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08/19/2024 01:56 PMGet ready, Clinton: The annual SummerFest is on for Saturday, Aug. 24. The day will feature fun for the whole family starting at 4 p.m. and send off the summer with a fireworks display around 9 p.m.
SummerFest is an annual, town-wide event held the Saturday before Labor Day weekend to celebrate summer’s end. It culminates with an impressive fireworks display. Festivities start at 4 p.m., and the fireworks are launched around 9 p.m. In the case of rain, the fireworks will take place on Aug. 25.
Activities will be held at two separate locations: Clinton Town Hall and the town beach. Both will open at 4 p.m., according to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Orsini.
“However, the beach won’t really get going until around 6 p.m.,” Orsini said.
Behind Town Hall, there will be fun for the whole family. The band Rock Bottom will be playing music until 7:30 p.m., and there will be a beer garden until the same time. Food trucks will be on hand to provide everything from kid food and desserts to international favorites.
“The big new thing we have this year is we really expanded the kid activity area. We’ll have an obstacle course, face painting, animals from Meigs Point Nature Center, and more,” Orsini said. We’re doing everything we’ve done the last few years, just with more kid activities.”
Orsini said that the town beach will also feature food trucks and music. A DJ will start playing around 6 p.m., and the fireworks will be set off shortly before 9 p.m.
The beach will be closed until 4 p.m., and Waterside Lane will be open only to authorized vehicles. Residents of Waterside Lane are encouraged to pick up a pass to access the street at the Chamber of Commerce located at 50 East Main Street.
A shuttle will provide rides from the Pierson School to Town Hall and the beach between 4 and 8 p.m. It will not provide rides back after the fireworks. Additionally, Waterside Lane will be closed to vehicular traffic following the fireworks until all the pedestrians are gone.
In the event of rain, the fireworks will still be launched on Aug. 25; however, no other activities will be held.
Orsini said soliciting donations this year was a little trickier than in years past as people struggle with rising costs.
“We really want to thank everyone who donated; it’s very appreciated,” Orsini said.
The Chamber is still seeking volunteers to help during the event. Those interested can call the Chamber at 860-669-3889.
The SummerFest debuted in 2015 and has since become an important date on the town calendar, usually drawing a few thousand people downtown. When the event was canceled in 2017 due to logistics issues and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a few people were upset at the news.
However, the event came back in 2021 and, by all accounts, has been a roaring success since.
“It’s really just a fabulous day that everyone enjoys. It’s one of the biggest days the town has, and it’s just nice to see so many people downtown walking around and having a great time,” Orsini said.