Pratt Street Festoon Lighting Ceremony, Small Business Saturday, and Holiday Kick Off

HARTFORD, CT – On Tuesday, November 26th, 2024, Pratt Street in Downtown Hartford will kick off the holiday season with the unveiling of the street’s festoon lighting and its annual Small Business Saturday event. 

In 2022, Pratt Street became permanently closed to vehicular traffic, allowing for an entirely pedestrian-friendly, open street in the heart of the Downtown. Pratt Street hosts over 100 events on the street a year, and currently boasts ten food & drink establishments and ten retail & services businesses, many of whom were beneficiaries of the Hartford of Chamber of Commerce’s national award-winning Hart Lift fund. Additional restaurants and retail businesses will open in 2025 and 2026. The newly installed festoon lighting will help amplify Pratt Street’s growing cultural scene, and will serve as a guiding light to Downtown Hartford’s newly revitalized entertainment district.     

“Bringing festoon lighting to Pratt Street is a project that has been in the works for many years,” said Julio Concepción, Executive Director of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce. “It’s incredibly exciting to see it finally come to fruition, and we look forward to having the lights on to kick off the holiday season and continue illuminating Pratt Street year-round.”

Tuesday’s press event will kick off the holiday season on Pratt with the biggest day to shop small—Small Business Saturday. On Saturday, November 30th from 11:00am–4:00pm, Pratt Street will welcome thousands of shoppers for the annual “Small State BIG Saturday” event produced by Hartford Prints! and Pratt Street. Sponsored by the Hartford Chamber of Commerce and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, there will be over 20 artisanal vendors, live entertainment, arts and crafts for kids and families, food and drink specials, and more! Attendees can also expect an appearance from Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, with a meet and greet and photo opportunity taking place at Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour from 1:00pm–2:00pm.

“Small businesses are a critical component of growing, equitable and thriving communities,” said Hartford Foundation of Public Giving Senior Community Impact Office Kate Piotrowski. “The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is proud to support Hartford’s Small Business Saturday as these businesses not only drive our local economy, but also represent a source of wealth building, creating economic mobility, and freedom. It’s also a great way to experience some of what our city has to offer during the holiday season.

The week after Small Business Saturday, Pratt Street’s third annual Pratt Street Winter Village will begin. This year’s events will take place Friday, December 6 and 13 from 4:00pm–7:00pm and Saturday, December 7 and 14 from 1:00pm–6:00pm. Attendees can shop from pop-up retail vendors, enjoy carolers and live musical performances, take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and visit Pratt Street businesses for food and drink specials along with retail shopping for the holiday season.

WHAT: Press Event

WHO: Mayor Arunan Arulampalam - Mayor, City of Hartford; Julio Concepción – Executive Director, Hartford Chamber of Commerce; Kate Piotrowski  – Senior Community Impact Officer, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Rory Gale - Owner, Hartford Prints!; David Jakubowski – Shelbourne Global Solutions 

WHEN: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 4:30pm

WHERE: Pratt Street Hartford (in front of Urban Lodge Brewing)

RSVP: Media should RSVP to Kelsey Renfro at 860-707-9527 or kelsey@lumiagency.com

For a list of vendors, a schedule of live entertainment, food and drink specials, and more, please visit Small State BIG Saturday’s Facebook page. To learn more about Pratt Street, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.

 Contact: Kelsey Renfro, Lumi Hospitality                                                        (860) 707-9527                                                                             kelsey@lumiagency.com