museum. Take the elevator 34 floors up to the top of the Travelers Building for scenic panoramas, or climb the spiral staircases to the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch, that fairy castle arch peaking out above the trees in Bushnell Park. The ancient burying ground on Gold Street makes peaceful if eery spot to rest your tired feet.