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07/13/2021 03:30 PMWhen the aftermath of the pandemic prompted the cancellation of the Branford Festival for the second year, organizers were not only looking for a way to raise funds, to ensure that the 2022 Branford Festival will be “one to remember,” but also to give residents a chance to enjoy some of the fun they would normally experience at the full festival.
“I know a lot of people were upset that the 2021 festival was postponed to next year, but the decision had to be made before COVID restrictions were lifted,” said Kris Klarman, event chair. “Our main fundraising goal is to make up some of the deficit that losing the last two years of the Branford Festival has created.”
In addition to planning this fundraiser, annual appeal letters were mailed in both 2020 and 2021 and Klarman noted that the “response has been good.” Though it has been some time since the committee has planned an in-person event, the committee is excited despite the challenges this shift brings.
The committee has worked through the challenges to plan the 2021 fundraiser, which will be Sunday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with a rain date of Oct. 24). Tickets are now available for the Festival at the Farm, which will be held at Nuzzo’s Farm.
“The Nuzzo family has generously donated the use of their farm for this festival. They are mainly a wedding venue but do host small events there as well,” said Klarman. “Tony and Audra [Nuzzo] are big festival supporters and want to do this for their community. The farm is beautiful and perfect for this festival.”
Those purchasing tickets, which are available online through Eventbrite, for $20 plus fees will receive a car pass, which allows parking and admission for up to six passengers. Only 125 car passes will be sold and walk-ins will not be permitted.
In the case of inclement weather on Aug. 15, the event will be rescheduled for Oct. 24. If there is also inclement weather that day preventing the event, no refunds will be issued.
While there will not be carnival rides, the Festival at the Farm will incorporate many of the elements of the annual Branford Festival, including food, crafters, and entertainment. The day kicks off at 10 a.m. with a car show, which is co-chaired by Bill Raccio and Frank Tupka. The car show will run until noon.
At 11 a.m., the full slate of activities will begin, including music, children’s activities, food vendors, crafters, and more. Food Vendor Chairperson Christina Healey has reached out to past vendors, scheduling three food trucks for the day. In addition, there will be a coffee truck in the morning and an ice cream truck in the afternoon.
For those looking for more sweets, there will be a candy booth set up near the children’s activities. The booth has been named “Sue’s Sweets” in honor of Sue Calistro, a former chairperson of the Branford Festival who passed away earlier this year.
Children’s activities will be coordinated by Kathy Fadel, while Barbara Barringham and Camille Linke are organizing the craft vendors. Other chairpersons for the Festival on the Farm include Todd Clifford, who is the volunteer chair; Bob Fadel, who is overseeing operations; and Robyn Wolcott, who is managing social media.
Like the regular Branford Festival, there is a full slate of musical entertainment throughout the day, including D.J. Dennis Nardella, who is also the entertainment chairperson. Start Me Up, a Rolling Stones tribute band, headlining the event at 4:30 p.m. Start Me Up was scheduled to perform at both the 2020 and 2021 Branford Festival. That band, along with other talent that had been scheduled for 2020, including Almost Queen, will be back on the schedule in 2022. Other performances at the Festival on the Farm will include Hatfield at noon, Still Rivers from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and Acoustic Soup from 3 to 4 p.m.
“It feels like we haven’t missed a beat in planning an in-person event,” said Klarman. “Although the Festival at the Farm is a much smaller event to plan, it is bringing new challenges for the committee. We are a small committee who are working to put on a fun festival.”
For information, updates, and a link to purchase tickets, visit www.BranfordFestival.com.