Food, Fun, Friendship: Greenwich Town Party Proposes Pre-Event Parade

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Town Party at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park is one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, but capacity and tickets are limited. In an effort to include more of the community in this year's celebration, Greenwich Town Party planners are hoping to put on a pre-concert parade and party a few days before the main event.

Scot Weicker, event manager for Greenwich Town Party, Inc., appeared before the the Board of Selectmen on Thursday to ask for their approval of the parade/party and associated road closures.

While the board did not take any action, they expressed support and enthusiasm for the new event. The board wanted to allow time for public feedback.

If ultimately approved, the parade/party would be held on Tuesday, May 23. The Greenwich Town Party is scheduled for Saturday, May 27 — Memorial Day Weekend.

"The parade's mission would be to further the Greenwich Town Party's nonprofit mission of creating an annual celebration for the people of Greenwich by adding a parade on the Tuesday leading up to the Greenwich Town Party. A parade promotes the three tenants of the Greenwich Town Party: celebrate, community and participate," Weicker said.

The parade and subsequent party would feature floats, stilt walkers and live music from local bands, such as from Greenwich High School and Brunswick School, and live music from others like the Preservation Hall Brass Band, Weicker said. Community groups, nonprofits and community organizations would also be involved.

The parade would begin at 5:15 p.m., from the Amogerone parking lot, and proceed up to the Amogerone Crossway and onto Greenwich Avenue. From there, the procession would head down to Grigg Street, Arch Street and ultimately onto Bolling Place.

A post-parade party would be held in the park at Havemeyer Field from 6 p.m., to 8 p.m., with live music and complementary food and beverages from licensed Greenwich food trucks.

"This is our opporutnity to touch more individuals. It's tough with a limited capacity [at the Greenwich Town Party]. We'd like to bring the celebration and touch so many more Greenwich residents and local people who work in the town of Greenwich," Weicker said. "It would just be an event of fun, food and friendship."

Camillo called the event "exciting," and said it harkened back to a bygone era in town.

"It reminds me of growing up here. The town would have a party in the fall, and it used to be on a Sunday. They'd close down Greenwich Avenue and it was all day long," Camillo said.

Weicker said the Greenwich Police Department is aware of the event. They'd provide about 22 officers and security.

As for the Greenwich Town Party itself, which has attracted marquee names like Billy Joel, the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and James Taylor in the past, to name a few, Weicker said he wasn't ready to reveal this year's performers just yet.

"We're working on it. We just want to make sure all the details are just buttoned down... before we make an announcement," he said. "That will occur this month."

The ticket lottery for the Greenwich Town Party will also launch this month.

The Board of Selectmen is expected to vote on the parade/party during its next scheduled meeting in two weeks.