Save as PDF and/or PrintEnvisioning the Future
When 25,000 people flock to downtown Hartford on Saturday, Sept. 29 for EnvisionFest, the Connecticut Science Center will be at the forefront of showcasing the capital city’s spirit of innovation.
EnvisionFest, a daylong event produced by The iQuilt Partnership, is designed to enlighten people about the city’s grand transformation into a destination of walking, culture and innovation. The event will celebrate the ingenuity of the region’s industries, artists and people. Visitors will be treated to hundreds of free activities along the green spine of the city, which stretches from the train station to the riverfront.
The Science Center is proud to be part of the transformation that has been occurring in the capital city over the last several years. Not only is it one of the newest additions to the city’s skyline, it also draws visitors from every town in the state and every state in the country. In just three years, it has become an anchor destination for downtown Hartford.
As part of EnvisionFest, the Science Center will be open on a free, or “pay as you wish,” basis to the public Sept. 29. “There’s no better example of the kind of ingenuity that will transform our world than here in Connecticut,” says Science Center President and CEO Matt Fleury. “Just as our community is working to change people’s experience and perceptions of Hartford, we are bringing the wonders of science alive for our visitors. There’s nothing like the hands-on experience we offer to introduce kids to the cutting-edge careers of tomorrow and get adults excited about the physical world around them.”
The EnvisionFest spirit – taking a fresh look at something you thought you knew – is reflected particularly well in the “Strange Matter” visiting exhibit, which will celebrate its opening day at the Connecticut Science Center on Sept. 29. Presented by UTC, and here through Jan. 1, Strange Matter takes ordinary materials we use every day – glass, metals, liquids, etc. – and explores how they are put together, used, and can be changed.
“This exhibit about materials science is a great metaphor for The iQuilt Project,” Fleury says. “It shows how, through innovation, you can take what you have and mold it into amazing new creations.”
General admission to the Connecticut Science Center’s 150+ exhibits will be free or “pay as you wish” from 10AM to 5PM for EnvisionFest on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Science Center Café, gift shop and Maximillian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation Science Theater 3D movies will be available at regular rates. The full schedule of EnvisionFest activities may be found at EnvisionFestHartford.com.
