40th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions | December 5 – 15, 2013
Celebrate the holiday season at the 40th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions! Festival is one of our largest fundraisers, attracting over 11,000 visitors from throughout the state and beyond. This nine-day event showcases holiday trees and wreaths decorated by Hartford area artists and organizations displayed throughout our galleries. This year Festival has expanded into additional galleries! All items are for sale and proceeds fund special exhibitions, educational programs and operating expenses. Enjoy cheerful decor, daily musical entertainment, tours, family-friendly activities and more! View photos of trees and decorations from last year’s Festival.
Festival Dates
December 5, 5 – 8 pm (First Thursday)
December 6 – 15, 10 am – 5 pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday, December 9 & 10
Admission
Adults: $13
Seniors (62+): $11
Students (13+): $8
Children (2-12): $3
Members: $3
Groups of 10 or more will receive a discount by reservation only. To schedule a group visit call (860) 838-4046.
Group rates: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $8.
$3 is added to all admissions during Festival of Trees & Traditions unless otherwise noted.
Special Events
December 5, 5 – 8 pm
First Thursday: Festival: Have the first opportunity to purchase your favorite trees and wreaths! Mingle after hours with DJ Jon Eastman on the decks spinning jolly tunes, festive cocktails, snacks and a holiday-inspired art activity. Join a docent for a tour of works in our collection that focus on the subject of trees. Stay for an 8 pm screening of Love Actually! $8; $3 Members and students with ID.
December 6, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Night of Illumination: Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Festival with us! Sample festive cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by local vendors including Onyx Moonshine, The Russian Lady, The Tavern Downtown, NoRA Cupcake Company and more. Catch a preview of CONNetic Dance’s The Nutcracker Suite and Spicy, and enjoy live music by William Hall High School’s Choraliers & Jazz Combo! $55; $45 Members; tickets include two drinks from cash bar, and access to all Festival galleries and The Museum Shop. Purchase tickets online, over the phone (860-838-4100, Wed. – Sun., 9:30am – 4:30pm) or at the door. View photos from the event.
December 14, 2 & 6 pm
The Nutcracker, Hartford City Ballet
Daily Schedule
Docent-led tours are scheduled daily and meet in the Main Lobby, free with admission.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
10 am – 1:30 pm: Candy Lane – Hands-on crafts for all ages
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
6:30 – 9:30 pm: Night of Illumination
Entertainment
10:30 am: Hall High School Treble Choir
11:30 am: Hall High School Concert Choir
12:30 pm: ELAMS Honor Choir, Expeditionary Learning Academy Moylan School
1:30 pm: Metacomet Elementary School Chorus
2:30 pm: Granby Memorial High School Chamber Singers
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
11 am – 1 pm: Bella the Clown
11 am – 3 pm: Candy Lane – Hands-on crafts for all ages
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
2:30 pm: Tour, European Art
Entertainment
10:30 am: Ariel Flutes
11:30 am: The West Hartford Women’s Chorale
12:30 pm: Stafford High School Madrigal Singers
1:30 pm: The Voices of Glory
2:30 pm: HarttWorks Ballet – Aetna Theater
3:30 pm: Faith Congregational Church
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus
11 am – 1 pm: Bella the Clown
11 am – 3 pm: Candy Lane – Hands-on crafts for all ages
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
2:30 pm: Tour, European Art
Entertainment
10:30 am: Classic Brass
11:30 am: The Maggey Blues Jazz Combo
12:30 pm: Sound of New England
1:30 pm: Jerry Chaviaras Guitar
2:30 pm: The Solid Oak Big Band – Aetna Theater
3:30 pm: The Summit Singers
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
Entertainment
10:30 am: Parish Hill Chamber Choir
11:30 am: Newington High School Chamber Choir
12:30 pm: Rocky Hill Chamber Choir
1:30 pm: Plainfield High School Chorale
2:30 pm: Hopewell School Singers
3:30 pm: Harmonia Mundi
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
Entertainment
10:30 am: Sedgwick Middle School Strings and Choir
11:30 am: Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy Chorus
12:30 pm: Old Saybrook High School Treble Choir & Chamber Singers – Aetna Theater
1:30 pm: Nayaug Notes (Nayaug Elementary) – Aetna Theater
2:30 pm: Greatheart Griot, Andre Keitt (storyteller)
3:30 pm: Trinity College Quirks
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
10 am – 1:30 pm: Candy Lane – Hands-on crafts for all ages
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
Entertainment
10:30 am: Central School 6th Grade Choir – Aetna Theater
11:30 am: Illing Middle School: Girl’s Choir, Boys Choir & Illing Singers
12:30 pm: Wethersfield High School Choralaires
1:30 pm: Farmington Madrigals Singers
2:30 pm: Westminster School Chamber Choir
3:30 pm: CCSU, Hartt Community Division
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14
10 am – 1 pm: Second Saturdays: Lights (Free admission)
10 am: Limelight Dance Company – Aetna Theater
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
2:30 pm: Tour, European Art
1 – 3 pm: Candy Lane – Hands-on crafts for all ages
1 – 3 pm: Bella the Clown
1 – 4 pm: Visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus
2 & 6 pm: The Nutcracker, Hartford City Ballet – Aetna Theater
Entertainment
10:30 am: Stephanie Wheeler
1:30 pm: Smith STEM Elementary School Choir
2:30 pm: The Glastonbury Ukulele Band
3:30 pm: Windsor High School Honors Chorale & Teens of Praise Gospel Choir
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus
11 am – 3 pm: Candy Lane – Hands-on crafts for all ages
1 pm: Tour, Museum Highlights
2:30 pm: Tour, European Art
2 – 4 pm: Bella the Clown
Entertainment
10:30 am: Footlights Performing Arts (Downtown YMCA)
11:30 am: Elizabeth Lyra Ross – Aetna Theater
12:30 pm: Dick Santi Orchestra – Aetna Theater
1:30 pm: Ballet Theatre Company – Aetna Theater
2:30 pm: Mighty Chamber Players
3:30 pm: Valley Saxophone Quartet
Parking
Watch a segment about this year’s Festival on Better Connecticut:
The 40th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions is presented by the Women’s Committee and made possible in part by support from the Henkel Corporation. Special Thanks to our Media Sponsor, West Hartford Magazine.
