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Community Corner

Branford Festival: Right on Schedule!

Patch took a tour with the hard-at-work festival committee.

 

Banners are hung at town hall. Stages have been set up and tents have been raised. All week, over 200 volunteers are chipping in at every level to make it happen.

And with a few minutes to spare, festival co-chair Mary Hally took me on a walk around the Town Green and surrounding areas to show me the highlights -- it's my first time at the Branford Festival. It's raining today, but Hally isn't worried.

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"I think we're going to get a lot more people than last year," Hally says. "It's going to be a beautiful weekend. The weather is supposed to be great."

In the past, the festival has brought in between 10,000 and 13,000 people. But Hally and co-chair Barbara Barringham have introduced new perks this year designed to make the festival bigger, better and more equipped to cater to the crowds. For one, there's an overflow area where festivalgoers can watch main acts like Christine Ohlman and 7 Bridges. And, of course, a lot of favorites are returning. The Classic Car Cruise. The Historical Society's Strawberry Festival, with its famous strawberry shortcake. On Saturday, the Town Green will turn into a craft and business expo.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We've got something special each day of the festival," Barringham says.

Patch will be tweeting with the hashtag #Branfordfest and updating live from the festival each day, so keep your ear to the ground and we'll keep you in the loop. Plus, every morning we'll have an update with the day's schedule and great bits of info to help guide you to that something special!

Vendors and sponsors will find some extra perks this year.

"This year we did a corporate hospitality tent for sponsors," says Hally. Along with the tent -- conveniently located right next to the main stage -- sponsors get a lobster dinner Sunday night at Trinity church, strawberry shortcake and free rides.

"We thought it'd be nice to give back to the people who have always sponsored the festival all these years," she says. The proceeds go to Branford Cares, which officially launches at the festival.

"All the money is keeping in town, and everyone is helping everyone else out."

According to Operations manager Vin Hanchuruck, facilities are running ahead of schedule with some new innovations in the mix.

"I didn't think we'd be as far along today as we are," he told me. "We're putting in a new plumbing system, hot and cold water for some of the vendors." He says it'll be a challenge, but he's looking forward to seeing how it works. 

Souvenir portraits are new this year, and proceeds go to the family of local watercolor artist Mark Johnson, who passed away last year. Volunteers have compiled Johnson's art into a calendar, and each painting shows a different view of Branford.

The cook-off is returning with the theme "Garden splendor," encouraging colorful, flowery foods, with men's-only and kids' categories.

And, of course, music is central. Hally says she expects 7 Bridges to be the big draw of the festival. The Eagles tribute band goes the extra mile by casting each member as their Eagles counterpart, and Hally says they're sure to bring the house down at their 9 p.m. set Saturday night.

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