Bristol Mum Festival facts for kids
The Bristol Mum Festival is a super fun yearly event in Bristol, Connecticut. It's famous for its big Mum Parade! This festival celebrates beautiful chrysanthemums, which are also called "mums." Bristol used to grow tons of these flowers. The very first festival happened on October 7, 1962. It was a special way to show off all the great things happening in Bristol.
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The Bristol Mum Festival
What is the Mum Festival?
The Bristol Mum Festival is an exciting annual celebration. It takes place in Bristol, Connecticut. The main star of the festival is the chrysanthemum flower. These flowers were once a huge product for the town. The festival brings the community together. It also attracts visitors from all over.
How Did It Start?
The first festival was held on Sunday, October 7, 1962. It was first called the Fall Festival. The opening ceremonies kicked off the big event. Ralph Joerres was the first chairman. He invited everyone to special "Open House" events. People could visit places like the American Clock & Watch Museum. They could also see the Bristol Water Company. Local business leaders and city officials planned many activities. They wanted to highlight positive things in Bristol.
Why Mums?
In 1963, the name "Chrysanthemum" (or "Mum") was added. This was because Bristol was famous for growing mums. Before 1986, Bristol nurseries grew over 80,000 mum plants. Acres of land were covered in these colorful flowers. During the festival, more than 10,000 people would visit the nurseries. They came to see the amazing fields of mums.
A Short Break
The festival took a break in 2020. This was a temporary pause for the yearly celebration.
