Rockwell Park Summer Festival features record number of vendors, expanded KidZone, wide variety of food offerings and 12 bands at two venues

Festivalgoers enjoying the 2022 Rockwell Park Summer Festival. | Laura Bailey

Posted By: David Fortier August 18, 2023

The organizers of the 2023 Rockwell Summer Festival encourage people to “Come hungry” to this year’s event, this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with its 13 food vendors and a giant food tent to enjoy eating in the shade.

But that’s not all.

“There’s the field section with another 68 booths plus 21 KidZone booths,” said Jesse Jablon, West End Association vice president at the last meeting of volunteers before setup starts at 7 a.m. Saturday.

The group met Thursday evening at Indian Rock Nature Center for a final information session for the volunteers.

A young girl makes a giant bubble at the 2022 Rockwell Park Summer Festival. | Laura Bailey photo

This is the 11th festival in the past 13 years, having missed two summers during the Coronavirus pandemic. A record 180 vendors in total, far above the 155 from last year, will be on hand.

“We really take pride on presenting this for the benefit of everyone in Bristol,” Jablon said in an earlier email exchange.

Among the activities will be the Bristol Auto Club car show, 12 bands performing on two stages, a pie eating contest mid-afternoon, a KidZone with mini-golf, corn hole and a Home Depot builders workshop. The Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services will have painting with kids, and Cub Scout troops will offer its GAGA Pit, inflatable archery and obstacle course.

Build a birdhouse at the Home Depot builders workshop and at the next BPRYCS booth next to it paint the birdhouse, Jablon said, at the meeting Thursday night, before some of the small army of volunteers who help direct vendors to their spaces and return to guide them out at the end of the day.

Cajun Ray and the Steamers performing at the Rockwell Park Summer Festival in August 2022. | Laura Bailey photo

One booth that Jablon is excited about is populated by ham radio operators and their equipment.

“They’re going to let kids, like, call Germany,” he said. “Some crazy stuff.”

Kids activities are free.

Twelve bands will play throughout the day on two venues.

At the Rockwell Amphitheater, beginning at 10 a.m. and playing for about 50 minutes each with a break between sets are Bridge Worship, The Conspiracy Band, Rose Hill Revival, The Still River Ramblers, Inner Groove and The Hipsters

The crowd at the 2022 Rockwell Park Summer Festival. | Laura Bailey photo

Beginning at 10:40 at the Rockwell Gazebo and playing for about 40 minutes, to coincide with the breaks from the groups playing at the amphitheater, will be Marty Q, Adelaide Punkin, Jerry Gerrish, Princess Songs, Jim Pelletier, Strawberry Moon and Alex Rencurrel.

A free shuttle from the Dollar General parking lot off Divinity Street will run all day.

Sponsors for this year’s event are Thomaston Savings Bank, Wheeler Community Health Care, Torrington Savings Bank, M&T Bank, Bristol Health, Hartford Health Care, The City of Bristol, AMP Radio Network, Carrier Construction, First Bristol Federal Credit Union, Bristol Parks Recreation Youth and Community Services, The Bristol Republican Town Committee, Main Street Community Foundation, The Rotary Club of Bristol, Riverview, Peaceful Mind and GoNetSpeed.

Tiny Tim with his parrot Skittles at the 2022 Rockwell Park Festival. | Laura Bailey photo

The Rockwell Summer Festival is presented by the West End Association, a neighborhood group that aims “to help create and maintain a safe, friendly, and family oriented neighborhood, filled with thriving businesses, convenient public transportation, attractive amenities and activities.”

The association encourages businesses and residents in the neighborhood to “demonstrate their pride by taking responsibility for the ongoing care of their homes and businesses, the parks and river, and one another.”

For more information about the event, go to the “Rockwell Page Summer Festival” Facebook page.

All TBE readers, supporters and donors                

The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.                

  • Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
  • Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
  • Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.                

Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.