Town Approves ‘Third Annual Waveny Arts Festival’ for Sept. 28

Town officials have approved use of Waveny for a hugely popular arts festival organized by a nonprofit organization.

The 3rd Annual Waveny Park Arts Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 28 following unanimous votes by the Parks & Recreation Commission and Board of Selectmen at their most recent meetings.

The first year of the festival was a test to see how it would go “and it was a huge success,” according to Hilary Wittmann, executive director of the Carriage Barn Arts Center. 

“We did grow quite a bit last year, and everything went really smoothly,” Wittmann told the selectmen at their Feb. 25 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We were very lucky with a gorgeous day. So we’re really looking to just improve upon what we did last year, not change a lot. The two things that were issues were just some of the garbage control, which we have a plan for this year. And also making sure we have some CERT [Community Emergency Response Team] volunteers available that day to help with parking and traffic control.”

Held on a picture-perfect fall day, the 2024 festival featured some 50 artists and artisan vendors in 10-by-10 booths around the Carriage Barn, Powerhouse Theatre and areas east of the Waveny House forecourt.

“In addition to the vendors, we had four food vendors,” Wittmann said. “We had two food trucks, and then one ice cream truck, and then a coffee [truck]. And we had live music on a stage that we had set up between the theater and the Carriage Barn and we had lots of free art activities for kids. We had performers roaming through the area just to add to the event. But it was an incredible success, people of all ages, families, and all generations from New Canaan and then coming, even from beyond New Canaan to enjoy the day.”

Parks & Rec approved the event at its Feb. 12 meeting, and First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll approved it last week.

Parks & Recreation Director John Howe noted that needed changes include cleaning up all garbage the same day as the event, and ensuring that there are no permanent markings in the asphalt lining out where booths are meant to set up.

He called the 2024 event “very successful. Last year was bigger than ever. I think their biggest problem is the amount of space they have.”

Carlson said she attended last year’s arts festival with her husband “and it was an amazing day.”

“It was just the environment, the enthusiasm, everybody was so happy walking around,” she said.

Carlson asked whether the organizers were considering bringing in additional police to manage motor vehicle traffic and ensure pedestrian safety.

“I’m sure you were working with the prior year’s numbers and not realizing it was going to be so big,” she said.

Carlson added: “It’s a great event and I just want to make sure that it continues to be a great event, and having the right public safety people involved.” 

Wittmann noted that New Canaan EMS also had an ambulance on site last year.

Carlson said she grew up attending arts festivals with her family “and I remember going to the Sono Arts Festival when I first moved here.”

“It feels like we’re bringing maybe a slightly downscaled version of that to New Canaan in a much prettier environment,” she said.

Wittmann said the participating artists and vendors remarked on how much they enjoyed the organization, atmosphere and crowds. 

“We’re really thrilled to continue with it,” she said. “Last year we added a ‘Young Entrepreneurs Marketplace.’ So we had about 15 or 20 young kids from New Canaan who are starting their own little businesses and we showcased them and gave them the opportunity to sell their products or promote their business ideas, which was a really great addition, too.”

The rain date for the festival will be Oct. 12, though it’s a go rain-or-shine so the original Sept. 28 date is locked in barring a major weather event, Wittmann said.