Ansonia Harvest Festival Happening Sept. 29

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich

jean.sos@snet.net
@nhrvalley on Twitter

ANSONIA >> Organizers of this year’s Ansonia Harvest Festival have “pulled out all the stops” to usher in the fall season this weekend with plenty of food, festivities and family fun.

The 18^th annual festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (SEPT. 29) in downtown. This year’s event is sponsored by Road Ready Used Cars, and is free and open to the public.

Event Coordinator Rich DiCarlo said the Ansonia Cultural Commission has been working hard to ensure this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever.

“Every now and then we have to change things up to keep it fresh and new,” said DiCarlo.

In addition to dozens of food and craft vendors lining Main Street, offering the likes of fried dough and fried chicken to BBQ and Spanish cuisine, DiCarlo said this year’s festival will highlight what makes Ansonia special.

The city’s Fire House Museum will be on display with antique fire apparatus and engines, along with antique autos and tractors. The Valley Arts Council will be previewing some art in front of the site that will house their new “Main Street” Gallery this fall. 

There will also be hay rides, pony and horse rides, a petting zoo, a kid’s zone, face painting, henna temporary tattoos and more.

Live music will also be featured all day long featuring Southern Voices, Sumo Side Car, Survivor Swing Band and a Magic show by Pete n' Chris! 

“Harvey” the festival mascot will also be on hand, and joined this year by the Connecticut Siren girls who’ll be dressed like scarecrows and strolling Main Street for photo opportunities.

Also new this year is a pie baking and pie eating contest, both sponsored by Eddy’s Bake Shop. The pie eating contest will be held at Eddy’s at 2 p.m.

DiCarlo said there is plenty of free parking adjacent to Main Street, and “the weatherman is calling for a beautiful sunny autumn day.”

Mayor David Cassetti is looking forward to the annual event.

“The Harvest Festival is a long-standing Ansonia tradition,” Cassetti said. “I am very excited about it because in addition to bringing the community together and building on the strong ties we all have in the Valley, this event helps to showcase our businesses and restaurants. We are very proud of our recharged downtown and this is a great event to showcase that.”

 

Calling All Vendors: 2 for 1 Special in Ansonia

Vendors Sought for Ansonia Festivals

Ansonia getting ready for 9th annual Harvest Festival

Vendors sought for Oct. 6 event

ANSONIA - It may still be summer, but members of the Cultural Commission are busy preparing for an onslaught of scarecrows, pumpkins, hay bales, mums, and more on Main Street.

That's because the city's Harvest Festival is only a month away.
The ninth annual event will be held from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Oct. 6 along Main Street. Rain date is Oct. 13. 
There will be a lot of new arts and crafts vendors along with the "old reliables" who have participated since the festival began, Cultural Commission chairwoman Judy Nicolari said.

"This year we've added a new attraction featuring Chris Clark who will be showing  the audiences fantastic stunts on his bicycle," she said. "It's an act not to be missed."
The time and location for Clark's performance will be announced at a later date, Nicolari said.

A scarecrow-making contest will also be held. The contest is open to all who register their scarecrows with the Valley Arts Council at its booth, Nicolari said. Winners will be based on workmanship and skill effort.

There will be a pumpkin-carving contest held in the Ansonia school system. Participants are asked to bring their carved pumpkins to Veterans Park next to City Hall by 12:30 p.m. at the latest for judging by the Valley Arts Council.

There also will be music performances on two stages throughout the day.  Programs will be available at the festival listing the scheduled times for all the performances.

Car show, chalk art

A classic car show will take place on Bridge Street, and amusement rides will be set up behind the River Valley Baptist Church.
A free moon walk bounce for kids will be provided by TEAM, Inc. throughout the day.
A chalk drawing event, which was very popular last year, will again be held on Water Street. Chalk will be provided.

Anyone interested in signing up as a vendor may visit www.cityofansonia.com or contact Nicolari, 203-732-1040, or Cultural Commission member Mary Gibson, 203-734-2484.

The above is taken from a press release from Judy Nicolari. 

Ansonia library group seeks to boost membership

Photo taken from library website

ANSONIA - The newly-formed Friends of the Ansonia Library will hold its first event - a membership drive and book sale - at the Ansonia Harvest Festival from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 6.


The group “will be dedicated to foster citizens' interest in supporting a superior library, one equipped with staff, collections, and facilities to serve the cultural needs of an expanding community,” Susan Olmsted, president, said in a written release today.

“In addition, our goals are to raise funds for essential library materials, equipment and programs for which the city budget does not provide, encourage members of the community to recognize and use the functions and facilities of the library,” the release continued.

Olmsted also said the group's goal is to “increase the membership in the Friends of the Ansonia Library to bring together concerned citizens who appreciate the value of a high-quality library and who are willing to devote time to accomplish our goals.”


The Ansonia Library is at 53 S. Cliff St.

 The above is taken from a release from Susan Olmsted, president, Friends of the Ansonia Library.