Join the excitement today!

Keeping the tradition alive in 2025!

Welcome to the

Barnum Festival

About:

The annual Barnum Festival is a seasonal celebration of the Greater Bridgeport Area and surrounding towns and its tight-knit community. Dating back to 1948, the festival originated to help support local businesses and honor P.T. Barnum—a world-renowned showman and city leader. The Barnum Festival spans several weeks in an effort to build community spirit, enrich the lives of Bridgeport residents, and give back, culminating in a weekend-long Barnum Palooza that hosts parades, concerts, fireworks, and other family-friendly events.

Introducing our 2025 Ringmaster:

Gregory J. Gnandt


The Board

P.T. Barnum Foundation

Robert Laska (President)

Michael Bisciglia (Vice President)

Charles Carroll (Secretary)

George Estrada (Treasurer)

Andrew Julian

Paul Miller

Kaye Williams

William Murphy

Paul DelFino

Anthony Cennera

David D’Addario

Richard Bodine

Hon. Eddie Rodriquez

Leonard Berger

Peter Hurst

James Carbone

Larry Merriam

Hon. Mark Lauretti

Michael Niedermeier

Thomas Santa

Armando Goncalves

Frank Carroll

John Stafstrom

Paul Timpanelli

Frederick Hall

Jason Julian

Terry O’Connor

John Vazzano

Martin Schwartz

Mike Repko

Mel Cunningham

The Barnum Festival

Terry O’Connor (President)

George Estrada (Vice President)

Charles Carroll (Secretary)

Thomas McCarthy (Treasurer)

Willie McBride Jr

Anthony Cavalli

Gregory Gnandt

Peggi Poulos-Gnandt

Daniel Paoletti

Nick D'Addario

Lorraine Gibbons

Joseph Gaudett

All former Ringmasters and Past Presidents


Festival Officers

Pres. Terry O’Connor

VP George Estrada

Sect. Charles M. Carroll

Treasurer Thomas McCarthy

Former Ringmasters

1949 J. William Hope

1950 Herman W. Steinkraus

1951 Alfred V. Bodine

1952 William Carlson

1953 Thomas S. Frouge

1954 Sigurd B. Swanson

1955 Joseph H. Lederer

1956 Joesph W. Ganim

1957 G. Neill Tobin

1958 Kenneth E. Raine

1959 David E. Cunningham

1960 Kenneth A. Maloney

1961 Bradford N. Warner

1962 Eaden M. Whiteman

1963 Nelson H. Downs

1964 Raymond J. O'Connor

1965 Lloyd H. Meyer

1966 Edgar W. Bassick III

1967 F. Francis D'Addario

1968 James W. Jolly

1969 Robert J. Magee

1970 Nils C. Erickson

1971 Charles Batcheldor

1972 Earle G. Anderson

1973 Leo Redgate Sr.

1974 Raymond C. Lyddy

1975 Edward G. O'Shea

1976 G. Webster Miller

1977 S. George Santa

1978 William S. Simpson

1979 James P. Schwartz

1980 E. Cartwright Phillips

1981 Andrew J. Julian

1982 Arthur L. McClinch

1983 Barton L. Weller

1984 Paul S. Miller

1985 Victor K. Kiam II



1986 Elizabeth M. Pfriem

1987 John S. Kartovsky

1988 William J. Carroll

1989 Joseph T Kasper Jr.

1990 Frederick K. Biebel

1991 Kaye Williams

1992 William S. Murphy

1993 Mickey Herbert

1994 Paul S. DelFino

1995 Mario D'Addario

1996 Michael C. Bisciglia

1997 Robert H. Laska

1998 Dr. Anthony Cernera

1999 Charles M. Carroll

2000 David F. D'Addario

2001 Richard Bodine

2002 Hon. Eddie Rodriguez Jr.

2003 Leonard F. Berger

2004 Peter F. Hurst

2005 James A. Carbone

2006 Rick Porto

2007 Larry Merriam

2008 Mayor Mark Lauretti

2009 Michael E. Neidermeier

2010 Thomas S. Santa

2011 Armando Goncalves

2012 Frank J. Carroll

2013 John F. Stafstrom Jr

2014 Paul Timpanelli

2015 Fred Hall

2016 Jason Julian

2017 Terry O'Connor

2018 John Vazzano

2019 Martin Schwartz

2020-2022 Frank T. Gennarini (COVID)

2023 George Estrada

2024 Dr. Camelia Lawrence

Gregory Gnandt Named 75th Ringmaster of the 2025 Barnum Festival, Continuing a Legacy of Tradition and Community