By David Fortier
The 62nd Mum Festival, with the theme “A Mumtastic Time for All,” kicks off this evening with its opening ceremony honoring this year’s Hometown Heroes, CERT (Bristol’s Community Emergency Resource Team.
Through Sunday evening when things wind up, the festival offers food and entertainment, its annual pageant and parade.
“All 120 vendor spaces which include crafters, nonprofit organizations and businesses, are full and we have a waiting list,” said Andrea “Andy” Adams, chair of the vendor committee.
“We have 23 food trucks and booths–gourmet filled cupcakes and cookies, baked potatoes, loaded tater tots, lobster mac and cheese, paninis, steamed cheeseburgers” she said, and the list goes on.
Regarding the parade, Mum Festival Parade committee chair Dianna Tack said there will be several new groups, including Hartford’s Proud Drill and Dance Corps, founded in 2013.
“[The Corps] was designed to keep young people off the streets,” she said. “Quite a fascinating story.”
In addition, there will the Central Connecticut Ghostbusters, a volunteer group that raises money for local charities, as well as usual high school bands from the city and surrounding areas and three fife and drum corps.
“We have a variety of floats, churches, businesses, schools, dance groups and characters to march and mingle with the crowd.” Tack said.
This year’s grand marshal is Fire Chief Richard “Rick” Hart who will be on hand for the opening ceremonies, as a judge of the annual car show and a participant in the Hometown Heroes breakfast on Sunday morning.
The parade is Sunday, Sept. 29 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
“The weather looks great,” Tack said. “Hope you get to come down to the festival and enjoy.”
Friday’s events, beginning with the opening ceremony at 5 p.m. on the main stage at the Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School field, include the Miss Mum Pageant at Rockwell Theater at 6 p.m. and “River of Dreams–Billy Joel Tribute Band” at 7:30 p.m., again, on the main stage.
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the festival is open from 12 noon to 9 p.m., when activities are in full swing, with the carnival and its 15 rides and with 120 vendors lining the field and the length of Memorial Boulevard. Saturday’s headliner band is Soul Sound Revue, at 7:30 p.m. There will be performers on the main stage beginning at noon.
On Sunday, the festival is open from 12 noon to 6 p.m., with entertainment, vendors, food and rides all day. The headliner band, at 3 p.m., will be Lori & the Legends. Closing ceremonies will take place at 5:30 p.m. The Honoring Our Hometown Heroes breakfast will be from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Elks Club.
Each day there will be special events and exhibitions under the marquee tent, with the “Arts & Museum Gala,” from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Also under the tent, there is a meet and greet with Bristol Police Department canine, Frankie and “Fun Art” with Bob Faucher on Saturday, and Sunday, more fun art and music by the TJ Thompson Trio.
Pony and trolley rides, axe throwing, a petting zoo, balloon tying, giant bubbles, touch-a-vehicle fire spinners and pumpkin painting are among the activities.
The Blues and Brews Beverage Garden will be open Friday and Saturday, from 5 to 9 p.m., and again on Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
For more information, check BristolMumFestival.com.
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