By Liz Leamy
This year’s much-anticipated Greenwich Town Party, centered around a lively New Orleans musical theme, kicked off with a memorable pre-event celebration last Tuesday that featured a parade as well as top-notch entertainment provided by the renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band much to the delight of the hundreds of attendees on hand there.
These festivities, attended by scores of families and individuals from town and its surrounding areas, commenced late on Tuesday afternoon with a parade featuring members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as well as Greenwich student musicians, representatives from various local non-profit organizations and others who marched down Greenwich Avenue.
Afterward, the Greenwich Town Party pre-event festivities continued at the Havemeyer Field behind Greenwich Town Hall with music presented by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the internationally renowned musical contingent based out of New Orleans that was founded in 1961.
Throughout this portion of the event, Havemeyer Park field was teeming with people who were either standing near the stage, sitting at one of the white circular tables on the sidelines or walking around conversing and saying hello to one another, a site that was heartwarming to see.
“We’ve been having a great time. It’s been an amazing day of music and fun and this event says everything about the greatness of this town,” said Philip Brous of Greenwich who is the Sales Manager of New Canaan Foreign Car Service, located in Fairfield County. “This has been one of the best days ever. We are all here enjoying this beautiful weather together while also listening to a world-class jazz band. It’s been an amazing time and I’m looking forward to the Greenwich Town Party on Saturday.”
On another fun note, spectators had the option to enjoy gratis refreshments such as cold water, soda and iced tea offered by the Greenwich Town Party committee that were contained in ice buckets as well as wear complimentary Mardi Gras bead necklaces, accessories that were especially popular with the children.
At the same time, there were nearly a dozen or so food trucks on hand at this event, including LobsterCraft and Dough Girls Pizza Connecticut Food Truck, all of which had nonstop lines of customers, further indicating this event’s terrific success.
According to attendees, this event vividly reflected so much of the unique and amazing spirit of the town.
“It’s been a lot of fun to be here,” said Mickey Yardis, Greenwich resident and owner of Threads and Treads, the popular sporting goods store located on East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich. “It’s a wonderful example of what makes Greenwich the great place it is.”
