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06/16/2017 09:28 AMOn Saturday, June 24, the Branford Fireworks Display will light the night – and the Fireworks Committee will warm the hearts of food truck fans (and folks who forgot to pack the family picnic).
For the first time this year, the fun factor will be pumped up with food trucks at Branford Point and Foote Park. The new additions will offer up delicious, dinner-worthy dishes to the crowds who gather hours in advance of the show, which goes off at dark. As always, live patriotic music, played by the Branford Town Band at Branford Point, will accompany the display.
Branford Fireworks committee member Nichole Cipriano also noted ice cream trucks have always been at the two sites and will return. In all, food trucks at Branford Point will be Greekin' Out, Shoreline Prime, and The Ice Cream Guy; while parked at Foote Park will be Melly P's Panini Truck and Sweet Treats Ice Cream Truck.
The committee wants to spread the word about the food truck additions this year so that, "...people come a bit earlier to the parks and have dinner and ice cream," said Cipriano. "We would love to see the trucks busy serving, and folks relaxing and enjoying their food and the festive atmosphere before and during the show."
All-volunteer Branford Fireworks Committee pulls the annual display together each year by working hard to raise donations from individuals, groups and organizations. The town chips in a $15,000 contribution but the costs add up to nearly double that each year, said Fireworks Committee chairman Jeff Vailette.
Not including costs for police, fire, and public works overtime, but taking into consideration costs including free shuttle buses and the pyrotechnics display, the committee works to raise some $26,000 each year to put on the show.
Shuttle buses begin running at 5:30 p.m. with a continuous loop route, picking up from Branford High School and Cherry Hill parking lots.
While donations and contributions are coming, this year's pace is flat, said Vailette.
"We're always running a tight line," said Vailette. "We haven't seen a rise in contributions this year. People have tight household budgets, which we understand. But if everybody that lived in town gave a dollar, we'd be all set."
If everybody who attends the show at Foote Park or Branford Point puts at least one dollar into the buckets volunteers will be passing, that will be a big help, too. Estimates put the crowds at over 5,000 people.
To help remind residents that they can support the Branford Fireworks display, yellow notices went out with the town's tax bills recently. The notice shares that donations can be made online here or by sending a check payable to Branford Fireworks, Town of Branford c/o Branford Parks and Recreation Dept. 46 Church St., Branford CT 06405.
Updates on the fireworks display, which has a rain date of Sunday, June 25, can be found at the Branford Fireworks Facebook page here or at the Parks and Recreation website here