Hartford’s Civic Center Reborn: People’s Bank Arena Ushers in New Era with $145 Million Transformation

It’s the end of an era — and the beginning of something bigger. After five decades of memories as the XL Center, Hartford’s beloved arena now has a new name, a bold new vision, and a $145 million facelift. Welcome to People’s Bank Arena.

Now officially renamed through a 10-year partnership between People’s Bank, Oak View Group, and the Capital Region Development Authority, the arena is poised to become a centerpiece in the revitalization of downtown Hartford.

The transformation isn’t just cosmetic — it’s structural and strategic. The redevelopment includes upgraded seating for 16,000 attendees, five new bunker suites, and expanded premium seating areas designed to elevate the guest experience. The goal? More events, more people, and more energy flowing into Connecticut’s capital city.

“I think it’s terrific,” said longtime local Nancy Macy. “It sounds good. We want more basketball, more events — that’s what sustains the restaurants and hotels.”

Home to UConn basketball, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and now a possible host site for Connecticut Sun games, People’s Bank Arena is gearing up for a resurgence in activity. Officials predict up to 12–15 additional concerts annually once renovations are complete.

But there’s more to the story than just what’s inside the arena. Locals like Jeremy Howard are calling for broader infrastructure improvements to complement the arena’s revival and encourage people to stay, dine, and shop in the city instead of heading straight to the highway post-event.

“The problem is there’s really no infrastructure for them to do anything,” Howard noted. “There needs to be more reasons for people to stay in Hartford.”

That’s exactly what officials hope the arena’s relaunch will spark. Alongside more events and entertainment, the broader redevelopment plan includes new housing projects that aim to bring life — and residents — back into the city’s core.

As the dust settles and renovations wrap up in time for college basketball season this fall, one message rings clear:

It’s time for the state to rally around Hartford again.

And come October, the People’s Bank Arena will stand ready — not just as a venue, but as a symbol of a city on the rise.

Duck Day Festival 2025 Video: Duck Race, Food Trucks, Live Music & Highlights

Experience the excitement of Duck Day Festival 2025! 🦆🎉 Watch thousands of rubber ducks splash down the river in the famous duck race, enjoy a delicious variety of food trucks, groove to live music, and see why Duck Day is Connecticut’s favorite family-friendly festival.

If you’ve ever wondered what Duck Day Festival is all about, let me tell you—it’s a day full of smiles, music, delicious food, and a whole lot of rubber ducks.

First off, don’t stress about being late! The famous duck dump always happens a bit later than scheduled. Even if you roll up half an hour “late,” you’ll still be in time to join the crowd waiting by the river. Just expect to jockey for a good spot—everyone wants to see the big splash!

But honestly, it’s about way more than just the duck race. The whole town comes alive with food trucks lined up serving everything from fry bread and tacos to local specialties, plus vendors selling crafts, aprons, spices, and all sorts of handmade treasures. I got to chat with so many amazing small business owners, each with their own story. Thanks to all the wonderful vendors who took the time to share a little bit of themselves—I can’t wait to reconnect at future events.

And let’s not forget the music! Live bands and performers keep the energy going, while families and friends dance, laugh, and soak up the good vibes. Duck Day is truly a place where you run into familiar faces and make new friends, all while supporting local businesses.

If you missed this year, don’t worry—Duck Day Festival always brings the fun. Bring your appetite, bring your curiosity, and bring your sense of community. Until next year, quack on!

Watch the full video

Event Overview

Duck Day Festival 2025 took place on Sunday, June 1st, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM along the Naugatuck River on Maple Street. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the festival featured a variety of activities, including:

• The Great Duck Day Race: Over 15,000 rubber ducks raced down the river at 2 PM, with exciting prizes for the winners.
• Corporate Duck Dash: A fun race featuring large rubber ducks sponsored by local businesses.
• Duck, Duck, Jeep! Competition: A unique contest showcasing creatively decorated Jeeps.
• Live Music: Performances by the high-energy Madhouse Party Band kept the crowd entertained throughout the day.
• Vendor Market: A diverse selection of local artisans and businesses offering crafts, jewelry, and more.
• Food Vendors: A wide array of food trucks and vendors serving delicious treats.
• Street Performances: Strolling performers added to the festive atmosphere.
• Inflatables and Kids' Activities: Fun for the whole family with games, bounce houses, and more.

Featured Vendors

The Duck Day Market showcased a variety of local vendors, including:

• Blueberry Cat Collectibles
• The Craft Addict
• Farmstyle Woodworks
• For the Furry Friend
• Hangry Spice Company
• The Inner Artist
• Intergalactic Gems
• Make a Bracelet
• Ocean and Sand Permanent Jewelry
• Redeeming Life Nutrition
• Rick Stromoski Cartoons
• Robins Nest Home & Hearth
• Slime Before Time
• Susquis Designs
• Tooth & Nail Tattoo
• Trend My Soul Jewelry
• Yarn Tales

Delicious Food Options

Attendees enjoyed a variety of culinary delights from food vendors such as:

• Big Dipper Ice Cream
• Bricins Festival Foods
• The Coffee Shop
• Fatboys
• Keith’s Ice Cream Truck
• The Local Lemon
• Lucky Dog World’s Famous Hot Dogs
• The Mobile Bartender
• Meatball Bombs
• Not Just Blowin’ Smoke
• Paradise Island

Community Impact

Duck Day Festival is not only a fun-filled event but also supports the local community. Proceeds from the Duck Race benefit more than 80 area non-profits. Over the last 20 years, Duck Day has helped over 500 area nonprofit organizations raise more than $510,000 as part of the Duck Day raffle.

2025 Milford Oyster Festival Overhaul Spurs Community Response

Festival Format Changes in 2025

Milford’s iconic Oyster Festival – a summertime tradition for over 50 years – is undergoing major changes in 2025. Organizers have condensed the festival into two evening-only events on Friday and Saturday, August 15–16 (5:00–10:00 PM) at Fowler Field, eliminating the traditional all-day Saturday fair on the Milford Green. In December, the volunteer festival committee announced it would no longer host events at Milford Green, Lisman Landing, Armory Square, Rotary Pavilion, or Milford Harbor – locations that for decades had housed craft booths, kids’ activities, and other daytime attractions.

Instead of a sprawling multi-venue affair, the reimagined festival will be concentrated at one site with a main stage each night. This effectively doubles the popular “Oyster Eve” concert into a two-night celebration, while removing the Saturday daytime street fair and other auxiliary events from the schedule. Notably, 2025 introduces a new $8.00 admission fee for each night (children 13 and under free), a shift from the long-standing free entry policy.

Why the Change?

• Rising Costs: Security, infrastructure, and entertainment have grown too expensive to maintain a free event of the festival’s scale.
• Booking Difficulties: National-level acts are cost-prohibitive and harder to secure, leading to a more regional and tribute-band focus.
• Volunteer Shortages: Fewer volunteers are available, and reducing the scale helps make the event manageable for the remaining team.

The committee says these changes are essential to preserving the festival's legacy. As Festival President Jay Pinto noted, “Out of respect for the Milford Oyster Festival and what has been accomplished in 50 years, we believe it is the right time to close this chapter and begin a new one.”

Community Reaction and Backlash

The format shift sparked mixed reactions. Many residents and vendors expressed disappointment over the loss of the traditional Green fair and kids’ activities. Concerns were raised about the economic impact on local merchants and the loss of a family-friendly daytime environment. However, the committee emphasized that “this change will not be easy for many of our vendors, supporters, and attendees,” and that the goal is to ensure the festival continues long into the future.

Downtown Milford Responds: “Fair on the Half Shell”

In response, the Downtown Milford Business Association (DMBA) stepped up to continue the community tradition. Led by President Tracy Bonosconi, We spoke to here over the past few months as this was unfolding but wanted to wait for the official, the DMBA announced the Fair on the Half Shell – a daytime community celebration happening on Saturday, August 16, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM on the Milford Green. The event will feature many of the same vendors, crafters, activities, and family fun the community knows and loves – now with a refreshed identity and renewed local support.

The DMBA will close North and South Broad Street and may expand vendor activity near the Milford Bank or Mary Taylor Church. Local shops, artisans, nonprofits, and families are invited to join this new chapter in Milford’s downtown celebration.

Looking Ahead

The dual events of 2025 – the Milford Oyster Festival: After Dark at Fowler Field and the Fair on the Half Shell on the Milford Green – offer a best-of-both-worlds experience for residents and visitors alike. The evening format ensures financial sustainability for the Oyster Festival, while the DMBA’s daytime fair preserves the community spirit and vendor exposure that Milford has cherished for decades.

Both organizations share the goal of showcasing Milford, supporting small businesses, and bringing people together in meaningful ways. Local leaders encourage the public to support both events as part of one united celebration weekend.

🙏 A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MILFORD OYSTER FESTIVAL COMMITTEE 🙏

We recognize and deeply appreciate the Milford Oyster Festival Committee for approving the use of the original logo and supporting the rebranding of the Green fair to "Fair on the Half Shell." Their cooperation and encouragement reflect a shared commitment to what matters most: celebrating Milford’s heritage while ensuring future generations can enjoy its vibrant spirit.

This is a powerful example of community collaboration at its best — and it wouldn't be possible without the dedication and flexibility of the Oyster Festival Committee, the DMBA, and the many volunteers working behind the scenes to bring joy and connection to the people of Milford.

Read the original article for background: 2025: Goodbye to Milford Green – Milford Oyster Festival’s New Evening-Only Format

Funny Bone et BISTRO BUDDY Lancent l'Événement Officiel Après le Festival de Food Trucks de Manchester

Funny Bone Comedy Club à Manchester, CT, s'est associé à la plateforme dédiée à la nourriture, aux boissons, aux événements et à la culture BISTRO BUDDY pour présenter une série de spectacles de comédie sur trois soirées, du 20 au 22 juin 2025, juste après le Festival de Food Trucks de Manchester.

Pas besoin de vous soucier de la météo — s’il pleut ou fait trop chaud, le centre commercial offre le refuge intérieur parfait et sécurisé pendant le festival. Les visiteurs peuvent apporter leur nourriture des food trucks et profiter d’un environnement climatisé et assis à l’intérieur du centre commercial en cas de pluie. Que vous cherchiez à vous rafraîchir, à éviter la pluie ou à faire quelque chose en soirée à l’intérieur, c’est l’endroit idéal après le festival.

Pluie ou Soleil, Restez au Sec et Continuez à Vous Amuser

Pas besoin de vous soucier de la météo — en cas de pluie ou de chaleur, le Funny Bone est le refuge intérieur idéal pendant le festival. Les visiteurs peuvent apporter leur repas acheté aux food trucks et profiter d’un espace climatisé avec un bar complet et un service à table. Que vous cherchiez à vous rafraîchir, à échapper à la pluie ou à trouver une sortie nocturne en intérieur, c’est l’endroit parfait après le festival.

Vendredi & Samedi : Jared Freid en Tête d’Affiche avec Deux Spectacles par Soir

Jared Freid, connu pour son spectacle Netflix “37 & Single” et ses podcasts populaires JTrain et U Up?, sera en tête d’affiche :

• Vendredi 20 juin – 19h00 & 21h45
• Samedi 21 juin – 18h30 & 21h15

Ces deux soirées sont annoncées comme les after-parties officielles du festival et proposeront un service complet de repas et bar. Le public peut s’attendre à de l’humour percutant, rythmé, centré sur les relations amoureuses et la vie quotidienne.

BISTRO BUDDY sera sur place pour filmer une nouvelle bande-annonce comique, capturant les réactions et interviews du public. Vous pourriez apparaître dans une vidéo virale !

Dimanche : Chente Ydrach se Produit en Espagnol

Le week-end se termine le dimanche 22 juin à 18h00 avec le spectacle “Crudo USA 2025” de Chente Ydrach — un show puissant et hilarant entièrement en espagnol. Connu pour son style authentique et sans filtre, Chente touche profondément le public hispanophone grâce à son humour sincère.

C’est le seul spectacle de comédie en espagnol du week-end — la parfaite conclusion d’un festival riche en saveurs et en divertissement.

BISTRO BUDDY sera en tournage sur place pendant les trois soirées. Les interviews et réactions du public figureront dans une future bande-annonce de comédie — ce spectacle est bien plus qu’un simple show. Les premières parties seront diffusées en direct, permettant également au public en ligne de profiter de l’énergie du festival.

Gastronomie, Humour et Culture Réunis

Cette série d’événements mêle l’ambiance des food trucks à la comédie live de haut niveau. Que vous terminiez votre journée au festival ou que vous veniez uniquement pour sortir le soir, vous pourrez savourer un bon repas chaud, profiter d’un bar complet avec boissons bien fraîches, et vivre une expérience de stand-up mémorable — le tout sous un même toit, peu importe la météo.

Lieu & Billets

Tous les spectacles auront lieu au :

Funny Bone Comedy Club
194 Buckland Hills Dr
Manchester, CT 06042

Les billets sont disponibles dès maintenant sur le site officiel de Funny Bone et dans les événements listés sur BISTRO BUDDY :

• Vendredi 20 juin – Jared Freid
• Samedi 21 juin – Jared Freid
• Dimanche 22 juin – Chente Ydrach (Espagnol)

Des billets en VIP et Entrée Générale sont disponibles. Événement réservé aux 18 ans et plus. Les places sont limitées — réservez vite !