News
Residents brave heat to celebrate past, present and future of historic downtown
By Press Release
Jun 11, 2008 - 12:50:22 PM

Stilt Walker

On Saturday, June 7th, Norwalk area residents braved record-high temperatures to enjoy a fun filled day that included live music, food and family-friendly activities for all ages at the Main/Wall Street Festival ‘08. Over 80 merchants, businesses and non-profits from the greater Norwalk community exhibited their goods and services during a day-long festival celebrating the past, present and future of the historic downtown Main and Wall Streets.

“We were so pleased to see a significant increase in business participation this year which is a clear sign that the festival is growing,” said Kenneth Olson, CEO of POKO Partners, the developer of Wall Street Place and Gold Sponsor of the festival. “We look forward to participating again in next year’s celebration, recognizing Norwalk’s deep history and culture.”

Stilt walkers, a magician and oversized puppet’s provided by Seth Kramer Productions walked Main and Wall Streets throughout the afternoon entertaining the crowd of patrons while several children enjoyed colorful face painting, tattoos for kids, a ballet children’s fashion show, and sidewalk chalk art.

The Norwalk Symphony offered an instrument “petting zoo”, allowing the public to try out different instruments. Other area businesses including The Silk Touch, Karate Universe, the Norwalk YMCA, Dorr Way to Health and Nu Yoga were on hand to present demonstrations throughout the day.

Local vendors served up some tasty treats that included Aitoros grilling a variety of items, crepes from award winning Chocopologie as well as dishes offered inside local restaurants B.J. Ryan’s, Bella Luna and La Paella. Bands PJ Pacifico, Cookie Thomas, Smackin’ Abner, Silver Streaks, Jazz by the Jim Clark Group, and Bad Reps, a band led by state representative Chris Petrone, rocked the two stages along with three fashion shows presented by the International Fashion Council, Attitude Dancewear and Chazleet Bridal displaying the hottest fashions.

Gold Level Sponsorships included Wall Street Place/POKO Partners LLC, Aitoros Appliance & Electronics, Christofor Realty, Crosskey Architects, Devine Brothers, Lillian August, Redniss & Mead, Robinson & Cole LLP, Stanley M. Seligson Properties, Wells Fargo Home Mortgages, and the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency.

Silver Level Sponsors included Cablevision, Fat Cat Pie Co. and Wesley Stout. The Hour Newspapers was the featured media sponsor of the festival and other local businesses that showed major support included The Flow of Art, which helped to organize the Wall Street beautification and community activities for children; B.J. Ryan’s which organized the music for the day, and The Silk Touch, whose owners created the festival two years ago.

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