We are in great need of volunteers for the 2026 Mum Festival! As most of you know, this historic event almost ended in 2015. Thanks to a public outcry, and the Exchange Club of Bristol CT stepping up, our city’s marquee event was saved. The City of Bristol has also provided an annual grant to ensure that the Mum Festival is supported. This is where you come in! We need your support on our Mum Festival Committee to keep this event going. Whether it is serving on our All Volunteer Committee, or just picking an event to help out on during the Festival, is so critical to the Festival’s survival. As many of our committee members will tell you, it’s a lot of fun, especially giving back to your community.
Thank you for your submission! Our Volunteer Director will respond to you. For any reason you do not hear back, email us at MumFestivalBristol@gmail.com.
Below is the list of winners for performance and float categories for the 2025 Bristol Mum Festival Parade. Thank you to all of the 60+ parade units who participated in this year’s event!
I. Best Overall, Given in Memory of Bob Bailey: Sphinx Shrine Motor Patrol
II. Music and Marching Awards
H.S. Marching Band, 1st Place: Bristol Eastern High School
H.S. Marching Band, 2nd Place: Terryville High School
H.S. Marching Band, 3rd Place: Bristol Central High School
MUM FESTIVAL 2025 By Tom Lagasse, Bristol Poet Laureate
Once in Bristol, on Chippen’s Hill, there was a rainbow of chrysanthemums that captivated visitors and locals alike, which forever made us the self-proclaimed Mum City.
Like us, mums too, arrived here as immigrants, whose seeds traveled across an ocean and became part of us. Hardy, diverse, they twinkle on overcast days, shine like jewels in the autumn sun, and withstand cold nights when frost, that layer of ice, maims
Or kills the gardens we tended with care. They are survivors.
More than half a century ago, several of Bristol’s supporters believed there was a need to recognize the town’s bouquets where many
more saw a weedy, fallow field. Now, different boosters continue the tradition of celebrating the town’s health, acknowledging what it gets right. This thankless work to celebrate who we are flower, stem and root, is a party for us, complete with a parade,
Where marching bands and dancers join veterans, and members Of our faith and government institutions. Where our current and future leaders, our lineage, our history is on display.
Along the sidewalks, regardless of weather, we applaud in gratitude and pride. Here we can remember not only who we are but what we share, a desire to have things be a little better for young and old alike.
And here, on Memorial Boulevard, when the laughter and joy
Of children and young people on carnival rides fills the night sky, we can only hope this appeases the ghosts, our ancestors,
Whose names are etched on the plaques and monuments That line this road. They gave their lives fighting
for freedom and against tyranny, as they watch over us.
As we begin this year’s festival, remember the sturdy mum. its historic use is to both beautify and heal. It is not,
as it once was, to be mistaken for a common weed. This is who we are, in art, in sport, and in enterprise – hardy and resilient – we are all chrysanthemums.
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors! If you are interested in becoming a 2025 Sponsor, please complete the Sponsor form at 2025 Sponsor Application: Please Select this Link.
Sponsor the 2025 Mum Festival!
Download the 2024 Sponsor Form: (For donations over $500.00) 2025 SPONSOR APPLICATION: Please Select this Link
Jason Fields Andy Adams Debbie Schur Donna Damm Dognin Maria Salice Brianna Longo Natalie Wright Cummings Karl & Dianna Tack Sue Berard Sue Gendreau Sue Radke Harley Graime Dave Rackliffe Sue Radke Shannen Cianci Lara Nichols Sarah Sullivan Barbara L. Bajurny
Many Thanks to All Our 2025 Sponsors!
Please consider being a Sponsor for the 2025 Mum Festival!
OUR STORY: The Mum Festival has been an epic fall festival in Bristol’s history. Once known as the Mum City, Bristol was famous for this colorful flower, and through the years proud Fall festivities were put on by residents for all in the region to enjoy! The Festival is Sponsored by the City of Bristol and Directed by the Greater Bristol Exchange Club. One of the premiere festivals in New England!
This is where you come in! In order to do the Festival justice, we are approaching you to be one of the many great and necessary sponsors to pull off the considerable size and scope of this effort. With you on board, we can create a memorable event for thousands of Mum Festival goers, encouraging thousands to experience the many layers of festival offerings over a 4-day action packed weekend. In a sponsorship role, this great event will provide your business or organization exposure to thousands of people, in addition to tens of thousands of impressions through our advertising and event efforts leading up to the big weekend. The 2016 Mum Festival and Parade drew well over 50,000 visitors!
All sponsorships will be tax deductible via 501(c) 3 non profit event partner, The Bristol Exchange Club. If you are interested in sponsoring or would like more info please contact: Jason Fields: E: jgfields@att.net P: 860.707.6286
What: Over the course of the weekend the 2018 Mum Fest will feature dozens of vendors from area businesses, crafters, local producers, restaurants, food trucks, community organizations, non profits, and museums, in addition to games, children’s programming, adult beverages, fireworks on Friday, all-day live music and entertainment, a car show and so much more!
Where: The event will be held in downtown Bristol at Memorial Boulevard Theatre field and the surrounding area, where parking, including handicap parking, will be available too. Parking will also be available at Associated Spring, the Depot Square (former mall) lot, other municipal lots, and on-street, where available.
Join In!: We are offering you the unique chance to support this wonderful opportunity for our Bristol and Connecticut communities to gather, create memories, and contribute to Bristol’s positive efforts to become a destination. This exciting event reinforces the City and Chambers’ efforts to promote downtown as a destination, and we hope that it will encourage everyone to join in and help our region rise to new heights!
We hope you can join this effort to put on this amazing festival in the heart of our state for all to converge, and we thank you for your time and support in advance. There’s just one last thing we’d like to say, “Mum’s the Word”…
All sponsorships will be tax deductible via 501(c) 3 non profit event partner The Bristol Exchange Club. The Bristol Mum Festival is made possible by The Bristol Exchange Club and The City Of Bristol. The Bristol Exchange Club is a tax exempt organization under the 501(c)(3) IRS Code.
Free Parking will be available at the following locations for the Mum Festival:
Saturday and Sunday
Old Webster Bank Parking Lot on Riverside Avenue (150 Main Street).
Bristol Health Parking Lot on Hope Street is available at the following hours: Friday after 4:30 PM Saturday after 2:00 PM Sunday: Please note that the parade starts to line up at 11, so the Hope street entrance will be closed during the parade.
Board of Education Parking Lot on Church Street
Church Street Commuter Lot by the Board of Education
Express Kitchens (former Barnes Group Parking Lot) and 10 Main Street
BAIMS Magnet School Parking Lot on South Street (Handicap Parking Only)
BAIMS Magnet School Parking Lot on Willis Street Extension is available at the following hours: Friday after 5:00 PM Saturday after 5:00 PM Sunday starting at 12:00 PM
Parking is also available on side streets as always. Please follow all parking regulations.
First Student Bus
****Mum Festival Bus Schedule****
Pick Up & Drop Off:
Saturday September 27th
Shuttle Bus—runs 12:00 – 9:30 pm
Pick Up & Drop Off:
Start/Stop: American Legion Parking Lot (22 Hooker Court off Riverside Avenue)
Riverside Realty, 165 Riverside Avenue (Next to Bristol Water Department)
Corner of Riverside and Main Street at Bus Stop (Next to Bristol Health)
Commuter Lot next to the Board of Education building on Church Street
10 Main Street/Express Kitchens (former Barnes Group) by ATM machine on South Street
Bristol Arts & Innovation Magnet School -BAIMS (South Street parking lot)
10 Main Street/Express Kitchens (former Barnes Group) by ATM machine on South Street
Commuter Lot next to the Board of Education building on Church Street
Corner of Riverside and Main Street at Bus Stop
American Legion Parking Lot
Bus will continue the loop from 12:00 – 9:30 pm
Sunday, September 28th
Shuttle Bus—runs 12:00 – 6:30 pm
Pick Up & Drop Off:
Start/Stop: American Legion Parking Lot (22 Hooker Court off Riverside Avenue)
Riverside Realty, 165 Riverside Avenue (Next to Bristol Water Department)
10 Main Street/Express Kitchens (former Barnes Group) by ATM machine on South Street
Bristol Arts & Innovation Magnet School -BAIMS (South Street parking lot)
10 Main Street/Express Kitchens (former Barnes Group) by ATM machine on South Street
American Legion Parking Lot
Due to the Mum Parade, the roads are closed on the parade route, so we will only have partial pickup and drop locations. After the Mum Parade, we will resume the regular route that is listed for Saturday. Busses will run to 6:30 PM.
Hope you enjoy the 2024 Mum Festival Video created by Steven Seymour. The 2025 Mum Festival will be held on September 26, 27 & 28 at the Memorial Boulevard, Mark your calendars for another great event!! The 63rd Mum Festival!!Another MUM-tastic Time!!
Our Vendor Application will be posted in April, so save this site to your favorites for everything Mum!!
The Bristol Mum Festival, founded in 1961, is the city’s marquee event, and is produced by the Exchange Club of Bristol, CT. The Mum Festival is always the last full weekend in September. The Mum Parade is held each year on the Sunday of festival weekend, and each year’s theme is announced in the spring.
For more information, or to get involved in the festival or the parade, visit www.BristolMumFestival.com.
We hope you can join this effort to put on this amazing festival in the heart of our state for all to converge, and we thank you for your time and support in advance. There’s just one last thing we’d like to say, “Mum’s the Word…!”
All sponsorships are tax deductible via 501(c) 3 non profit event partner The Exchange Club of Bristol CT, Inc. The Bristol Mum Festival is made possible by The Bristol Exchange Club, The City Of Bristol and our Sponsors. The Exchange Club of Bristol CT, Inc., is a tax exempt organization under the 501(c)(3) IRS Code.
Become a full Sponsor by completing our mail-in application:
A very special thanks to all the wonderful volunteers that made this year’s Mum Festival such a huge success! This year’s festival was just a wonderful event, and one that will not be forgotten. Many thanks to our Mum Festival Chairs & Liaisons:
Jack Ferraro, Mum Festival Logistics & General Chairman
Jason Fields, Vice-Chair & Finance Director
Kim Caron, Treasurer
Natalie Wright Cummings, Fundraising Director
Andrea Botto Adams, Vendor Relations Director
Shannen Cianci, Vendor Layout
Donna Marie Dognin, Veterans Relations & Patriotism Director
Beverly Foote, Car Show Chair
Mickey Goldwasser, Public Relations Chair
Harley Graime, Public Safety Director
Mickey Goldwasser, Facilities Director
AJ Colwick, Task & Timeline Director
Brianna Longo, Miss Mum Chair
Joyce Ptak, Art & History Director Robert Faucher & Sue Gendreau, Assitant Directors
Dave Rackliffe, Facilities Management Assistant
Sue Radke, CERT Manager
Maria Salice, Entertainment Director and MC
Dianna Tack, Mum Festival Parade & Volunteer Director
Karl Tack & Melissa McCarthy, Family Events Directors
Also, to our many Committee Members:
Sarah Sullivan, Debbie Schur, Joan & Peter Pelkey, Gary Paradis & Gary Paradis Jr., Electrical, Mark Blethen, our amazing sign guy!! and Marenna Family Amusements!
“In Loving Memory of Paul Berard and Jim Foote”, we so miss you, but know you are both with us in spirit always…
A huge shout out to our City Liaison, Harley Graime, who handled all our city needs throughout the festival! You rock!
To our CERTS, Police, Fire, Parks, Public Works, Building, Water, Health, and Emergency Management Departments and the Board of Education, we could not have done it without you!! To our awesome EMT’s, many thanks.
Special thanks to our City for their continued support and love of our Festival! Our Board of Finance for their unwavering support, understanding the importance of this great community event…
As always, our wonderful Sponsors!! You make this event possible each year, ensuring the many happy faces in our community. Without you, we would not be able to put on the variety this festival offers!!
To all those who helped out that may not have been mentioned, we thank you!! To our community and visitors, see you all next year!! Mums the Word!
The Bristol Mum Festival 