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08/16/2016 12:00 AMOn Saturday, Aug. 20, the Clinton Chamber of Commerce hosts the second annual Clinton Summer Fest & Fireworks at the Town Beach. Festivities start all over the downtown area at 5 p.m., with fireworks after sunset.
This year’s fireworks display is in memory of Sally Dunn, a longtime resident and bus driver for Clinton Public Schools who passed away in October. Her three daughters will get the fireworks started.
The Summer Fest & Fireworks is far more than a fireworks display. Entertainment and activities include live music, ballroom demonstrations by Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Clinton History Trail, juggler Mystery Mike, Peabody Museum’s touchable display, a moonwalk and inflatable obstacle course, kids’ crafts and games, face painting, henna, salon services including glitter roots and mini updos, and the Valley Shore YMCA’s ga-ga pit (a gentler form of dodgeball).
Craft vendors will sell candles, wall art, woodworks, calendars, home accessories, jewelry, bath and body products, teas, and more, and food trucks and booths will offer Philly cheese steak sandwiches, lobster rolls, barbecue favorites, kettle corn, homemade cookies, ice cream, grilled cheese, wood-fired pizza, cupcakes, macaroni and cheese, cake pops, hot dogs, lemonade, beer, and wine. Nonprofit exhibitors include the American Legion, Bare Necessities (diaper collection service), Clinton Boy Scouts Pack 55, Clinton Conservation Committee, Clinton Energy Committee, Clinton Sailing Club, Henry Carter Hull Library, Project Grad, and Shoreline Community Women. iCRV radio will broadcast live from Clinton Town Beach.
Clinton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lauren Sposato called last year’s event a tremendous success and said that this time promises to be even bigger and better.
“Andrew Randi, our representative from Bay Fireworks, has assured us the fireworks will be bigger this year,” she said. “I’m not sure how that’s possible, but I trust him.”
Sposato added that none of this would be possible without community support.
“Our committee is extremely proud of the fact that this event is 100 percent paid for by private donations and sponsorships. We are so grateful that the community had such an overwhelming response to this event. We even had people walking into the Chamber with checks and donations. This year, our local businesses stepped up in a big way.”
As of Aug. 10, nearly three-quarters of the money raised for the Summer Fest (74 percent) came from local businesses. (For a full list of sponsors and private donors, visit www.clintonct.com/fireworks.)
Handicapped parking will be available behind the Andrews Memorial Town Hall, giving access to the Town Hall viewing area. Limited in-town parking is available at the Pierson School on East Main Street; a $5 donation is requested to park there.
Several side streets and other areas will be closed off or have limited parking because of the movement of pedestrians and the need to maintain open lanes for emergency vehicles. Parking will be available at the Unilever building (1 John Street), The Morgan School (27 Killingworth Turnpike), the Exit 63 Commuter Lot (I-95 at Route 81), Church of the Open Door (70 East Main Street), and Henry Carter Hull Library. Shuttle buses will run from outer parking areas starting at 4 p.m. A shuttle bus from the Pierson School to the Town Beach starts at 3 p.m. While the fireworks are launched from the town Beach, many downtown areas offer excellent viewing.
After the fireworks, buses will transport festival-goers from Town Beach to all designated parking areas. Visitor hosts will be stationed at parking areas and aboard all shuttle buses; they will distribute maps and information about Summer Fest events, vendors, and shuttles.
Visitors are encouraged to bring beach chairs and bug spray. They are asked not to bring pets. With the exception of service dogs, animals will not be allowed.
In the event of rain, the Clinton Summer Fest & Fireworks will take place on Sunday, Aug. 21.