Festivities begin at 4pm on Saturday (July 5th) in three locations– Riverfront Plaza, Charter Oak Landing, and Great River Park (East Hartford). There will be music (Jazz Alive Quartet, Memphis Soul Spectacular, Shaded Soul, Krista, Sean Austin, Tony Harrington & Touch, Article 19, The Outriggers, The Last Chance Band, The Dramatix, and Hartford Pops). There will be “Moon Bounces” (jumping houses, to us older folks), a waterslide, and airborne jugglers. Not sure if the jugglers are consenting to being airborne or not. If clowns creep you out, no worries. There will also be a mime and someone on stilts. The fireworks show is planned for 9:45.
On the East Hartford side, there will be police dog demos, so if you make it a habit to carry contraband around with you, probably not a good idea this Saturday. Not even if “medicinal” use of marijuana makes it more tolerable for you to be around clowns and stilt-walkers.