It’s a chance to taste food from 35 CT restaurants. And to see how top chefs do it.

Think of it as massive block party.

And one during which money is raised to help feed food insecure residents throughout Connecticut.

There is vibrant artwork at the party, music, the best food Hartford has to offer, demonstrations and inside stories from the area’s most iconic chefs.

Downtown Hartford will come alive June 6 and June 7 with food from 35 restaurants, 30 musical acts, artwork and a brand-new cultural stage experience.

It’s the return of Hartford Taste, presented by The Hartford and to benefit Connecticut Foodshare, which helps feed residents across the state.

Admission to Hartford Taste is free and centered at Pratt and Trumbull streets from noon to 9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

“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,” he said. “I look forward to attending this year and hope to see many of our friends and neighbors.”

According to the latest numbers from Connecticut Foodshare released in mid-May, one in seven Connecticut residents are food insecure and the overall food insecurity rate in the state is at 14.3 percent.

More than 516,000 people in the state are struggling with food insecurity, a more than 10 percent increase from last year.

Data shows that 2020 was the last year food insecurity in Connecticut decreased.

Federal cuts adding up to about $2.7 million have hit the agency hard as well, in a time when need has increased, said Ayah Galal of Connecticut Foodshare.

She said fundraising events such as Hartford Taste are “a win-win” because people get to have fun, try new food,” and help raise money and awareness to address food insecurity.

Galal added: “It will be nice to see Pratt Street so vibrant.”

For the third year in a row The Hartford will 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 Lynn Kennedy, head of small business sales and distribution at The Hartford.

A new cultural stage experience called, “The Kitchen Table – Good Food & Good Conversation,” has been added. It is there that chefs, mixologists and creatives will share live demonstrations, storytelling and interactive dialogue about what food and culture mean in Hartford.

Another event likely to draw interest is The Kitchen Table Stage at Hartford Taste, which showcases the heavy hitters of the Greater Hartford culinary scene giving cooking demos and telling stories related to their fields.

There will also be bartenders doing cocktail demos and live art.

A schedule of those appearances is on the Hartford Taste website. They include Carbone’s owner Vinnie Carbone; and The Foundry’s Executive chef Jeffrey Lizotte and bar manager Chelsea Solkowski.

Also, Executive Chef Moe Major of RAW restaurant; Bears BBQ owner Jamie McDonald;  Max Restaurant Group partner and executive chef Christopher Torla; Pastry Chef Kerrigan Pothier of Fire by Forge.

While admission, music and presentations are free, guests who would like to eat purchase Taste Tickets for food.

In 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 talent that makes Hartford so vibrant, a spokesperson for the festival said.

“Hartford Taste isn’t just a festival—it’s an economic engine and a creative showcase,” said 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.”