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06/03/2024 08:15 AMAre you ready? Because the organizers of the 40th Branford Festival certainly are ready to greet you with a summer kick-off that fills the Branford Green Friday, June 14, Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16. Get ready to enjoy three days of entertainment, festival attractions, food, and fun.
Since the start of the year, Branford Festival Board president Maria Schilder and president-elect Colin Sheehan have been leading the effort to mark the 40th Branford Festival milestone by raising $40,000 to keep the festival going well into the future. Donations are welcome online at branfordfestival.com.
“This is a monumental year and so we wanted people to think about it all year long, instead of just in June. We’ve been reaching out to inspire the community, including new residents and new businesses,” said Sheehan. “We’re hoping that as we get closer to the festival, we’ll get more donations, and then even after the festival. Our goal is to raise enough money in the 40th year to get to the 50th year.”
The all-volunteer board and festival committee volunteers have also been working to raise awareness about 2024 being the 40th year for the Branford Festival.
“This year, we really kicked into high gear by being very active on social media and partnering with members of the community and different organizations,” said Sheehan.
For example, while Father of the Year has always been a special festival program, this year, a special Moms of the Decades event was organized to honor 40 Branford moms nominated by their families. The celebration was held at Thimble Island Brewery.
Online and social media efforts include those at the festival’s Facebook, Instagram, and website, all packed with information about this year’s ‘fest, such as the exciting live music lineup. The ‘fest opens Friday, June 14 at 5:30 p.m. with music, beginning with the Branford High School Concert Choir. Next, the festival’s Singer/Song Writer Showcase features Phoebe Merrill, followed by a performance by Red Light at 7 p.m. After the singing of the National Anthem by Stephanie Stiefel Williams, Branford Festival amps up with headliner LoVeSeXy Tribute to the Music of Prince, on the main stage at 9 p.m.
The musical excitement continues to build on Saturday, June 15, kicking off with the Singer/Song Writer Showcase featuring Branford’s Bob Crelin (BC) at 5:30 p.m. Crelin, who has opened shows for Marshall Crenshaw, blues guitarist Sue Foley, and Jon Herrington of Steely Dan, is excited to share his newest BC track, A Love Revolution, with his hometown. Released May 31, A Love Revolution is a tribute to the art and music of the ‘60’s, said Crelin, who is freely sharing the music at streaming platforms or bc-tunes.com
“Growing up in the 1960s, I was captivated by the hopeful idealism of a new generation, challenging us to accept and care for each other, and our collective future,” said Crelin of his song. “I believe we all still hold these essential human ideals in our hearts. I offer my two minutes and fifty-six seconds of hope.”
Following Crelin’s performance, The Mediums perform at 7 p.m.; then Sunset Drive plays at 7:30 p.m. The National Anthem will be sung by Keely Baisden Knudsen, just ahead of headliner Live and Let Die, A Tribute to Paul McCartney, from 9 to 11 p.m.
Those are some of the sounds; here are some of the scents that will mingle in the festival air at the food court, open Friday, June 14 from 5 to 10 p.m., Sat., June 15, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. June 16, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Imagine the delicious scents of fried dough, stuffed baked potatoes, steak and cheese subs, classic hamburgers and hotdogs, pizza, sausage and pepper grinders, lobster rolls, fresh-squeezed lemonade, pierogi, Pad Thai...you get the idea. Not to be outdone, desserts include strawberry shortcake, cream puffs, cinnamon buns, ice cream, and more.
Kids can take a whirl on the festival’s ticketed amusement rides, courtesy of Marenna Amusements at the back of the green all through the festival. Hands-on kids’ activities will be also by provided by Blackstone Memorial Library.
Special events during the festival include the Artisan Marketplace on Sat., June 15, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Head over to the Main Street side of the Branford green to find dozens of local artists and creative businesses for one-stop-shopping under the tents.
Father’s Day on Sun. June 16 opens with the Branford Rotary food tent’s traditional All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast (also offered Sat., June 15). The morning crowd is also there on Father’s Day to cheer on the Branford Road Race, a Branford tradition founded by Ray Figlewski and Dick Wainman. The huge event includes a 5-mile race, 2-mile health walk, and 1-mile family fun run on the Branford Green. Branford Road Race is a separate program coinciding with the festival, find more information at branfordroadrace.
The 40th Branford Festival marks another milestone for the community and those who volunteer to help put on this amazing event: it is the final festival to be led by Schilder, a longtime festival volunteer who steps down as board president (but will continue to be involved).
Schilder said she hopes many more residents will want to get involved as volunteers and grow in their involvement, just as she did. In addition to leading the board, Schilder also served as the festival chairman in 2005.
“I have volunteered alongside a lot of amazing people, and I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the years, including this year,” said Schilder. “I think it’s very, very exciting that it’s the 40th festival. What [inaugural chairman] Roger Shaffer thought would be great all those years ago has been just that; and it’s also great that we’re still here, and we’re still doing it.”