Bicentennial Celebration Events

FALL 2023–SPRING 2024

 

Bicentennial Lessons and Carols

December 10, 2023

Join us for a special 64th Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols to mark the beginning of the holiday season for the Greater Hartford community.  For this special event, we will feature a newly commissioned work by David Hurd, a setting of a portion of Psalm 96: “Sing to the Lord a New Song,” dedicated to Lisa Bisaccia ‘78 and Robert Naparstek whose generosity has supported the Chapel Music program. Other pieces by alumni and community composers and performers include:

• “Hark the Glad Sound” by Paul Lindsley Thomas ’50
  
• “He shall come down like rain” by Dudley Buck, Class of 1859
• “The Angel Gabriel” by Robert Edward Smith, chapel composer-in-residence since 1979
• “Cradle Song” by Douglas Bruce Johnson, professor emeritus of music
• Student organists Madison Thompson ’25 and Chris Yi ’26 will perform with Vaughn Mauren ’07.

• The Chapel Singers will sing a piece which premiered 825 years ago, Pérotin’s “Viderunt Omnes,” and a work by Kerensa Briggs.

• Trinity College Gospel Choir will perform a festive selection. 

Location: The Chapel, free to all, seating is on a first-come basis
Time: 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Click for more information

Cinestudio—Six Decades of Movies at Trinity

Since 1970, Cinestudio has been an integral part of Trinity’s campus life. Part of the free and open 1823 Series, Cinestudio presents a curated series of iconic films that each represent a decade since its founding, as selected by alumni, students, faculty, and staff. No tickets needed for the films; entrance is free and open. Film lineup is subject to change. All screenings are followed by a talkback.

All screenings are at 2 p.m.

1823 Athletic Contests and Receptions

Join us as we rally behind Trinity College’s exceptional student-athletes as they compete and commemorate a legacy of sportsmanship on our historic campus. As part of the 1823 Series—Bicentennial events that are free and open to all—each varsity team will designate one game throughout the year and host a reception in honor of the Bicentennial. So, don your finest blue and gold attire and prepare to proudly cheer on the Bantams.

December 9, 2023

Men’s Basketball and Men’s Ice Hockey

Location: Memorial Field House
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Registration is open

Bicentennial Matches:

• 1:00 p.m.: Men’s basketball
• 4:00 p.m.: Men’s ice hockey

February 3, 2024

Women’s Basketball, Women’s Ice Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, Men’s and Women’s Squash, Wrestling

Location: Memorial Field House
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Bicentennial game times TBA
Event registration is forthcoming

April 13, 2024

Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s Lacrosse

Location: the green space between Robin L. Sheppard Field and Murren Family Field/DiBenedetto Stadium
Time: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Bicentennial game times TBA
Event registration is forthcoming

April 20, 2024

Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Track and Field, Women’s Track and Field

Location: the green space between Robin L. Sheppard Field and Murren Family Field/DiBenedetto Stadium
Time: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Bicentennial game times TBA
Event registration is forthcoming

April 27, 2024

Baseball and Softball

Location: the green space between Robin L. Sheppard Field and Murren Family Field/DiBenedetto Stadium
Time: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Bicentennial game times TBA
Event registration is forthcoming

Regional Bicentennial Faculty Events

Join us for a series of regional events with Trinity College faculty from a variety of disciplines. Faculty speakers will join Sonia Cardenas, dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs and Scott M. Johnson ’97 Distinguished Professor of Political Science,  and share their scholarship, research, and a look into the futures of their fields. Hear directly from faculty about Trinity’s innovative liberal arts curriculum and how they’re preparing students to tackle the challenges of today’s world and those of the future.

Thursday, February 22, 2024
Fairfield County, CT

Bicentennial Symposia

Spring Symposium
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The Bicentennial Symposia are designed by faculty, staff, students, and alumni to create inter-generational reflection and dialogue about our history, our identity, and our future. Attend in person or watch keynote talks online.

Bicentennial Gala

Saturday, May 11, 2024

The closing gala at the Connecticut Convention Center will honor the Trinity–Hartford connection and raise funds for financial aid.

1823 Series: Free Public Concert with Plena Libre

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Enjoy music from the Grammy-nominated Plena Libre, mixing traditional Puerto Rican rhythms with modern Afro-Caribbean influences. Get ready to dance!

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PAST EVENTS

Bicentennial Kickoff

Friday, May 5, 2023

The campus community capped off Honors Day 2023 by launching the Bicentennial! Carnival games and traditional fair food, branded Bicentennial giveaways,  games, music , and a fireworks finale made this an event to remember. Check out a recap of the event!

Charter Day 2023

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Did you know that a Charter Day tree planting tradition dates back to the late 19th century? What’s old is new again on May 16, as we celebrated Charter Day with a ceremonial tree planting and the Connecticut State Capitol flying the Trinity flag. President Berger-Sweeney and Banty provided a lemonade toast.  Watch a recap of the day, and read about our designation as an arboretum.

Alumni Bicentennial Celebration

Friday–Sunday, June 9–11, 2023

Alumni returned to campus for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration over the course of our traditional Reunion Weekend. They reconnected with classmates and friends from cultural houses, athletic teams, fraternities and sororities, academic groups, and student clubs; renewed Trinity wedding vows in the Chapel; found names in first-year Matriculation books; and enjoyed musical performances and dancing in the biggest birthday bash. Check out a recap of the weekend!

Bicentennial Concerts and Picnic

Wednesday, July 12

The first event of the 1823 Series—Bicentennial events that are free and open to the public—the Bicentennial Concerts and Picnic, featured an organ recital inside the Chapel by Christopher Houlihan, John Rose College Organist-and-Directorship Distinguished Chair of Chapel Music and Artist-in-Residence. An outdoor live performance by Ellen Dickinson, College Carillonneur, will follow and include Fanfare 1823, which was commissioned in honor of Trinity’s Bicentennial celebration.  Read a recap of the event.

2023 Community Block Party

September 23, 2023

Mather Hall

A fun-filled back-to-school event featured free food trucks, performances, entertainment, and special ways to engage with Trinity’s Bicentennial celebration. Hosted by Trinity College’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Bicentennial Fall Weekend

Friday–Sunday, October 13–15, 2023

All were invited to an autumnal celebration that combined the traditions of Homecoming and the kinship of Family Weekend. The Bantams teams met rivals on the playing fields and the fall athletics reception celebrated our football, women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, and field hockey teams.  See the schedule

JOY!

As part of Trinity College’s 1823 Series, the Austin Arts Center presented JOY!, a dazzling spectacle of music, dance, and circus on October 13 and 14. Under the direction of choreographer Tandy Beal, this world-class, multi-talented ensemble of dancers, acrobats, and circus artists performed to live music from award-winning a cappella group SoVoSó. Tailored to Trinity’s Bicentennial, the magical madcap of more than 25 JOY! performers were joined by students, faculty, and professionals from the College, and the surrounding region.

The Virtual Long Walk: Committed to the Future

Wednesday, October 25, 2023