'Celebration’ of riverfront to take center stage at Riverfest
New Milford Riverfest will be held Oct. 5-6 at Young’s Field, along the Housatonic River.
The event has become a tradition in recent years, one that celebrates community and highlights the riverfront area and its connections to downtown.
Riverfest, organized by the town’s Riverfront Revitalization Committee and the Mayor's Office, will feature a variety of events, including a 5K race, a children’s fun run, a Spirit Walk of New Milford, a bonfire, music, food, vendors, and more (see schedule, below).
Festivities will be offered Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
To open the event, the New Milford Police Department helicopter will land on the center field, with a chance for the public to meet the pilots.
In addition, “the young ones can sit in the front seat” of the helicopter,” said Liba Furhman, event chair.
The two-day event promises to have something every everyone, the chair said.
“It’s a wonderful time to share in the beauty of our town, the river and the community spirit of our town, as we all gather together to celebrate the riverfront,” Furhman said.
Two special events will take place opening day, including the New Milford River Run 5K & Kids’ Superhero Sprint, coordinated by and benefitting the Ostomy Foundation, and a bonfire.
Other events will be available throughout the weekend – live entertainment, a beer and wine taproom truck, magic shows, games, mini golf, vendors, face painting, Knights of Columbus Bingo, and balloon twisting.
A new Riverfest offering this year will be the Spirit Walk of New Milford, sponsored by the Town’s New Milford Celebrates America 250 Committee.
The Spirit Walk will be a cemetery display highlighting several of the town’s key historical figures from the Revolutionary War era.
It will be open to the public during Riverfest hours each day – Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Revolutionary ghosts will make an appearance and offer tales about their life and the community Oct. 5 at 1, 3 and 7 p.m. and Oct. 6 at 1 and 4 p.m.
The rest of the hours the display will be open, guests can take a self-guided walk through the cemetery to learn more about the historical figures.
"The America 250 committee is excited have the opportunity to participate in the Riverfest to share another insight into the life of New Milford ancestors during the Revolutionary war," said Heidi Norcross, chair of the town's 250 committee.
Rounding out Riverfest will be food available from nearly a dozen food trucks.
“Riverfest has a great roster of food trucks for every taste,” “Ten trucks each day….from fried chicken to BBQ to crepes and cotton candy, from Jamaican jerk chicken to Mexican and southwest delights to apple pie and ice cream and hot dogs.”
There is no admission fee to Riverfest, but a donation of a minimum of $5 is suggested.
Funds will support the Riverfront Revitalization Committee’s goal of creating a revitalized riverfront to enhance the quality of life and the town’s economic vitality.
The New Milford River Run 5K & Kids’ Superhero Sprint
The New Milford River Run 5K & Kids’ Superhero Sprint will return this year.
The kids’ run, to start at 4 p.m., is open to kids 10 and under. Participants are invited to dress up like their favorite superhero and then run around the tennis and basketball courts and a short distance on the grass.
The USATF-certified 5K will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Young’s Field Road, head along Housatonic Avenue and onto Boardman Road to the overpass, then return on the same route, ending on Young’s Field.
To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/NewMilford/Run4TheRiver
