East Haven Fall Festival: What You Need To Know, Betcha By Golly

EAST HAVEN, CT - Betcha by golly wow, yes, one of R & B’s most memorable bands, The Stylistics, will be the feature entertainment for the 30th annual East Haven Fall Festival September 10, 11, and 12 on the East Haven Town Green, festival president Noreen Clough and Mayor Joseph A. Carfora announced.

The Stylistics will perform Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Also slated to perform is What a Fool Believes – A Tribute to the Doobie Brothers, who’ll be on stage Friday at 8:30 p.m.

The Fall Festival will include food vendors, carnival rides, a Classic Car Show, Pop Rocks, a band that plays all the hits from the 1980s, a Craft Fair featuring numerous vendors from across the state, Tom Callinan, Connecticut’s first State Troubadour, a Business Expo, various local musical talent and youth groups will be featured as well as the Teen Corner, the 5K road race.

“Through the tremendous generosity of our business community the Fall Festival this year is again able to bring nationally acclaimed entertainment,” Carfora said. “Once again this could not be accomplished without the generosity of our entire business community. Thank you."

The festival will begin Saturday morning with a memorial service to reflect on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11. The somber ceremony will begin 8:30 a.m., at the 9/11 Memorial on the Town Green.

Here’s what you need to know about the East Haven Fall Festival:

East Haven Fall Festival Schedule

Friday Sept. 10

Festival hours 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Teen Corner Activities hours 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Gazebo Stage:
6:00 p.m. Avenue Groove
8:20 p.m. Festival Welcome
8:30 p.m. “What a Fool Believes” (A Doobie Brothers Experience)

Saturday Sept. 11

Festival hours 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

EH5K Road Race Registration at 8:00 a.m., Fun Run at 9:00 a.m. & Race at 9:30 a.m. For full event information visit https://www.ehroadrace.com/

9/11 Ceremony: This somber ceremony will reflect on the 20th anniversary of this tragic day. Arrive by 8:30 a.m. at the 911 Memorial on the Town Green. Finished by 9 a.m.

Business Showcase hours 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the EH Chamber Corporate tent. Watch the business presentations on the gazebo stage at 11:45.

Teen Corner Activities hours 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Gazebo Stage:
11:45 a.m. East Haven Chamber Business Showcase Presentations
12:15 p.m. Kenny Araujo
1:00 p.m. Vocal Productions Students
2:00 p.m. Wagner-Iovanna Vocal Studio Students
3:00 p.m. New Haven Academy of Peforming Arts Students

4:30 p.m. PrimeTime
6:15 p.m. Timmy Maia Experience
8:15 p.m. Saturday Night Ceremonies
8:30 p.m. “The Stylistics”

Sunday Sept. 12

Festival hours 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Car Show hours 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Gazebo Stage:
10:30 a.m. Tom Callinan, Ct State Troubadour
12:00 p.m. Low Maintenance
1:30 p.m. Mick Lewis & the Hellhouse Band
2:30 p.m. One Way Ticket
4:00 p.m. The Pop Rocks (Totally Awesome 80’s)

Highlights

Sunday morning will feature what has become a very popular Classic Car Show, which again this year will be coordinated by the Vietnam Veterans Association, Chapter 484. The show will run from 9 am until 3 pm.

Food, food food.

Sunday afternoon entertainment will feature Pop Rocks. CT's Ultimate 80's Experience playing only the best pop and rock from the 80's! In addition to the feature entertainment the Festival will showcase various local musical talent and youth groups.

As in the past, carnival rides will be available all weekend for children and pre-teens. This year’s event will again feature an area of the green, which will be titled, the “Teen Corner” under the direction of the Town’s Youth Coordinator, C.J Cofrancesco. The “Teen Corner”, will be open Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 6:00 pm.

The East Haven Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business Expo on Saturday, September 11th from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the Festivals Corporate Tent. The Chamber will showcase local businesses that will meet your professional and personal needs.

Fall Festival Craft Fair will be held on all three days of the Festival. New vendors and many returning vendors this year will in attendance. Crafters from all over Connecticut will be displaying their unique items. The Festival still has some openings for additional craft vendors. Any interested vendor should contact Liz Esposito either by email: lesposito95@yahoo.com or cell phone: 203-627-9125.

All about The Stylistics

The Stylistics were formed in Philadelphia, in 1966 from two groups, The Percussions and The Monarchs. When members from each group were drafted, the remaining members joined forces and changed their name to The Stylistics. The group was then approached by Bill Perry, offering to record a song. Their first song, "You're a Big Girl Now" was recorded at Virtue Recording Studio in Philadelphia, written by their guitarist at the time, Robert "Doc" Douglas and Road Manager, Marty Bryant. Before long, the song became a #1 hit in Philadelphia, and then other cities followed.

Interested in promoting the record nationally, Bill Perry contacted Avco Records and made a record deal. Hit veteran producer Tom Bell was hired to produce the group's first album titled The Stylistics, and out of that album came hit songs like "Stop, Look, Listen to your Heart", "You Are Everything" and "Betcha By Golly Wow". The success of this album was phenomenal, and the ball continued to roll with the release of their second album Round Two. The Stylistics soon became known as the Philly group with their sweet love songs.

Herbert Murrell and Airrion Love are the remaining original members of The Stylistics. Friends since junior high school, Herb and Airrion have managed to keep the music alive. Their new lead singer, Grammy Award winning recording artist, Barrington “Bo” Henderson, began his professional career with groups such as The Dramatics and Lakeside, and later he became the lead singer of world-renowned group, The Temptations. He was featured on The Temptations album Phoenix Rising, which nearly went double platinum. Bo was also on the album Ear-Resistible, helping to win The Temptations a Grammy Award. The Stylistics are honored to welcome Barrington “Bo” Henderson to the group. Opening for the feature act will be the very popular sound of Timmy Maia.

All about the Doobie Brothers Tribute Band

The Festival is also delighted to announce that Friday night will also be featuring What a Fool Believes – A Tribute to the Doobie Brothers. There’s no one in the industry today that can recreate the sound and style of the world-famous Doobie Brothers like "What A Fool Believes" can. Six of the northeast's top professional musicians have pooled their talents, years of performance experience, and their love of the Doobies to become the very best Doobie’s tribute show in the country today. Inspired by the brother’s superior song writing, "What a Fool Believes" delivers powerful harmonies and a fun filled high energy performance covering a catalog of Doobies hits spanning both the Johnston and McDonald eras. Yes, "What a Fool Believes" masterfully play them all, from "Listen to the Music" to "What a Fool Believes", from "Long Train Running" to "Minute by Minute", from "Black Water" to "Takin’ it to the Streets" and all the rest. If you have a favorite Doobies tune (and everyone does) it will surely be included in a What a Fool Believes show that’s certain to delight and provide great entertainment to folks of all ages.

The event continues to be supported by corporate sponsorships and individual contributions. Anyone interested in helping with this effort, or for any further information on the Festival, should contact Michelle Benivegna in the Mayor’s office, at 468-3371 or email her at mbenivegna@townofeasthavenct.org

For further information on the Fall Festival and to get all the latest entertainment schedules and weather-related changes on your smartphone, visit the town’s website here and follow the festival’s Facebook page here.