“It’s really cool. There are lots of little rides my sister can ride.”
Christina Davis was walking through the Savin Rock Festival site in West Haven on Friday with her grandmother and sister.
“There aren’t many fairs like this in the summer and it’s right on the beach so I think it’ll be a lot of fun,” she said.
There was a lot of excitement along the boardwalk: vendors set up booths, food trucks were parked, and owners were preparing meals and menus.
Wendy Camacho, a West Haven native, said she and her mother were setting up a booth selling handmade jewelry at Blue Artesanias, which is marking its third year attending the festival.
“There will be music, concerts and lots of food,” she said, adding that she expects sales to be strong and that the great atmosphere keeps people coming back year after year.
“A lot of people come here. It’s very nice. The customers are very nice,” Camacho said.
Kenya Reddick agreed and said she might stop by on Friday night.
“This is great because we need things like this to bring the community together and make sure everybody gets along, so it’s great that they’re doing it,” Reddick said.
Mayor Dorinda Boller says that’s the goal: to create a more positive experience for the city.
“Just having a bunch of food trucks and hearing music, it’s always a positive vibe,” Boller said of the 42-year-old West Haven tradition. “We’ve worked to foster a positive vibe in West Haven, so it just fits in naturally. It’s part of the fabric of the community.”
About 10,000 visitors are expected over the weekend, and Saturday is an event-packed day including a pancake breakfast with the Rotary Club, children’s photo opportunities, games and the return of the “Great Bartender Race” fundraiser.
“There will be crafts, things for the kids to enjoy, carnival rides and a great music lineup,” Boller said.
Cover bands of Journey, Foreigner and the Allman Brothers will also be performing, along with up-and-coming musicians from Connecticut.
“Saturday night is Nick Fradiani. Not only is he the winner of American Idol, he’s currently playing Neil Diamond on Broadway.”
His headlining performance will be the finale to a fun-filled weekend in West Haven.
