Town recreation officials are planning a new community event to be held just after school starts up again later this year.
Tentatively titled the ‘Labor Day Weekend Bash,’ it will be a ticketed event held Sept. 4 at Waveny, similar to the town’s Family Fall Festival according to Assistant Recreation Director Zack Philippas.
“People will be charged, we’ll get them wristbands so we know they’re able to attend the event, and that’s how we’ll be able to track registrations and cover the expenses,” Philippas told members of the Board of Selectmen at their March 17 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of allowing food trucks at the Bash (Philippas estimated three to five total).
“Sounds like a really fun event,” Karl said.
According to a memo that the Recreation Department provided the selectmen in advance of the meeting, the Bash will be an “evening community gathering designed to bring residents together toward the end of the summer season.” (The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 27.) It will “feature live music by the band The Zoo” as well as “lawn games, and open lawn space for residents to gather and enjoy the atmosphere,” the memo said.
The selectmen asked whether there’s a rain date (not yet, it’s tight at Waveny with weddings), how the event will be promoted (Rec Department social channels, local news outlets and “The Sentinel”) and whether there will be a cap on attendees (yes).
Philippas said that the department’s Fall Festival is capped at 1,200 and the Bash will base pricing this year off of an expected attendance of about 200, “which I do think is low,” he said.
“But it’s our first time doing it,” Philippas said. “So we, until we get a general consensus of that number, and then for next year we’ll be able to plan accordingly. But that’s where we’re going to base pricing off, is that number.”