The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘A great thing for people’
Brodie Park group organizes family-themed New Hartford Day, moving it to night
NEW HARTFORD — A traditional town celebration is getting a name and time change, with more live entertainment and family activities, according to organizers.
New Hartford Day is becoming New Hartford Night, and will be held at Brodie Park from 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18. Organizers are calling the event a brand new experience for 2021.
“New Hartford used to run New Hartford Day, it was an event agricultural theme,” said Brodie Park Inc. President Elaine Murphy. “They used to have tractor pulls and all kinds of things that were related to farming in town.
“But over the years the farms have kind of diminished in New Hartford (compared to years ago) and last year, the local Grange dissolved. They weren’t going to be able to help organize New Hartford Day,” she said.
Enter Brodie Park Inc., a nonprofit that, with fundraising, oversees use of the park and keeps it up.
“First Selectman Dan Jerram approached (me) and Vice President Pam FitzGerald, to run New Hartford Day,” Murphy said. “This year, we wanted to put a new twist to it, so we changed the time and the date. It was always held on a Sunday morning, and we’re having it on a Saturday evening.”
The day’s events begin at 3 p.m. with The Magic of Peter James for
children, followed by live music from 4 to 6 p.m. with the band Apricot Brandy, which performs soul, funk and rock.
A corn hole tournament is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
“We have a huge circus tent coming, and the tournament’s being held inside that,” Murphy said. “Depending on how many
people have signed up, there could be a number of teams competing.”
Those who are interested in competing — and possibly going home as New Hartford Day 2021 Corn Hole Champion, along with a cash prize, can register a team by email at chayward@newhartfordct.gov
The event also will have food trucks selling shaved ice, pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, panini, and coffee . Norbrook Farm Brewery will be selling cold drinks. The Tradesmen, performing rock, blues, oldies and country, start up at 6:30 p.m.
Booths also have a different focus this year, Murphy said.
“We have a dozen so far, and we said, instead of businesses handing out brochures, have an activity instead. So we’ve got a bounce house, face painting, a balloon twister, coloring contests, popcorn and a Lego contest. We’ll also have someone selling jewelry, maple syrup, soap, things like that.”
A local Boy Scout troop is in charge of parking cars, and members are asking for a $1 or $2 donation per car.
“That’s all people will have to pay for,” Murphy said. “The donations are for the troop.”
Having a town celebration at Brodie Park is always a good idea, Murphy said.
“Everyone always loves to go to Brodie Park,” she said. “It will be a nice thing for people, to get out and enjoy the weather. It’s a great thing for people to get involved in, as the fall starts ... Before it gets too cold out.”
While some towns use their main street or Green for community celebrations, New Hartford’s Main Street is also Route 44, a state road that can only be closed for emergencies.
“For us, it’s hard to do things downtown because you can’t block off Route 44. It’s a state road. So we can’t do that,” Murphy said.
Applications for vendor space are still being accepted. Those interested can email Pam FitzGerald at brodiepark@gmail.com or visit brodiepark.org. For other information, call the New Hartford Town Hall at 860-379-3389.