First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced further details today about the Fairfield Family Fun Fest, Saturday, July 5, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, on the historic Town Green and Museum Campus. The event, which is part of the Town’s year-long celebration of the 375th anniversary of its founding, is being co-presented by the Town of Fairfield, the Fairfield Museum and History Center, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC), and will be held rain or shine.
Fairfield Family Fun Fest is a one-day, open air festival event which will feature live musical entertainment, food trucks and a beer garden centered around the historic Sun Tavern, Fairfield’s own “PopShop Market” and artisan fair, a revolutionary war encampment with historical re-enactors, children’s games and activities and fun for the whole family. The event is free of charge.
During the festival, the Fairfield Museum and History Center will feature the ongoing exhibition, Creating Community: Exploring 375 Years of Our Past, which invites visitors to see, hear, touch and truly experience what life was like in our area from the 1600s to today, as well as two new exhibitions, Growing Up in Fairfield: Memories and Milestones and Picturing Fairfield: The Photographs of Mabel Osgood Wright. Docent-led tours of the 1780 Sun Tavern, the first building to be erected after the British attack on Fairfield on July 7, 1779, will also be available throughout the day.
The Fairfield Theatre Company has put together a great lineup of local performers including Mike Dougherty & the Mostly Green Band, Girls on Bikes and FTC’s own John Reid. The stage will be headlined by local reggae legend Mystic Bowie and his band that will have everyone dancing to the sounds of the Caribbean islands. Since the 1980s, Mystic Bowie has been keeping the art of music alive, entertaining audiences from New York to Japan with his vibrant music and high-energy performances.
The Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will have a free open house at the Old Academy where volunteers will give unscheduled tours between 10 am to 4 pm showing visitors the newly refurbished Old Academy School Room that has period mannequins in costumes from the era. Visitors can also view new displays in this historic building, which is located at 635 Old Post Road, near the Old Town Hall and Independence Hall. The Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s refurbishments and mannequins were a gift to the Town for its 375th anniversary.
There is limited parking on site. Free parking is available at Sherman Elementary School at 250 Fern Street and at First Church Congregational at 148 Beach Road on the day of the event. For additional information on participating vendors, restaurants, music and activities, please visit www.fairfieldct.org/FunFest. Be sure to check for updates on the Town’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fairfieldct.
Sponsors for the Fairfield Family Fun Fest event include Abbey Tent & Rental, BMW of Bridgeport, Computer Doctor, Fairfield County Bank, Hearst Media Services, the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County, Moffley Media/Fairfield Living Magazine Newman’s Own, Ophthalmic Consultants of CT, Pascale Communications, PopShop Market, the Russell Agency, Roland & Co., Southport Brewing Company, and Westfair Audio.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 10 am – 4 pm
Parking at First Church and Sherman School
FREE ADMISSION
• Fairfield Museum and History Center featuring two new exhibitions
• PopShop Market and Artisan Craft Fair
• Live Music Lineup
10:30: John Reid
11:30: Mike Dougherty & the Mostly Green
12:30: Girls on Bikes
1:30: Mystic Bowie
• Revolutionary War Encampment and Reenactment: British uniformed Living Historians
• Historic Sun Tavern: Beer Garden and Docent-led Tours (11 am – 3 pm)
• Food Trucks and Local Restaurants: (food for purchase)
• Kid’s Corner: Bouncy House, Face painting, games and more!
• Living Art Project by Moffly Media Fairfield Living magazine