August 4 Pop-Up Piazza Festival

Welcome to the Official Pop Up Piazza Page!

Date: August 4, 2012 (rain date Aug 5)
Location: Main Street, Bristol
Festival Activities: 12 Noon to 8 pm
Special Nightcap Concert: 8 pm to 10:30 pm

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Hi all! This is your one stop shopping for Piazza information as well as details on sponsoring, vending, volunteering, and helping plan the extravaganza!

Last year it was hailed a ‘Smashing Success‘ as the first ever Pop Up Piazza Festival drew 15,000+ residents and visitors alike–a thrilling community accomplishment signaling Bristol’s ready for big things!

People were jazzed for a smorgasbord of euro style piazza activation, eager to taste a slice of the environment envisioned for Bristol’s downtown future. Due to overwhelming demand the Pop Up Piazza is… back! And this time, we’re looking to hit folks hard with all tiers of fun, food, culture, and community! We encourage those interested to apply as a vendor, become a sponsor, or volunteer to help create a special atmospheric mix for a wonderful event.

The Pop Up Piazza Festival will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2012 between 12 Noon and 10:30 PM.  The event is being put on by Bristol Rising, a group of 2000-plus community members dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Bristol, in collaboration with Renaissance Downtowns (master developer for the Revitalization of Downtown Bristol), premier sponsor Power Fuels, and in partnership with the City of Bristol.

The Pop-Up Piazza Festival will feature festival activities from 12 Noon to 8 PM, including food, arts, crafts, culture, live music, games, Ducks on Parade, entertainment, dancing, fun for the entire family, and more! Main Street will boast a “Block Party” style atmosphere with an expanded beer garden, outdoor dining, and will be lined with vintage cars from yesteryear. Come 8 pm the spotlight will be turned toward a special main event concert, to be announced soon!

The all day event will be held on the Depot Square Site (former Centre Mall), concentrated toward the Main Street and Riverside Avenue area, and will feature the renovated Main Street façade and street scape improvements. Main Street, from Riverside to High, will be closed off until 10:30 pm with bustling action.

This all-day extravaganza is expected to draw thousands of residents from in and around Bristol, that will provide a glimpse into an exciting future for our Downtown with ingenuity, activities, and all the expected fun of Downtown’s future piazza. With some time before actual construction, this is a wonderful chance to bring the atmosphere of the future into the present.

This exciting event reinforces the downtown revitalization efforts and the City of Bristol’s efforts to promote downtown as a destination, and we hope that it will encourage everyone to want to join in and help our City and community rise to new heights.

 

** 100 + Vendors **

tons of crafts, food, community, sponsor booths & more!

** Restaurants & Food **

brick oven pizza, steamed cheese burgers, chicken parm, mexican food, fried chicken, strawberry shortcake & plenty more nom noms!

** Barley Vine Beer Garden **

three delicious domestic craft ales, four wines, and an array of mouth watering food!

** LIVE art **

artists painting LIVE, muralists tackling 6×8 foot murals, bench painting, galleries

** Vintage Car Show **

welcome to nostalgia with tons of vintage and classic cars all around!

** Games **

got the little tikes? have them play with the assorted games on the green or scattered board games!

** Ducks on Parade **

check out all the beautiful painted ducks that have recently put a quack attack on the hearts of Bristol!

 

Main Stage Lineup! **10 hrs FREE live music**

12:00: Peter Ferreira in Concert – (violin rock & classical)

12:50: Dance Arts Centre - (dance numbers)

1:05: Wavelength - (arena rock)

1:55: Love Note Sentiment – (acapella)

2:40: Carrie Johnson – (folksy, country, rock)

3:35: Belly Dance – (belly dance to drum beats)

3:50: Convertibles – (oldies)

4:45: The Mary Jane Jones – (jazz, blues)

5:40: Le’ Mixx – (motown, r & b, funk)

6:35: Bristol Theatre Arts – (assorted musical numbers)

6:50: Electric Shoes – (alternative rock)

7:50: High Octane – (‘80s rock & party anthems)

9:05: Celebrating Queen – (a tribute to the songs of Queen)

 

 

Popping Up in the Press:

Pop Up Piazza Exceeds Expectations Despite Heat Bristol Press, August 6 2012 by Diane Church

Pop Up Piazza a Success as Festival Gets Great Turnout Bristol Press, August 4 2012 by Susan Corica

Organizers Hope Pop Up Piazza Signals Revitalization New Britain Herald, August 4 2012 by Susan Corica

Schedule for Today’s Pop Up Piazza Bristol Press, August 4 2012

Pop Up Piazza to feature Food and Drinks from Barley Vine Bristol Press, August 2, 2012

Our View: Meet us on the Piazza Bristol Press, August 2 2012

What’s Happening at Saturday’s Pop Up Piazza Festival Bristol Press, July 31 2012

Bristol’s ‘Pop Up Piazza’ set for August 4th Hartford Courant, July 31 2012 by Don Stacom

We Will, We Will, Pop Up You! Tolland Patch, July 20 2012

Tribute to Queen to Rock Pop Up Piazza Main Stage Bristol Press, July 18 2012

Car Show Will Star at Bristol’s Pop Up Piazza Hartford Courant, July 16 2012

Renaissance Downtowns presents Pop Up Piazza: Ducks on Parade, food, music, and entertainment to be featured Bristol Press, July 15 2012

Historical Society to Partner for Pop Up BristolRising.com, July 10 2012

Bristol Auto Club Car Show at Pop Up Piazza New England Auto Talk, July 7 2012

Bristol’s ‘Pop Up Piazza’ Returns for a 2nd Year Hartford Courant, July 1 2012, by Don Stacom

Expanded Car Show to Rev Up Pop Up! BristolRising.com, June 27 2012

Festival at Bristol CT! CBS Connecticut June 27 2012

More Cars, More Fun, Coming to Pop Up Piazza 2012 Bristol Press, June 27 2012, by Staff

Pop Up Piazza Festival is Back! BristolRising.com, June 22 2012

 

Here’s a shout out to our great (and growing) list of sponsors and partners! Thanks for helping an amazing event reach new levels of awesome:

 

We need volunteers!

We’re always looking for help in organizing this amazing extravaganza! Comb over the categories below and if you’d like to help in a specific area, join up and be a champion today!

• Join the Pop Up Piazza 2012 Group
• Have general questions on how to help out?  Contact Jess Pike: Jessica@bristolrising.com

 

Sponsorships:

Learn the ways your business can add in creating the magic and reaping exposure! Ask for a sponsorship package today.

• Contact Mark Walerysiak now if you want to become a sponsor, or to help recruit and organize sponsors: mark@bristolrising.com
• Share your ideas in the Sponsorships Discussion Thread

 

Food Vendors (CLOSED OUT):

Want to showcase the nom nom’s you have to offer?  Well, thousands are waiting, why are you? 

• Contact Andy Adams for a Pop-Up Piazza foodie application now, or to help recruit, organize, and plan the food element: adamspjk24@sbcglobal.net
• Bristol Burlington Health District Temporary Events App (BBHD approval required at least two weeks prior to event)
• Help identify next generation restauranteurs to showcase their talent in the Food Discussion Thread

 

Craft & Community Vendors (CLOSED OUT):

Get your crafts on the forefront as we pop up a micro shopping mecca. And communities, get in the mix, what a way to get on the front lines! 

• Contact Charlie Cyr now to be a Vendor, or to help recruit, organize, and plan the craft & community element: charlescyr@sbcglobal.net
• Help identify and secure vendors via the Craft & Community Discussion Thread

 

Entertainment (CLOSED OUT):

Do you aspire to sing on the main stage in front of thousands? Do you want to showcase your talents in dance, music, or otherwise. Get in touch! 

• Contact Mark now to be a part of the entertainment, or to help recruit, organize, plan the entertainment or manage the entertainment component: mark@bristolrising.com
• Help identify and secure entertainment via the Entertainment Discussion Thread

 

Arts (CLOSED OUT):

Are you a painter, sculptor, muralist, or do some amazing art?  We’re looking for artists to perform LIVE art, and sell their own stuff if they want! 

• Contact Mark Walerysiak now to be a participating artist, or to help recruit, organize, and plan the arts element, or manage the arts component: mark@bristolrising.com
• Suggest artists to exhibit their work in the Arts Discussion Thread