Bushnell Park offers free fun for the family
Carousel rides, movies, games and concerts on tap this summer
HARTFORD — The arrival of the warm weather coincides with two family-friendly events taking place at Bushnell Park, sponsored by the Bushnell Park Foundation.
First, the foundation is hosting its inaugural Merry-go-may event this weekend, with free carousel rides from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, followed by a free outdoor screening of “The Secret Life of Pets 2.”
On Saturday there will be free rides on the carousel from noon to 5 p.m., along with free tours of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch from noon to 1:30 p.m., lawn games and free face painting from 3 to 5 p.m.
“The weather looks fabulous, so we’re excited,” Mary Zeman, manager of the Bushnell Park Foundation, said. “We’re opening up and reminding people of the carousel and the park. We’re ready for the great weather. We hope to see a lot of people.”
Snacks and beverages will be available for sale at the carousel. The Park Scoop, the ice cream cart donated to the foundation, will have ice cream for sale both days.
The foundation is also hosting the second annual Hopgood/lord Summer Music Series on six-consecutive Wednesday nights beginning June 1.
The series is named for Suzanne Hopgood and her late husband, Frank Lord, who died in July 2020. Both have been major benefactors in Hartford for years, Zeman said.
The free concerts will take place
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with free carousel rides preceding the music from 5 to 6:30 p.m. as well as free tours of the arch.
The six groups playing the series are: Professors of Sweet Music (June 1), Haneef N. Nelson Quintet (June 8), Mixed Company (June 15), Michael Carabello Trio (June 22), The Harvest Band (June 29) and The Emmett Goods Quintet (July 6).
“All the acts, if they’re not from Hartford, then they’re from the Greater Hartford region,” Zeman said. “We’re highlighting Hartford musicians.”
The Park Scoop will also be on hand, Zeman said.
“Frank Lord, his favorite thing was ice cream,” Zeman said. “His picture is on The Park Scoop. All of his friends laugh about it, and they did a taste test naming an ice cream flavor after him.”
Zeman said the foundation is excited to not only host events at Bushnell Park but to incorporate the iconic carousel, which was built in 1914 and has been at the park since 1974.
The foundation just started to manage the carousel last August, Zeman said.
“It’s wonderful to now have the carousel under our management,” she said. “We can offer the community a lot more free events. This is their park. We’re excited to do it.”