Downtown New Haven Inc. Cancels This Year’s Firefest

At last week’s Downtown New Haven Inc. meeting, it was determined that Firefest will not happen this year primarily due to insurance coverage and costs. Previously, it was reported that Firefest could be salvaged if a new coordinator could be established. However, the event, with its Fire and Ice aspect, raises too many red flags when it comes to liability and has been scrapped entirely for the year. This is no word yet on whether or not this exciting event will be brought back in 2022, but it will likely depend on costs and management availability.

There is good news for other downtown events, however. The Scarecrow and Pumpkin Glow event in October will be expanded this year thanks to last year’s success. The Christmas shopping event, too, was also discussed along with an exciting members’ social event in September.

A new downtown playground for kids was proposed and is being chaired by Lauren Zobrist. We shall have more details after the next meeting this August.

The organization is looking to have a more focused marketing strategy in order to bring more tourists to the downtown area. With revitalization projects, a possible new dock for visitors and the recent success of Miller’s Landing Day, hope is stirring that this increase of tourism will be an inevitability rather than a mere possibility.