WestFest 2018, a community festival aimed at bringing the West Haven and University of New Haven communities closer, will feature food, music and inflatables for the fourth year.
The free event is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 8 on the West Haven Green. The rain date is Sept. 9.
WestFest is co-sponsored by the UNH Mayor’s Advisory Commission, UNH, Watson Inc., Casa Bianca Pizza, Notre Dame High School of West Haven, Wells Fargo and USAlliance Financial.
Festival proceeds will benefit the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, West Haven’s food pantry. Watson and WHEAT will hold a food drive during the event. People are asked to bring nonperishable items.
WestFest is again collaborating with the 5K Unity Run, sponsored by the UNH cross-country and track teams. The 10 a.m. run will start and finish at Maxcy Hall on the university’s main campus, 300 Boston Post Road.
After the run, transportation will be provided to WestFest on the Green, where attendees can participate in the 5K Unity Run’s powdered paint party and enjoy the family-friendly festivities.
Food trucks from Cappetta’s Italian Imports & Pizza, Louise’s Homemade Food & Baked Goods, The Colombian Hot Dog and Ted’s Steamed Burgers will serve up local dishes. Other participating businesses will include Watson, WHEAT, crafters, high school clubs, a face painter and a henna artist.
All-day entertainment will showcase live music by local bands, such as The Cobalt Rhythm Kings, Arcadia and Him or Her. There will also be the traditional WestFest pie-eating contest, sponsored by Louise’s, as well as a dunk tank where attendees can dunk state Reps. Michael A. DiMassa and Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, and Councilman Sean P. Ronan, D-9, along with UNH professors and members of the university’s Undergraduate Student Government Association’s executive board.
Many UNH clubs and organizations, including fraternities, sororities, international groups and club sports, will take part in the seven-hour event, highlighting their community involvement efforts.
Official WestFest T-shirts will be sold.
WestFest, open to the public, will offer free on-street parking around the Green and on Campbell Avenue, as well as in municipal lots off Main Street, Savin Avenue and Curtiss Place.
The University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission is a collaborative, student-driven task force formed in early 2015 to strengthen the relationship between the UNH and West Haven communities. The MAC is led by Chairman Marcin Stankevitch, a junior political science major, and adviser Chris Haynes, assistant professor of political science.
The MAC also polls and surveys both UNH students and West Haven residents to gather data on issues to help city officials with crucial citywide planning and decision-making. While the program is under the direction of the university’s political science program, students who participate are from many different majors.
Learn more about the MAC and WestFest at https://www.unhmac.org/westfest-2018.