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08/20/2019 12:00 AMEveryone hates saying goodbye to Summer, but Clinton residents can at least look forward to ending the season with a bang—literally. On Saturday, Aug. 31, The Clinton Chamber of Commerce will hold the annual SummerFest event, which culminates with a firework display at the Town Beach.
The event takes place in two separate locations: Town Hall and the Town Beach. Paul Orsini, the chamber’s executive director, said the plan for the day is to have vendors, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden (featuring local breweries, according to Orsini) take place behind the Town Hall from 4 to 8 p.m. Orsini noted that there will also be a kids area featuring an obstacle courses and other fun activities for the younger crowd. A live band will be providing music at the location.
Meanwhile, from 5 p.m., through the end of the fireworks, the Town Beach will host similar events. The fireworks will be launched from the beach shortly after 9 p.m.
The SummerFest was a popular event in town when it started in 2015, and residents were more than a little upset when the chamber had to cancel the event in 2017 due to a lack of funding and volunteers. However, the event returned in 2018 and was by all accounts a roaring success.
“We saw a great turnout. The mood of the people as they were leaving propelled us into this year,” Orsini said.
To pull off the event, Orsini said it takes about five months of planning and a multitude of volunteers.
“By the time it’s all said and done, it’s going to be close to 75 or 100 people,” Orsini said.
In addition to volunteers, the event also requires monetary support from the community. In addition to several large sponsors, Orsini said the chamber received support from mostly smaller individual donations. At press time, Orsini said the chamber is about 80 percent to its goal of $50,000. The money pays for things like the Police and Fire department presence, the Department of Public Works, and advertisements.
“The majority, about $43,000, goes to town services and the fireworks,” said Orsini.
Donations can be made by calling the Chamber at 860-669-3889 or by sending a check made out to the Clinton SummerFest to 50 East Main Street, Clinton CT 06413.
“It’s really a town wide celebration. We work for probably five months putting this together,’ Orsini said. “It’s just a way to bring everybody together.”