The iQuilt Partnership’s Friday Five: Winterfest Wrapped

The iQuilt Partnership (Hartford, CT - February 6, 2026) - Winterfest Hartford is officially wrapped for the season, and what a winter it was. While we’re still packing up the skates and breaking down the rink, the final numbers are in. Here are five highlights that capture the impact of the 15th season of Winterfest Hartford:

1. 30,948 Skaters
   Nearly 31,000 people laced up their skates at Winterfest Hartford this season, with visitors coming from 45 states and Puerto Rico.
    

2. 92 Free Activations
   From performances and civic celebrations to family events, school partnerships, and sponsor-supported programming, Winterfest went far beyond the ice with activations reaching north to the Ebony Horsewomen, south to the Maple Avenue tree lights, and 26 Live Elf on the Shelf pop-ups all around the city. 
    

3. 3,500 Santa Photos
   In just 12 hours, Santa welcomed 388 families (1,007 people, plus two dogs and a cat!) and helped send 897 Santa letters near and far.
    

4. 918 students
   Twelve schools brought 918 students to the rink for free skating outings, expanding access to winter recreation for youth across the region.
    

5. 129 volunteers
   Alongside our staff and partners, 129 volunteers helped make the season possible, from skate sharpening and Santa’s Workshop to events and rink operations. A huge thank-you to the companies whose volunteer teams helped make the magic happen, including M&T Bank, HYPE, Nassau, Travelers, Eversource, Fuss & O’Neill, People’s Bank, and Pratt & Whitney.

Want the full story? Read the complete Winterfest Hartford Wrap-Up, including demographics, digital reach, partners, and behind-the-scenes highlights, and if you'd like to get a head start on a sponsorship for next season you can learn more here. 

Thank you all for being part of what makes Winterfest Hartford possible! We can’t wait to do it all again next winter.

Thanks so much again to M&T Bank, Richard P. Garmany Fund, Eversource, Travelers, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Bissell Foundation, LAZ Parking, Nassau, William Peelle, PeoplesBank, The Hartford, Hartford HealthCare, All Waste, Freed Marcroft, Hartford SteamBoiler, JCJ Architecture, Roggi's Automotive, Sullivan & LeShane, CREC, Access Health CT, Betty Knox Foundation, Comcast, Robinson + Cole, Reid and Riege, P.C., SINA, BETA and VHB.

We love our sponsors and are so grateful to them for making this holiday magic happen. Learn more about sponsorship here.