Photo Essay Daffodil Festival, Meriden, CT April 29th, 2017 Jennifer Conticello JRN 418, Final Project

Celebrating the 39th annual Daffodil Festival in Meriden, CT For the past 39 years, Meriden, Connecticut has hosted the Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park, held the last week of April. One of the state's most colorful events, spectators come from all different towns to see the 650,000 daffodils in bloom. Other highlights of the festival include a parade, fireworks, food trucks, and an arts & craft fair. The massive food tent hosts dozen of vendors selling a variety of foods for all people. Some included German, Italian, and BBQ style dishes. All money each vendor made goes back into the community to support their organizations. Performers on 3 different stages throughout the park play music for patrons all throughout the day. This year, the festival was held on April 29th and 30th, but the town also hosts a ‘pre-festival’ weekend the week before which was April 22nd and 23rd. The pre-festival weekend has Connecticut's largest tag sale, carnival rides and gourmet food trucks. This festival attracts over 70,000 people over both weekends.

Thousands of vibrant Daffodils line the walkways of Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT.

Close up shot of the vibrant daffodils along the walkway toward the festival tent.

Some interested festival patrons checking out what The Jerky Hut has to offer.

Dondero Orchards from South Glastonbury, CT, selling homemade pickles, beets, cabbage and more.

Dondero Orchards from South Glastonbury, CT, selling jams, jellies, spreads, and pies.

Whiskers and Whimsy Bake Shoppe from Vernon, CT, selling homemade, all-natural dog treats shaped like pizza, bacon & eggs and hamburgers & fries.

Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe from Hopewell, NY, sold homemade toffee bark, toffee nuts, a gummy bears.

Repurpose Me from Voluntown, CT, creates household decor out of scrap metal and other reusable items.

Chelsea’s Fire Hot Sauce, from Massachusetts, offered daring patrons some free hot sauce samples.

A fair volunteer uses his megaphone to attract people into the food tent for lunch.

Some festival-goers enjoying the live music in the park.

A family taking the opportunity to take pictures of their baby in the blooming daffodils.