It’s almost time: The Riverport Festival returns on Sept. 24-26
by Mark Jahne
Editor
After months of planning, the return of the Riverport Festival is just a few weeks away.
The details have been ironed out and a full schedule of activities awaits those who attend the three-day party from Sept. 24-26. The lead organization in bringing back this once-popular event is the government-appointed Community Events Committee chaired by Steven Wygonowski.
Festival hours are from 6-10 p.m. on Sept. 24, 5-10 p.m. on Sept. 25 and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 26. Admission and parking are free. The location is Pierson Park on West Street.
There will be parking on site and other lots will be used including Town Hall, the high school, the municipal lot next to Mitchell’s on Main restaurant, First Congregational Church on Main Street and the parking area near Riverport Park where the weekly farmer’s market is held.
Saturday morning features a 5K scenic run along the Connecticut River. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race begins at 9. People can enter competitively or as a fun run.
The committee has fixed up the old stage that was in a state of disrepair and plans to put it to good use.
“We put a covering on top of it,” Wygonowski said. “We hired an audio company to come and set up all of the equipment.”
Months have been spent raising the money needed to make all this happen.
“There are three elements to the fundraising,” he said.
They are sponsorships, donations and money that was included in the municipal budget. More than $35,000 had been raised as of early August. He added that some businesses and organizations are donating in-kind services.
“Financially, we are in very good shape,” he said.
Wygonowski praised the many hard-working volunteers who have stepped up to make this event possible. He also gave credit to the publicity team for its work. Promotional banners and lawn signs will start appearing around town soon.
He said the last time this festival took place was in 2014. It shut down in large part because of a decreasing number of people who were willing to volunteer their time.
“We need more volunteers. We have created a 35-page operating plan” to prepare for any possible contingency, he added.
Tents will be erected for dining and a family zone. There will be food trucks, a vendor square, climbing wall, beer garden, dunk tank, carnival rides, live music and fireworks on Saturday evening to wrap things up with a bang.
Thursday is “Preview Night” with carnival rides and bingo in the park. The action picks up on “Rock the Block” Friday with an opening ceremony, food, music, a trivia contest and more.
Saturday features non-stop activity beginning with local music students followed by face painting, a photo booth, inflatable obstacle course, putting challenge, karate and other martial arts demonstrations, Company ‘N Tempo performances, climbing wall, petting zoo, caricatures, a musician and more.
The theme for Saturday is celebrating Cromwell’s 175th anniversary as an official municipality after its prior history as the Upper Houses of Middletown. CL
For more information and updates visit cromwellriverport.com.