Barnum’s Got Talent Vocal Competition Announces Finalists
Two Students Will Perform For Governor, Appear With Javier Colon More than 120 students grades 6 through 12 represented the Bridgeport region’s talent in a vocal competition sponsored by the Barnum Festival, the summer celebration saluting 19th Century showman P.T. Barnum. Seven finalists (one from each grade) will compete on Saturday June 15, 1 p.m. [...]
Barnum Pub Fest
Eight participating retaurants and pubs! Barnum Publick House The Bijou Theatre Two Boots Bare Tapas and Vino Murphy’s Law Tiago’s Metric Bar and Grill Blue Martini Lounge at the Holiday Inn A $20 passport at participating destinations provides reduced-price specialty drinks, light buffet, and admission to The Bijou Theatre where you can rock out to [...]
Kathryn Bowden of Glastonbury CT wins the American Jenny Lind Competition in Bridgeport today
The 65th Annual Jenny Lind competition took place today Saturday, May 18, at the Recital Hall of the Arnold Bernhard Center, 126 Park Avenue, on the campus of the University of Bridgeport. A Connecticut winner, Kathryn Bowden from Glastonbury and a graduate of the University of Connecticut was crowned the American Jenny Lind winner for [...]
Wyman, Jepsen Join Barnum Festival Kick Off Whip, Whistle, Watch
Led by 2013 Ringmaster John F. Stafstrom Jr. and dignitaries throughout Connecticut, the Whip, Whistle and Watch luncheon Friday afternoon at a packed Bridgeport Holiday Inn kicked off the formal celebration of the Barnum Festival, the annual salute to legendary 19th Century showman P.T. Barnum. The time-honored fundraising event reflected the 65th Barnum Festival’s battle [...]
Royal Court Crowned For Barnum Festival
The six newest members of the 2013 Barnum Festival Royal Family were selected Sunday, May 5th at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport. The royal court will play a key role in the 65th Barnum Festival, the annual salute to the life and achievements of P.T. Barnum, world famous entrepreneur and former mayor of Bridgeport. The event was sponsored [...]
Ringmaster’s “Family to Family” Food Drive
Running strong in our 5th year, the Rotary Club of Bridgeport will once again partner with the Barnum Festival to help local families by running a Food Drive during the 2013 Great Street Parade on Sunday, June 30th which begins at 12:00 p.m. Bridgeport Rotarians and members from surrounding Rotary Clubs will walk the parade route [...]
King and Queen Competition
The King and Queen competition begins with the solicitation of our schools in Bridgeport and surrounding towns. We ask each school to provide one candidate for King and one candidate for Queen. Candidates must be from the Junior class (11th grade). All candidates must be scholastically in the upper 5th of their class. Candidates should [...]
We Choose Love
On Monday evening, April 21, 2013, over 100 parents and students gathered together at Flood Middle School in Stratford, CT for an event called “Flowers for the Float.” The Barnum Festival has joined together with the school to build a tribute float to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy. In memory of [...]
History of P.T. Barnum
East Bridgeport was P.T. Barnum’s “pet” project. He wanted to remind anyone who passed through the East Side that he had planned the district. There’s Barnum Avenue; Hallett Street (the maiden name of his first wife, Charity); and Caroline, Helen, and Pauline streets, named for three of his daughters. Noble Avenue is named for Barnum’s [...]
40 Area Children Compete for Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren Titles
Bridgeport, Conn., April 18, 2013 The Barnum Festival officially kicked off its annual salute to P.T. Barnum announcing the winners of the “Tom Thumb & Lavinia Warren Contest.’ Sebastian Machado. age 9. representing Our Lady or Assumption School of Fairfield and Nektaria Karagiannis, age 8, of Jane Ryan School of T rumbull will join the [...]
2012 Barnum Festival King & Queen Crowned
The six newest members of the 2012 Barnum Festival Royal Family were selected Sunday at the Holiday Inn. This year’s king is John Shannon, a student at Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport. Reim Alian, a Derby High School student, was crowned queen. Andre Escaleira Jr., a student at Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, and Robert Roehrich, a student at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, were named princes. Alexandra Corsi, [...]
Champions on Parade : 50/50 Winner Announced
The 50/50 Raffle winning ticket has been announced from our Champions on Parade event. Ticket # 768214 The winner must claim their prize at the Barnum Festival Headquarters 1070 Main St. Bridgeport, CT *Winner must present ticket stub to claim prize
Champions on parade : Final Scores
6. 63.35 Bushwackers 5. 76.30 Cavalleros 4. 76.75 CT Hurricanes 3. 77.80 Empire Statesman 2. 78.70 Minnesota Brass 1. 81.40 Reading buccaneers Best color guard – CT Hurricanes Best visuals – Reading buccaneers Best percussion – Reading buccaneers Best brass – Reading buccaneers Best effects – Reading buccaneers
1987 Ringmaster – John S Kartovsky (1928-2012)
1987 Ringmaster John S. Kartovsky March 24, 1928 – June 14, 2012 John S. Kartovsky, Jr. predeceased by parents John Sr. and May Collins Kartovsky, brothers Peter and William Kartovsky, James Collins and sister Ellen Collins Staneck, passed away in Boca Raton, Florida on June 14, 2012 at the age of 84. He is survived [...]
2012 Barnum Festival
The Barnum Festival brings entertainment, culture, and diversity to the communities of the greater Bridgeport area. Each year a new Ringmaster is chosen to lead the event that stretches from May to July 4th. By his/her side are the Royal Court, Tom Thumb, and Lavinia Warren winners to engage the people of greater Bridgeport and [...]
