Mary Johnson PHoto
There is only ONE Cool Event this weekend and that is the Branford Festival, now in its 31st year.
Within the Festival there are many cool events, ranging from finding great food to hearing wonderful music. There is a superb road race and lots of family, friends and kids having a ball on the town Green. Bill O’Brien, one of the early leaders of the festival, rightly calls it a homecoming for families and friends near and far. The Branford Eagle booth is at K‑1. Come by and say hello.
Before we outline events, we need to give you a list of weekend “no’s. First off and this isn’t easy to write, there will be NO dogs permitted on the Green this weekend. Second, the police department has issued a long list of streets closed to the public. There are also no parking areas. These rules will be strictly enforced. So click here to go to the police department page and read where you cannot park.
Mary Johnson Photo
Saturday looks like a glorious day, but the national weather service has issued a Father’s Day “hazardous weather outlook” for Sunday. That may mean a heavy rainfall on Sunday, the day of the Branford road race.
Friday, June 19
Music Galore
Bill O’Brien Photo
The Fest returns to the Green tonight. The opening celebration begins at 5 p.m. and features a tribute to Branford by the Branford Chorale, the Governor’s Footguard, and the raising of the festival flag. The Branford High School choir comes next followed by two top bands, including the main event, the Aerosmith tribute band Draw the Line. This concert starts about 8:45 p.m. and runs to 11 p.m. Admission: Free
Saturday, June 20
Come On Down
File Photo
Day Two of the annual Branford Festival kicks off with the Craft and Community Expo sponsored by the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. There will be activities for children all day. Here are kids learning about horseshoe crabs one year over at the Branford Land Trust Tent. Food all day begins with the Rotary’s famous breakfast.
Mary Johnson Photo
More than 200 vendors will be selling everything imaginable and then some. The Saturday green event draws about 4,000 people. There is something for everyone, especially in the food department. The vendors leave by 3:30 p.m. so that the Green may be transformed for Saturday night festivities. Admission: Free.
Saturday Night Events
File Photo
A local band named Common Ground takes the stage before The Rubber Band, which goes on stage from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Next is “Supernatural,” from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Finally, the headline band, China Grove, an “all-star” Doobie Brothers tribute band, takes the stage.
Sunday, June 21
Father’s Day Road Race. And it may be raining, features the 33rd annual Branford Road Race at 10:15 a.m. Click here for details.
There will be musical entertainment and lots of food throughout the day. There’s the music of Vintage Skynyrd (a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band) from noon to 2 p.m. Branford’s Got Talent kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Admission: Free
Enjoy!
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