Hartford Taste Returns with 30+ Restaurants, Music & Conversation

Hartford Taste, Presented by The Hartford, Returns in 2025 with Fresh Experiences and Deeper Community Impact

Two-day event expands to uplift more small businesses, celebrate culture and feed the community

Downtown Hartford will be teeming with live music and an eclectic variety of local cuisine by restaurateurs in the region as the city welcomes back Hartford Taste, presented by The Hartford, Friday and Saturday, June 6-7, on Pratt and Trumbull streets. 

The 2025 event will feature more than 35 restaurants, 30 musical acts, live visual art and a brand-new cultural stage experience called The Kitchen Table – Good Food & Good Conversation, where chefs, mixologists and creatives will share live demonstrations, storytelling and interactive dialogue about what food and culture mean in Hartford today.

The Hartford is the presenting sponsor for the third year in a row and will continue to cover all vendor fees, allowing restaurants and food businesses to participate at no cost.

“We are excited to continue our support of Hartford Taste and celebrate the remarkable businesses that enrich our local food, art and music experience,” said The Hartford’s Head of Small Business Sales and Distribution Lynn Kennedy. “At The Hartford, we insure more than 1 million small businesses and actively seek opportunities to support small business success, such as covering all vendor fees to make is easier for restaurants and food businesses to participate and have exposure to more potential customers.”

This year’s event is not just about growth, it’s about deepening our impact. Hartford Taste is a free and accessible celebration that continues to amplify local entrepreneurs, musicians and artists by connecting them with thousands of people from across the region. Guests simply purchase Taste Tickets to enjoy the food. In just three years, the festival has driven significant economic impact, supported the restaurant industry with hundreds of thousands in food sales, donated nearly $100,000 to Connecticut Foodshare and showcased the incredible talent that makes Hartford so vibrant.

“Hartford Taste embodies the spirit of our Capital City, showcasing the talents and the small business community that foster economic development in our region,” said Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. Not only are we supporting our local vendors, we’re bringing residents together to experience the heart of Hartford and raising funds for Connecticut Foodshare. I look forward to attending this year and hope to see many of our friends and neighbors.

“Hartford Taste isn’t just a festival—it’s an economic engine and a creative showcase,” added Marc Sherer, the event’s founder. “We’ve built something that’s both high-energy and high-impact, and we’re proud to continue growing this celebration of our city.”

Hartford Taste 2025
Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7
12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. each day
Pratt and Trumbull Streets, Downtown Hartford
Free admission | Food and drinks for purchase

Proceeds from Hartford Taste continue to benefit Connecticut Foodshare, supporting hunger relief efforts across the state.

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