WILTON – The Wilton Blueberry Festival kicked off Friday morning, playing host to many activities all over town and offering remembrances for fallen Americans.
The festival, in its 23rd year, is held annually on the first Friday and Saturday of August. Friday’s schedule featured an eclectic mix of events, ranging from book sales to boat tours, from road races to bingo games.
At Kineowatha Park, the most notable event was a series of games for children organized by the Calvary Hill Baptist Church. The event, which was free for everyone involved, featured lots of prizes for the kids, including cotton candy and hot dogs.
Sheryl Small, one of many volunteers, said the goal was to provide children with more things to do during the festival.
“We used to do something downtown and did that for two years, and then we started talking and said, We want to do something for the kids that’s bigger,'” she said. “Three years ago, the bicentennial year, it came to pass, and we try to add a few things if we can each year.”
Children enjoyed the various stations set up by the church, including an obstacle course, a mini-golf hole, a puppet show, and face painting.
Within eyesight of the games area at Kineowatha Park was the Vietnam Moving Wall, a scaled-down replica of the memorial in Washington. The wall, which was open for anyone to view, was in keeping with the theme of this year’s festival: “A Tribute To All Veterans.” That theme was also echoed in downtown Wilton, where a 9/11 Rolling Memorial was displayed at Franklin Savings Bank and where another display honored prisoners of war.
Even with the reminders of war present, downtown Wilton looked much like a craft fair on Friday, with vendors lining the street, selling a variety of goods, such as children’s toys, handmade baskets and specially made soaps.
Wilton was also abuzz with food, although not everything revolved around the little blue berry for which the festival was named. There was a stand selling homemade ice cream, a fudge booth, several hot dog stands, a barbecue-style food vendor, a lemonade stand, and other food vendors.
A lobster roll lunch was available at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and a chowder lunch complete with blueberry shortcake was served at the SeniorsPlus Community Center.
There were some noncommercial booths as well, including a van from the Healthy Community Coalition touting healthy life practices and a booth promoting diversity and acceptance.
Other events of note included a bingo game sponsored by the Wilton American Legion, boat tours by the Friends of Wilson Lake, and a book sale sponsored by the Wilton Free Public Library.
The Blueberry Festival continues all day today, with a morning that features a blueberry pancake breakfast and a 9 a.m. parade, as well as several musical performers.
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