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A new community music festival will make its debut at the New Canaan Nature Center this September after receiving unanimous approval from the Parks & Recreation Commission.
The commission voted in favor of the proposed New Canaan Music Festival, a daylong event planned for Saturday, Sept. 19, following a presentation from organizer Michael Smith and New Canaan Nature Center Executive Director Bill Flynn.
Smith, a musician and New Canaan resident of about 12 years, told commissioners the goal is to create a family-friendly event that brings the community together through live music.
“Our mission is to present a day-long event that brings the community together through music,” Smith said at the July 8 Parks & Rec meeting, held at Lapham Center and via videoconference.
The festival will be held at the New Canaan Nature Center on Oenoke Ridge, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and live music from noon to 10 p.m. Organizers expect between 750 and 1,000 attendees over the course of the day. All-day passes will cost $50 and will be available through the festival’s website.
Regional and local bands representing a variety of musical genres are expected to perform on two alternating stages, one of them being the Sugar Shack, Smith said.
In addition to live performances, the festival will feature a children’s activity area including musical instrument-making, a children’s music parade and a kids concert.
Food trucks approved by the New Canaan Board of Health also will be available on-site.
Flynn told commissioners the festival will replace the Nature Center’s former Harvest Fest, a beer and wine fundraiser that was canceled last year.
“We stopped our Harvest Fest. We canceled it last year,” Flynn said. “Michael approached us, so this was a nice replacement for us.”
The Nature Center will serve as the host organization while Smith oversees the event’s planning and operations. Flynn said the festival is modeled in part after the Nature Center’s annual Dog Days event.
Before appearing before the Commission, Flynn said he and Smith presented the proposal to a town special events committee with representatives from the Police Department, Fire Department and other town departments. He said the proposal received a favorable response.
According to organizers, parking will be available along Oenoke Ridge. The New Canaan Police Department has said it will assist with the event, organizers said. Members of the Service League of Boys have also committed to volunteering during the festival.
Flynn said the festival will conclude by 10 p.m. in keeping with the Nature Center’s quiet hours and noted that previous events featuring amplified music have not generated neighborhood complaints.
Although the festival is not intended as a fundraiser, Smith said the Nature Center will benefit from it.
The Commission voted unanimously to approve the request. Chairman George Benington and Commissioners Gene Goodman, Hank Green, Susan Leone, Doug Murphy, Lindsey Heron, Melany Hearne, David Shea and Jeff Platt voted in favor. Commissioners Timothy Klimpl and Brittney Singer were absent.
“We wish you all the very best of luck because it sounds like hopefully a first, but an annual, very fun event,” Benington said before the vote concluded.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source newcanaanite.com ’
