Rain Doesn’t Dampen 33rd Annual Festival

Although the weather wasn’t perfect, thousands still flocked to the Town Green on Saturday and Sunday to be part of the 33rd Annual Branford Festival on the Town Green.

“We were all disappointed that we had to cancel the entertainment on Friday,” said chairperson Camille Linke (pictured.) ​“Residents were looking forward to seeing the Bon Jovi Tribute band and enjoying the great variety of food being offered by our vendors along the food court.”

“We can’t have any groups playing on a rainy wet stage with their electric musical instruments,” said entertainment chairman Dennis Nardella. ​“It’s just too dangerous.”

Also canceled due to the rain were ​“DOA: The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute Band” and ​“The BeNdErS,” a classic rock group from New Haven.

However, the rain didn’t stop Cathyann Roding and the Branford High School Concert Choir. In the final performance of her illustrious career, her group wowed the small audience of parents and friends who ventured out in the rain to pay tribute to teacher who recently retired after 32 years at Branford High School as its choral director. Dennis Nardella announced after their concert the festival would be making a contribution to the newly established scholarship with the Branford Community Foundation in Cathyann’s name. Here Roding receives her last ovation at the conclusion of her program.

On Saturday, over 90 vendors and organizations set up displays on the Green as part of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce annual craft and community expo. A wide variety of organizations and businesses had booths to publicize their products and services.

Not to be forgotten were the youngsters, who were entertained by variety of rides or the popular ​“Big Slide” and ​“Rock Walk,” all located on the rear of Green near the Academy building. Many kids took part in the popular ​“Funderful Face Painting.”

During the day, musical entertainment was performed on Main Street (which was closed to traffic all day) and behind Town Hall, ​“Backstage Entertainment” was offered for young and old alike. The New Haven Ballet chose the Town Hall stage to perform ​“Swan Lake.”

The 17 food vendors made up for the small crowd on Friday night with steady lines for popular offerings such as gyros, steak and cheese subs, clam chowder, burgers, hotdogs, fries, sausage and pepper subs, and fried dough to name a few. Added to that was the strawberry shortcake found at the Branford Historical Society’s tent (pictured.) No one left the Green hungry. 

Saturday at the festival is the unofficial start of the town’s local election season. The D’s and the R’s each had a tent. Democratic State sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr., joined Lynda Mollow who is running for first selectwoman and incumbent Jack Ahern who is running for selectman on the Democratic ticket.

Republican First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove chatted with supporters outside the Republican tent and then visited the Eagle’s tent to say hello. 

Branford’s BCTV was there to film the event and conduct interviews. RTM member Frank Twohill is seen here interviewing U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. 

Once the Saturday daytime activities came to a close, the vendors packed up and volunteers descended on the Green to get ready for the evening activities. Some folks were standing near their favorite viewing spots waiting to lay claim with their chairs and blankets on the space just occupied by the vendors.

Entertainment on the Main Stage began first with the annual Father of the Year contest. The winning essay was from Tisko School fourth grader Khlowie Visconti about her dad Vincent. That announcement was followed by the rock band, ​“The Leaf Jumpers,” by festival sponsor announcements and the introduction of the festival committee.

The festival also recognized the Branford High School girls lacrosse Class M State Championship team on stage.
 
Next, ​“Cover This,” another rock group performing the latest hits and party rock songs, took the stage, followed by the main act, ​“Bruce in the USA,” a high energy recreation of ​“Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.”

A large crowd was on the Green Saturday night for this final act, which was on stage for two straight hours with no break, to the delight of the audience.

The Road Race!

The 37th Annual Branford Road Race highlighted Sunday, the final day of the festival. Here Race chairman Ray Figlewski and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal get ready to announce the start the race.

The 5‑Mile race was preceded by a children’s Fun Run and a Fitness Walk.

Jonathan Green Pictured) of Berlin, Massachusetts, was the top male finisher with a time of 24:49.

A

And Bose Asseta of New York was the top female finisher with a time of 27:59. 

The highly popular ​“Eight to the Bar” performed after the awards ceremony. According to their press release, ​“Listening to Eight to the bar is like driving along a time-warped highway precisely halfway between Count Basie’s Kansas City and Fats Waller’s Harlem where the car radio picks up everything from Jumpin’ at the Woodside to the Andrew Sisters.” The group had the audience ​“dancing in the aisles” or at least on Town Hall Drive.
The New Haven Ballet added a new dimension to the entertainment venue this year with a 30-minute performance to music from ​“Swan Lake.” The young dancers performed beautifully under the hot sun.

The festival closed with the 30-minute anti-bullying musical ​“Her Song,” which brings attention to the nationwide epidemic of bullying in schools. It was directed by Branford’s Colin Sheehan, with music and lyrics written by Jill Nesi and Nick Fradiani, Sr., whose goal is to bring the show to schools throughout the state to educate and entertain the audience.

It was a job well done by all involved in this year’s festival. Here a number of festival committee members take a bow. 

###