Main Street USA Set for Next Saturday
By Editor at September 11, 2023 | 8:15 am | Print
Mayor Erin E. Stewart, Commission Chairman Matthew Cannata, Vice Chairman Patrick Dorsey, and the New Britain Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department are planning to bring back Main Street U.S.A., a popular event from New Britain’s past! Many remember the infamous Main Street USA street festival which filled the downtown streets with food and vending booths, music, entertainment, and fond memories. This year’s street festival will be held at Walnut Hill Park where the roadway will be filled with food, craft, and vendor booths, a “kid zone” with rides and amusement activities, stages with community performances and headlining musical acts, and more! Main Street U.S.A. will be reflective of New Britain’s melting pot of cultures.
The Main Street U.S.A. will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19th, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. The event will take place throughout the Walnut Hill Park walking loop and band shell area. Thousands of people in the greater New Britain area are expected to attend the day-long event.
Parking will be offered off site at three locations in the city. The city garages will open for parking for the duration of the event. Shuttle busses will pick-up and bring visitors to and from the event beginning at 9:45 a.m. The following locations will be open for Main Street U.S.A. parking: Badolato parking garage at 44 Columbus Boulevard, Szczesny parking garage at 35 Bank Street, and the garage at the New Britain Judicial Courthouse on Badolato Drive. Parking will not be available at Walnut Hill Park for this event.
The event will feature entertainment on two stages. The main stage schedule will begin with The Timmy Maia Experience at noon; Steppin’ Out at 2 p.m. ; Orange Crush at 4 p.m.; Shaded Soul at 6 p.m.; and Dr. K’s Motown Revue at 8 p.m. The community stage will have more of a kids and families focus. The schedule of events will include: a DJ game show at 10 a.m.; the YWCA Dance Crew at 11 a.m.; a theatre performance by the CT Theatre Company at 11:30am; magic show by The Amazing Andy at noon; live animal demonstration by Curious Creatures at 1:15 p.m.; martial arts demonstration by Yousef’s Tae Kwon Do at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; entertainment by local DJ, M Dot Live and DJ Meechie at 2:30 p.m.; drumming presentation by the Jefferson School Hotstix at 3:30 p.m.; live sing-along music with T-Bone at 4:30 p.m.; and the Orlenta Dance Group at 5:30 p.m. M Dot Live and DJ Meechie will emcee the community stage all day.
In a for guests 21 and over. A valid ID will enable admittance into the tented area where beer and wine will be served. The beer garden will be positioned near the main stage on the Darius Miller Memorial Band Shell so guests will not miss any of the energizing music.
Behind the band shell on the interior loop road of Walnut Hill Park, food vendors selling fried dough and other delicious fried treats, hot dogs and hamburgers, sausage and peppers, cultural foods, ice cream novelties, sodas and water.
A ‘kids zone” will engage kids between 10 a.m. -6: p.m. Wristbands will be sold for $5 which will allow kids to use the inflatable moonbounces, obstacle course, a 24’ climbing wall, a petting zoo, walk-around clowning and magicians, and more.
Over 25 vendors will be selling their goods and promoting their services such as apparel, pet products, toys and hobbies, natural lip balms and creams, raffles and hand-outs.
Helicopter rides will be offered for $15 per rider at 12:45-2:15 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Tethered hot air balloon rides will take place at 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. for $15 per rider. Limited rides will be offered during these times; arrive early to be sure to get a spot!
In addition to the City of New Britain, generous sponsors include: Gold Sponsor - Costco Wholesale; Bronze Sponsor - Fiduciary Investment Advisors; Shuttle (bus) Sponsor – Dattco; and T-shirt sponsor – JC Specialty. The city thanks them for helping to make this event successful.
For more information call the New Britain Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at 860-826-3360 or visit us at www.newbritainct.gov for more detailed information.
