Danbury’s Main Street to close for festival

Street fest to include music, food and more

DANBURY — CityCenter’s Danbury Street Festival will be back Saturday, bringing live music, food, shopping and activities for families to the heart of downtown.

The free event on Main Street, between White Street and West Street will run from noon to 6 p.m., followed immediately by a concert on the CityCenter Green, which goes until 10 p.m.

“Danbury is a hidden gem, and it is time for our city to shine bright. The Danbury Street Festival is the perfect event for people who live in our city, and surrounding areas, to find out what our city has to offer,” CityCenter Danbury Manager Lazaro Chavez said.

Chavez is leading the annual festival to bring more life into downtown. With more than 50 artists and vendors lining the streets Saturday, it’s the perfect way for people to explore the arts, music, crafters and local businesses the city has to offer, he said.

Coming from Dominican and Cuban families, Chavez has said he wants to bridge together cultures and highlight the Hispanic and Latino businesses downtown that may have gone unrecognized.

Chavez became manager of CityCenter last September and sees the future of CityCenter as being more than just hosting events. He said he is a “community liaison” between the restaurants, the city and the public and aims to serve as a “hub to connect everyone together.”

Chavez has said Danbury has the potential to grow like Norwalk and White Plains, N.Y. did, but the city needs to develop an identity and coordinate better between its various organizations.

Events like the Danbury Street Festival are just one of the priorities that CityCenter leaders are focused on. Others include safety and security, cleanliness, beautification, and business development.

“We are very fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers to assist in putting this together, while helping the restoration of Downtown Danbury,” Chavez said. “Events like the Danbury Street Festival showcase our city and demonstrate the value of having a cultural hub in the heart of Danbury.”

Macaroni Kid & Ventura Law is also sponsoring a Family Fun Zone with a host of activities for children and families.

And with no shortage of food vendors, there will be an option for every palette, including BBQ, burgers, hot dogs, vegan options, tacos, drinks, deserts, and much more. Some of the food vendors featured will be El Taco Loco, El Puesito, Twins BBQ, Weinie Lynn’s, and LesserEvil.

Beer and wine will also be available in the outdoor alcove at the Bardo Walkway.

Anyone looking to attend should be aware that Main Street will be closed to traffic from West Street to White Street from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. But event parking will be available at the Patriot Parking Garage, 1 Patriot Dr. Danbury CT 06810.

For more information, visit danburystreetfestival.com or go to our website at citycenterdanbury.com or contact CityCenter Danbury at (203)792-1711.