Amid the high heat and humidity of a midsummer’s day, the Second Annual Newtown Day drew an estimated 5,000 people on Saturday, July 27, to an athletic field at Fairfield Hills, where rows of food trucks, groups of vendors, and inflatable amusements for tots ruled the day.

The nine-hour event, jointly sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown and the Newtown Parks & Recreation Department, occupied a sprawling field, just west of Kent House.

The event brought together dozens of vendors who exhibited their products and services and about 18 food trucks, plus multiple bands that entertained the crowd throughout the day. A section of the grounds held several inflatable amusements provided to entertain young children.

Chamber of Commerce President Scott Anders said, “We had a great turnout... The people enjoyed it.”

“It’s turning out to be a new tradition for the town... I hope we can expand on that,” he added.

Mr Anders described Newtown Day as “a very family-friendly thing,” which attracted many young families with small children to the site. “It reached a broad spectrum of people in town,” he observed.

Mr Anders said that having food trucks as a component of Newtown Day increases the drawing power of the event, noting that some fans of food trucks follow their favorite food trucks from event to event.

Helen Brickfield, who coordinates business development for the chamber, said the event was made possible through a unique private-public partnership between the chamber and the Parks & Recreation Department. The idea driving Newtown Day is “to celebrate Newtown,” she said.

“We’re just trying to have a fun day in Newtown... to promote Newtown,” she said. “We want everybody to have a good time... Newtown Day is about all things good about Newtown. We put a lot of passion for Newtown in this event.”

“We’re thrilled... We’re ready to do it again,” Ms Brickfield said. “We were delighted to see so many happy families and smiling faces. It’s nicer in Newtown.”

The Chamber of Commerce plans to hold the Third Annual Newtown Day on a Saturday in the summer of 2020, she said. The chamber has more than 200 commercial members.

Amy Mangold, director of Parks & Recreation, said, “I was thrilled with Newtown Day.”

“Partnering with the Chamber of Commerce makes a large event easier to manage. We all have our parts, and working together makes for a well-planned event. Newtown tends to have many groups planning individual events, and those who work together seem to benefit very well,” she said.

“It had a very old fashioned ‘community feel,’ and that was a common theme I heard — like the Fourth of July picnic that used to happen annually through the town,” she added.

“Parks & Recreation felt more complete having our new home on the campus, and [we] directed many over to see the beautiful new Community Center here on the campus,” Ms Mangold commented.

“The day was filled with great music, food, vendors, volunteers, and community connections,” she said.

In The Evening

Evening brought a fresh wave of appetites to food trucks ringing the vendors and guests. Anna Lewis was among the many busy hands serving a dinner-time crowd at the DrewbaQ truck. From behind her came tangy scents of seasoned pork.

Guests spread blankets for a picnic of French fries, barbecue, popcorn, and cold drinks while musicians played from a corner stage. Perched briefly at a table were friends Marianella Salinas, Mary Locke, and Carla Guirguis, enjoying a snack. Behind them were sounds of laughter as young children slid down inflatable slides or flew up and down in a bounce house.

At the center of activity were local businesses’ booths and information tables. Helping guests with crafts and purchases for The Toy Tree were Rachel Swenson and Kayleigh Roche. The two then stepped from beneath their awning, sending playful streams of bubbles into the air.

Hola, a friendly black dog, sat in the shade with Mount Pleasant Hospital for Animals staff. The pup attracted a crowd, including Adelina Gregory, dressed as a princess, a folding fan in hand.

Writing in prizes on a Spin to Win wheel at the Dental Associates booth was Maggie Mossop. Just a few feet away were friends Hayley Isdale and Ally Ladesvro, sharing samples from the food vendors.

Natasha Minasi Garrison wore large, dark sunglasses while making crafts at the Toy Tree booth. Peeking over her shoulder were mom Samantha Minasi and aunt Nicole Minasi. They had traveled from Woodbury to spend their afternoon at Newtown Day.

Surrounding puppies Lavern and Shirley were Toni Veteri-Muntz and her son Edward Muntz with his large gray hat and Jacklin and Oliver Gouveia, and fostering one of the puppies was Ratka Knezevich with Newtown Ambulance and Ines Knapp.

Sister Cailee and Nora Harvey of Southbury had come to Newtown Saturday to enjoy the food and music. They got something to eat and sat for a moment beneath a tree.

Unfazed by the nearly 90-degree afternoon was one group of children, who was gripping large cold drinks decorated as palm trees. Hans, Josie, and Addie DeLaurentis joined friends Simon and Faye Corcoran.

Reclining in a lawn chair with Isla-Jane resting on his chest was Michael Coates. Born on July 3, his youngest slept with her dad while his wife, Lisa, and older daughter, Lily, came to sit with him after playing in the bounce house.