Riverfront Recapture unveils summer schedule of music, regattas, food, and fun

Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant
·4 min read

Riverfront Recapture opens its 2024 summer season of music festivals, food festivals, holiday celebrations and other events and activities on the first week of June.

Riverfront Recapture covers four parks along the Connecticut River in Hartford and East Hartford and is dedicated to connecting more Connecticut residents to the wonders of the riverside.

The 2024 schedule includes:

  • The Hartbeat Music Festival happens June 22 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. this year with three stages of local bands including “The Voice” Season 1 winner Javier Colon, the Balkun Brothers, Bap Pack, Jake Kulak & the Modern Vandals, Nathaniel Hintz, Nikita, The Sparkle and Fade, Ysanne, festival founders POSSM (The Professors of Sweet, Sweet Music) and many others.

  • The annual Riverfront Food Truck Festival is July 18-20 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza with over 20 food trucks, special guest chefs (Erica Blaire Roby and Rasheed Philips), special food events, live entertainment and more.

  • The Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival is Aug. 3 from 1 to 9 p.m. in a carnival atmosphere featuring tropical drinks, live music and jerk cookery.

  • The Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival, with beautifully crafted boats plus lots of events along the shore, from food to music to martial arts demonstrations, is back on Aug. 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • The Gospel Festival returns on Aug. 24 from 3-5 p.m. with live performances of a faith-based, spiritual and community nature.

  • The Head of the Riverfront rowing competition takes to the water on Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a regatta involving thousands of high school, collegiate and Masters rowers and plenty for spectators to do.

  • There are also two concerts by rock tribute bands at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza: the Jimmy Buffett tribute Changes in Latitudes on Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. and The Eagles Experience on Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.

In a different park, Great River Park, the family-friendly concert series sponsored by the Town of East Hartford, begins June 13. The shows are on Thursdays at 6 p.m. beginning June 13. The bands include Cover 2 Cover on June 13, Shaded Soul on June 20, The Score on June 27, Sound Pipers on July 11, La Invasion Secreta on July 18, Alvin Carter Project on July 25, Soul Sound Revue on Aug. 1 and Leaf Jumpers on Aug. 8

The Middletown Symphonic Band performs two Summer Pops concerts of Broadway and movie songs in Great River Park on June 29 and July 13 at 6 p.m.

Boating classes at Riverside Park’s Riverfront Boathouse include “Learn to Row Day” (for ages 12 and older) on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Veterans get free class sessions on rowing and kayaking at the boathouse on June 15 and 20, July 13 and 27, Aug. 10 and 24 and Sept. 14 and 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. Registration is required at pmccullo@TrinityHealthOfNE.org.

Nearly every weekday there’s a different fitness class at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. “Yoga Flow on the River” classes happen every Monday at 6 p.m. starting June 3. WIP Fitness is hosting feel-good, boot camp-style workouts on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. starting June 4 and RiverBarre total body toning classes are on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. starting June 5. Dance-oriented “RiverZumba” fitness, led by Hartford Sweat, will happen on Thursdays at 6 p.m. starting June 6.

Great River Park also offers Tai Chi classes on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. starting June 8.

For runners, there is a “Going Paces” running group led by EightSixGo twice a week, Thursdays at 7 p.m. starting June 6 and Sundays at 9 a.m. starting June 9. There are also actual races, like the Riverfront 5K on June 27 at 6 p.m. at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, the Run for the Riverfront 5K on Sept. 14 at 8 a.m. at Riverside Park and the Hartford HealthCare Community 5K on Sept. 21 at 8 a.m. at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.

For more information on Riverfront Recapture’s summer 2024 schedule, go to riverfront.org.