It is typically one of the biggest events – if not the biggest – of the year in the City of Bridgeport. Whether it takes place in 2020 is unknown.

 

The annual City of Bridgeport Family Day, which draws a crowd of thousands, has been postponed for the time being. Community Development Director Andrea Kerr said city leaders have opted to take a “wait and see” approach as opposed to throwing in the towel.

 

The event, which is held at Bridgeport City Park, has been a hit since it was instituted several years ago. In fact, the event has been jampacked every year it has been held.

 

“We’ve had inquiries about the event,” said Kerr. “We’ve easily had more than 2,000 people in attendance before, which consists of residents, people from surrounding communities and people from well beyond our area.

 

“With crowd size stipulations still in place and social distancing still an issue, having it now would be difficult,” she continued. “It’s one event where you know it’s going to be extremely crowded.”

The event typically takes place in early June. The idea is to have it during the start of summer to kick off the warm weather months. Kerr said the goal is to have it, if possible, during warm weather months and not in the fall when kids are back in school.

 

“There’s a lot of planning that takes place with this from getting vendors to brining in things for kids to do,” said Kerr. “Because of that I would think we’ll probably have a decision sometime sooner rather than later.”

 

Kerr’s comment about the event being “extremely crowded” is not hyperbole. Large lines and huge gatherings are witnessed throughout the City Park grounds during the event. The event helps draw those crowds thanks to having no admission, free food, and free entertainment from kids’ events to bands for the adults.

 

“There would be no way to maintain social distancing of any reasonable effort,” she said. “Plus, you have the bounce house and slides for kids that are usually filled with kids and have plenty of contact. The same with the food vendors who see wall to wall people.

 

“That’s a big reason for the postponement,” she continued. “We have to wait to see if there’s a relaxing of guidelines and, even then, if it’s feasible during a pandemic.”

 

Editor's Note: Photos are from past Bridgeport Family Day events. All photos by Ben Queen Photography.