A trio of events related to the annual Benedum Festival will not be taking place this year, according to Bridgeport City Clerk Andrea Kerr. Kerr confirmed that the annual Challenger League 5K, the Benedum Festival Pageants and the annual Benedum Fellows Banquet have all been scrapped.

 

While the Benedum Fellows Banquet has been canceled, the awarding of the 2016 Benedum Fellows will take place. It will be part of the first-ever “Picnic in the Park” event, which is geared toward the Bridgeport community.

 

“We’ll make the announcement during that event,” said Kerr. “The announcement will come at 8:30 p.m. and we’ll have the band that is performing to take a break when the announcement is made.”

There are two individual winners this year of the Benedum Fellows Award. The honor goes to a member of the Bridgeport community or an individual that has impacted the city that best represents the ideals of the late Michael Benedum. Benedum, whose philanthropic ways benefits the city to this day, was born in Bridgeport before he laid claim to his wealth through the oil industry.

 

“It will be similar in that the honorees will be announced, then formally introduced with their backgrounds read,” said Kerr. “I believe they’ll actually arrive at the event on a fire truck.”

 

Along with the Benedum Fellows, the Benedum Youth Service Award winners will also be announced.  The youth service award winners are for youngsters between the age of 13 and 19 that show high levels of volunteerism and leadership. The awards are picked from nominations received from the community and beyond.

 

As for the 5K, Kerr said she’s hopeful that the highly popular run will return next year. She said due to ongoing construction at Wayne Jamison Field, where the event has typically started and finished along with where all the organization for the event is held, that it was decided that it would be best to take a year off from the competition.

 

Whether the pageant returns next year is unknown, Kerr said. This Saturday, the Festival Children’s Pageant was to be held, while the standard pageant was to take place this Sunday.

 

Two other highly popular events that have long been a part of the Benedum Festival will take place. The annual Pet Parade will be held as part of the Picnic in the Park event. Kerr said will begin at 10 a.m. and all pets are welcome and prizes will be award.

 

Also, the annual Benedum Festival Car Show will take place this year on July 9 in its standard location – the band field behind Bridgeport High School. Registration for the event will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a $10 registration fee.

 

The registration fee includes a t-shirt and a dash plaque. There will also be 45 trophies awarded for the event that starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m.

 

Check back to Connect-Bridgeport tomorrow for the announcement of this year’s Benedum Fellows Award winners.

 

Read a preview of "Picnic in the Park" HERE. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows a Michael Benedum impersonator at a recent banquet, while the 5K and pageant, respectively, are shown in the bottom two photos.