Mayor Announces Lineup Of Summer Events

From Mayor Bill Finch:

Summer fun in Bridgeport kicks into high gear this Saturday, with the kickoff of Mayor Bill Finch’s Park City Celebration at Newfield Park. Now in its second year, Park City Celebration is a showcase of the City’s parks and open spaces. Saturday’s event, which is scheduled for 12 noon to 3 p.m., will include a barbecue, basketball, horseshoes, softball, kite-flying and music.

Mayor Finch and City staff have lined up a full schedule of fun summer activities for residents and visitors of all ages. This summer, residents and visitors will be able to listen to live music on historic McLevy Green, cool off in a splash pad in the neighborhood park, purchase fresh, locally grown produce in an outdoor market and experience the work of myriad of artists who call Bridgeport home.

The City’s summer events include:

· Downtown Thursdays, (June 6 to August 29) a free concert series held every Thursday on McLevy Green

· Park City Celebration, (June 15, July 3, July 20, and August 31) a series of family-friendly events showcasing the City’s parks

· Farmers Markets, (July through October) shop for fresh locally grown produce in outdoor markets in four locations throughout the City

· Bridgeport Arts Fest, (July 13) the fourth annual day-long festival celebrating the City’s local art, artists, crafters, community organizations and performers

· Park City Movie Nights – free movie screenings at Baldwin Plaza. Check the City’s website for dates and times.

“There will be plenty of events and activities going on throughout the summer offering fun for all ages. We are looking forward to giving residents and visitors opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy all that Bridgeport has to offer during the summer months,” said Mayor Finch.

· The City’s annual concert series, Downtown Thursdays began on June 6 with high energy rock group Darik and the Funbags in McLevy Green. The concert series, organized by the City of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District, runs through Aug. 29, providing 12 weeks of music and entertainment from rock to reggae, funk to folk.

The shows are family friendly and admission is free. In addition to their dancing shoes, concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and get comfortable on the Green. The Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District will be handing out information about restaurants within walking distance. Upcoming concerts include: Mystic Bowie on June 13, Natural Wonder/The Chords on June 20 and Cosmic Jibaros on June 27. For a full lineup and more information go to www.downtownthursdays.com

Park City Celebration 

o The Park City Celebration, a showcase of the City’s parks and greenspaces kicks off on Saturday, June 15 at Newfield Park.

Through Mayor Finch’s capital improvements plan, the City has made several improvements to Newfield Park including the dedication of tennis courts to Robert “Bobby” McIntosh in 2010, a barbecue shelter in 2011 and most recently, a splash pad-children’s play area opened in the summer of 2012.

The full slate of Park City Celebration events:

· Newfield Park, Saturday, June 15

· McLevy Green, Wednesday, July 3

The event will include a senior walk and fitness classes.

· Washington Park, Saturday, July 20

The event will include live music, Wiffle ball and hot dogs.

· Beardsley Park, Saturday, August 31

The final Park City Celebration event will include relay races, softball, food and refreshments.

Farmers Markets

· The City of Bridgeport with the support of Wholesome Wave, Downtown Special Services District (DSSD), St. Vincent’s Hospital and several other partners, is once again hosting Farmers Markets in various locations throughout the City, making fresh produce available to residents, workers and visitors this summer and fall.

Farmers Market locations:

· Downtown Farmers Market, Bank Street (adjacent to McLevy Green)

· Farmers Market at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, 2800 Main Street

· East Side Farmers Market, 752 East Main St.

· East End Farmers Market, Stratford Avenue and Baldwin Street

Check out www.bridgeportct.gov for updates on times, dates and locations.

Bridgeport Arts Fest

Bridgeport Arts Fest is a one day celebration of local and original art, artists, crafters, community organizations and performers that takes place at McLevy Green on Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is followed immediately by the After-Party Concert, 6 to 11 p.m. Now in its fourth year, Bridgeport Arts Fest is a free, family- and community-friendly affair. In addition to artists, the festival also includes live entertainment, activities, and demonstrations.

For updates to the Bridgeport Arts Fest lineup, be sure to check out www.bridgeportartsfest.com

Park City Movie Nights

The newest addition to the City’s lineup of summer events is Park City Movie Nights, a series of free movie screenings being held on Baldwin Plaza, located on the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Broad Street. Residents and visitors can sit down on Baldwin Plaza and enjoy a free movie. Stay tuned for more details and information.

In addition to these City-sponsored events, Mayor Finch urges everyone in the region to check out The Barnum Festival, Bridgeport’s annual celebration of the greatest showman on Earth, which has a full slate of events throughout the month of June including fireworks on Friday, June 28, Champions on Parade drum and bugle corps show on Saturday, June 29, and the Great Street Parade on Sunday, June 30. For more information, go to www.barnumfestival.com.

Parents and guardians looking for summer programs for their children can find “Live, Play, Grow” a comprehensive guide, published by the Mayor’s Office online at www.bridgeportct.gov/summerguide2013 or in person at City Hall and the Margaret E. Morton Government Center.