#Middlebury
Celebrate Middlebury, held last year for the first time, returns to Shepardson Community Center field Saturday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That’s when the field will be transformed into a field of vendors designed to bring town residents and tourists together to enjoy the beauty and vitality of a fall afternoon in Middlebury.
Celebrate Middlebury will feature the latest in food and festival trends. Middlebury restaurants, small businesses and community organizations will offer activities such as information tables and crafts and small games and giveaways. There will be live music for the whole family, and locally sourced handicrafts will be for sale. People will have plenty of time to visit with neighbors, learn about local businesses, dance along with friends to a live band and sample wares local restaurants will be selling.
The fall festival is the work of the Celebrate Middlebury Committee, a group of Middlebury Parks and Recreation personnel and Middlebury residents whose mission is to provide community-wide programming to encourage a sense of community pride and civic investment among town residents. The festival is endorsed by the Middlebury Economic and Industrial Development Commission for the creative way Middlebury businesses and organizations will be featured.
Celebrate Middlebury Committee member DanaLynn Dowling said a demonstration tent is being added this year. It will offer lots of activities like dog demonstrations by our local K-9, how to make pizza, Police Explorers, bracelet making, face painting, knot tying and more. Those who are interested in participating in the demonstration tent or have comments or suggestions for it are welcome to contact Dowling at 203-627-9580.
Businesses can participate by registering to have a table at the festival. There is a fee of $25 per registration for a Middlebury business and $35 for an out-of-town business to participate. Businesses will be assigned a space on the field where they may set up a table to display, sell items, hand out literature, meet future customers, etc. Find the registration form on the town website, www.middlebury-ct.org. Registration forms need to be submitted no later than Friday, Sept. 14. Businesses that are not able to be at the festival can help by offering cash or in-kind donations.
A “Best Tastes of Middlebury” area will feature Middlebury-only restaurants, giving them an opportunity to highlight their offerings so attendees can discover the culinary delights offered here in Middlebury. Restaurants can call Parks and Rec at 203-758-2520 for more information.
Community organizations are welcome to register as well. Each participating organization will have a designated space, and is encouraged to plan interactive displays and activities as well as provide information. There is no charge for a Middlebury nonprofit organization, but registration is a must as space is limited. Registration forms are available on the town website (www.middlebury-ct.org) and must be signed and returned to Middlebury Parks and Rec.
All offers for donations, registrations and notices of participation must be in by Sept. 14.
Last, but not least, volunteers are needed to help the committee with its work. If you can volunteer to help out with preparations and/or on the day of the event, please contact DanaLynn Dowling at 203-627-9580.
