As a guest of ours at The Goodwin in early December, you’ve got access to one of Hartford’s most all-out elegant observances of the holiday season: The Festival of Trees & Traditions at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
The 44th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions
We’re only a few miles from this fabulous downtown Hartford institution, and it’s a joy to wander its halls during this holiday tradition, now in its 44th year. A slew of local businesses, organizations, students, artists, and other community members decorate trees and wreaths for the festival, which go on display in festive fashion throughout the Wadsworth’s galleries during the proceedings.
The 2017 Festival of Trees & Traditions runs from December 1 through 10 (although take note: the art museum is closed December 4 and 5). The festively bedecked conifers and wreaths are all for sale, with proceeds going to support the Wadsworth; you can take home your favorite or donate it to a Hartford-area charity.
Sounds of the Season
There’s much else to enjoy in the galleries during the Festival of Trees & Traditions. You’ll also get to savor holiday music and admire special “Sounds of the Season” displays created by a number of local performing-arts outfits putting on seasonal productions: the Hartford Stage, the Connecticut Ballet, the Hartford Symphony, the Nutmeg Ballet Conservancy, and TheaterWorks.
Special Activities at the Festival of Trees & Traditions
And there are sundry family-friendly activities offered throughout the affair, not least of which includes appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 3, 9, and 10. Kids’ll also love the LEGO demonstrations (December 2-3 and 9-10), storytelling (December 2), and the “instrument petting zoo” put on by the Hartford Symphony (December 2).
Meanwhile, Thomas Mach Interiors will be delivering a holiday-decorating demonstration on December 3, in case all the lavish, artistic displays at the Festival of Trees & Traditions has revved up your creative engines.
For non-members and non-Hartford residents, admission to the 44th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions costs $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $8 for students, and $3 for kids 17 and younger.
Experience the Festival of Trees & Tradition
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is a must-see any time of year, but its Festival of Trees & Tradition is most definitely an annual highlight—and one of the most popular expressions of the holiday season in Hartford. Pay us a December visit here at The Goodwin and head on over to enjoy the lovely trees, wreaths, and other holiday decor glitzing up the Wadsworth Atheneum’s art galleries during the festival!
