The annual Barnum Festival is a seasonal celebration of the City of Bridgeport and its surrounding towns, including Monroe, Trumbull, Easton, Shelton, Stratford, and Fairfield. 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 events span from late spring to early summer each year in an effort to build community spirit, foster philanthropy, and celebrate the many diverse cultures represented by residents. The festival culminates in a weekend-long Barnum Palooza that hosts parades, concerts, fireworks, and other family-friendly festivities.

Above all else, P.T. Barnum was an entertainer—he celebrated hoaxes and founded both the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. In a nod to him, and in true Barnum tradition, a Ringmaster is appointed each year to head the Barnum Festival and help promote the Greater Bridgeport region.

The festival celebrates many of Barnum’s imaginative concepts for entertaining the populace. The Wing Ding Parade for kids at Beardsley Zoo, concerts and musical competitions in the spirit of Jenny Lind, and the concluding event, a grand civic parade celebrating all of the wonderful assets the City of Bridgeport and surrounding area have to offer, are created to delight attendees of all ages.

Imagine. Inspire. Enjoy.

With a strong focus on philanthropy, the Barnum Festival also strives to create economic development and education by driving visitors, developing entrepreneurs and civic leaders, and engaging the community’s youth and families.

The Barnum Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit recognized by the IRS and accepts donations, both monetary and in-kind. The Festival produces arts, cultural and entertainment events for the benefit of the community at large.