The Mum Festival will return in September. The announcement was made this week by the Bristol Exchange Club and the Mum Festival Committee. Here is their full press release:

The Mum Festival which has been Bristol’s fall marquee community-focused event for almost 60 years is back. After postponing the 2020 Festival the Bristol Exchange Club and the Mum Festival Committee, are proud to announce the Festival’s return in September 2021 with a theme of “Honoring Heroes”.

The City of Bristol, the Bristol Exchange Club Board of Directors and the Mum Festival Committee, have approved concept plans for a scaled down 2021 Mum Festival based on current Covid Protocols for this year.

The Mum Festival will be held on September 24th -26th. Additionally, due to ongoing construction and renovations at the Memorial Blvd. Magnet school, this year’s Mum Festival will be moving to Downtown Bristol and held on North Main Street and the surrounding area.

“As we as a city, state and nation gradually emerge from the pandemic, we are excited to be back,” declared Jack Ferraro, Festival General Chair. “After months of hard work and in collaboration with the City of Bristol, various City departments and our volunteer Mum Festival committee, we have developed an operating plan to safely host the Mum Festival that follows existing guidelines that will enable us to bring back a scaled down Festival this fall for all to enjoy.”

A theme of “Honoring Heroes” was chosen to pay tribute to all the heath care and essential workers who worked so hard during the pandemic.

This year’s festival will feature a new layout that will be utilizing lower North Main Street, Hope Street, Riverside Avenue Ext., Bracket Park for our Kids Zone, the Bristol Health parking lot for our Car Show, and the former Patch and surrounding area.

There will not be a carnival this year and this will return in 2022. Plans also call for a parade which will also be shortened and moved to downtown as well.

“For as long as I can remember, the Mum Festival weekend has always been an annual highlight on Bristol’s calendar,” commented Councilman Greg Hahn, City Council Liaison to the Mum Festival Committee. “It is great to have the Festival back after missing last year due to Covid and bringing the celebration downtown will further add to the excitement. Get ready for the concerts, kid zone, car show, beer garden, art walk, vendors, food, parade, mums and more. Many thanks to the Exchange Club, the Mum Festival Committee and all the volunteers it takes to make this event happen.”

Over the course of the Festival weekend the 2021 Mum Festival plans will feature vendors from area businesses, crafters, local producers, restaurants, food trucks, community organizations, non- profits, and museums. In addition, the Festival will feature children’s programming such as a petting zoo, pony rides, touch-a-vehicle, pumpkin painting. Plans also call for a classic car show, an art show, great food, a beer and wine garden, and plenty of live music and entertainment. As always admission to the Festival will be free.

“Fall has always been a time to celebrate and more than ever as we hopefully put Covid in our rear-view mirror this fall, we can use that time to celebrate this year and take the time to give thanks and honor our heroes to whom we owe a debt of gratitude,” continued Ferraro. “We are especially excited to be bringing the Festival downtown this year and this years’ Festival will certainly feature something for everyone!”

The Mum Festival Committee is looking for those interested in becoming Festival sponsors, vendors, volunteers or those individual or organizations interested in participating in the Mum Festival Parade. Check out https://bristolmumfestival.com/ for more information.

The Mum Festival is also looking for community support to help offset the costs of putting on this community focused event. To donate in support of the Festival please visit https://bristol-mum-festival.square.site/ .
“As planning continues, we will continue to update the community,” continued Ferraro. “Look for more information to be released throughout the summer and early fall.”

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For more information on the 2021 Mum Festival & Parade please visit:
www.bristolmumfestival.com

The Mum Festival & Parade is Produced by the Exchange Club of Bristol CT INC., a Non-Profit 501-(c)3
The Mum Festival & Parade is a City of Bristol Sponsored Event
Sponsorship & General Inquiries
Jack Ferraro
Jason Fields
Festival General Chair and Co-Chair e: mumfestivalbristol@gmail.com
Vendor Inquiries
Andy Adams
Vendor Chair
e: mum.festival.events@gmail.com
Parade Inquiries
Dianna Tack
Mum Festival Parade Chair
e: bristolmumparade@gmail.com
Communication Inquiries
Shannen Tack
Mickey Goldwasser
Marketing & Planning Co-Chairs
e: marketing.mumfestival@gmail.com
Working Plans for 2021 Subject to change: