Milford’s Kick Off to Summer celebration, featuring food, fireworks and music, will be Saturday, July 1, at Lisman Landing in downtown Milford, with a rain date of July 8.
The annual event is relatively new but from the get-go it was wildly popular. For its first year, the Kick Off to Summer event attracted an estimated 25,000 people to the downtown area. Organizer Dan Worroll is expecting a similar crowd this time, which will be the third year for the event.
There will be shuttles at this year’s event from several locations, including Wasson Field, the Milford Senior Center and Harborside Middle School. Worroll said that hopping aboard a shuttle will be the best way to get to the main attraction because there will be no parking at Lisman Landing and limited parking nearby.
Fireworks are probably the biggest draw for this start-to-summer event. The fireworks will start at 9:15 p.m., shot from the Fowler Field area and lighting up the sky over the harbor.
There will be food trucks at Lisman Landing, including Chowder Spot, Connecticut Firedog, Shoreline Prime, Italian Ices, and more. Wines and More will sell beverages.
The band Sapphire will perform from 4 to 7 p.m., and then Rum Runners, a Milford based band, will take the stage from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.
The event costs about $17,000 to run, but even though the idea for the Kick Off to Summer started at Milford City Hall, it is not paid by tax dollars. Donations from businesses, groups and individuals cover the entire cost, Worroll said.
So far Devon Rotary, Milford Bank, Beirne Wealth, Shop Rite, Spinnaker and Give the Dog A Bath have stepped up to make this year’s event possible. Worroll said more donations would be appreciated.
The money pays for the fireworks, entertainment, plus police and fire services.
Worroll and Mayor Ben Blake get the credit for coming up with the idea for a Kick Off to Summer event. According to Worroll, both saw how popular a 375th city anniversary fireworks display was, and they thought it would be a great idea to host annual fireworks. The economic development office and recreation department take part in the planning, as do officials at the Lisman Landing marina.
People love the fireworks, Worroll said, and the event gives a boost to downtown restaurants, which are usually filled, and the city-owned Lisman Landing Marina, which has been filled for the first two Kick Off to Summer events.
People may bring chairs, but there are no coolers allowed. Dogs are not allowed either.
Anyone interested in being a sponsor can contact Worroll at dworroll@optonline.net or call him at 203-464-9632.
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