Gregory J. Gnandt, 55, a philanthropist from Trumbull, fondly recalls how the Barnum Festival had become an annual tradition for his family. “We never missed a parade or the fireworks growing up,” he said. “My uncle would camp out and save seats for the family. It was always a part of our lives. I just always liked the community factor, family and friends, you always saw people you knew. It was always a happy, festive event --- just overall a great feeling.”
“We were always excited to see the schedule and who the ringmaster would be,” Gnandt continued. “Probably in the mid-90s, I remember discussing the Barnum Festival with a friend and how I always said how great it would be to be successful enough to be chosen as the ringmaster.”
That dream has now become a reality. Gnandt, revived the annual car show fundraiser with his wife Peggi, into a much-anticipated annual event with concerts, food trucks, vendors and a carnival, at Z-Topia in the Stevenson section of Monroe, has been chosen to serve as ringmaster of the 2025 Barnum Festival.
He will be the 75th ringmaster in the festival’s 77th year. “It’s exciting. My family has a lot of history with the festival, being from Bridgeport,” said Gnandt, who grew up in Fairfield, Trumbull and Bridgeport.
He attended St. Ann Academy in Bridgeport before graduating from Trumbull High School as a member of the Class of ’87. Gnandt is a general contractor with his own business, Greg’s Carpentry, Building & Remodeling LLC, established in 1988. He and Peggi, his wife of seven years, both serve on the festival’s board of directors. Gnandt has a daughter Marisa, 28, as well as a two-year-old-grandson, whom reside in North Carolina.
A life of service
Gnandt has spent a lifetime giving back to his community. “I’ve been working with charities most of my adult life,” he said. “Peggi and I are good organizers and people regularly invite us to assist with their tasks, and we do as much as we can. We always had the family values of helping others.” It was Gnandt who led the effort to establish the first memorial in the aftermath of the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012. “The night of the tragedy, I dreamt up this memorial,” he recalled. “There’s a three-dimensional star formed out of copper placed on the roof of the firehouse with the names of each child and teacher who lost their lives that day.” Twenty-six, five-point polished copper stars covered with a clear coat on display on the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department roof were fabricated in Gnandt’s carpentry shop.
His cousin, Sandy Hook Fire Chief Anthony Capozziello, who was assistant fire chief at the time, had agreed to help Gnandt make the memorial a reality. Bill Halstead, who was the chief, had also supported the project.
“Someone on the news said, ‘there’s 26 new stars tonight,’” Gnandt recalled. “With help from the families and volunteers, we made it happen.”
Gnandt also joined others in organizing the Green Ribbon Ride, a motorcycle ride to honor the Sandy Hook families. It went through Shelton and Newtown before ending in Trumbull. “Well over 3,000 motorcycles were in the procession,” he recalled. “We did it as a one-time event. It was too emotional to continue. It was better as a one-time fundraiser and all of the proceeds went to the families, instead of towards funds.” Another fundraising effort close to the Gnandt’s’ hearts is the annual St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound. “We’ve done many years of fundraising for Swim Across the Sound,” he said, “Peggi, myself and other family members, create events that raise money for the organization.” Gnandt is a Free Mason and a Shriner of over 20 years with Pyramid Shriners in Stratford. “Every year the ringmaster picks a theme, or focus, and ours this year is going to be tradition and children’s charities,” he said, adding of the Shriners, “we have a children’s hospital. We sponsor and finance the burn units for children with deformities and orthopedics and prosthetics.”
Passing the torch
Over the course of his five years on the Barnum Festival’s board of directors, one of Gnandt’s biggest accomplishments was bringing back the car show after the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had a focus group meeting to reimagine the festival post Covid,” he said. “We decided to chair the car show and bring it back.” George Zwally, a longtime friend and business associate of Gnandt’s, offered to host the car show on his Z-Topia property, 1545 Monroe Turnpike in Monroe. The Barnum Car Show and Concert has shopping booths, food trucks and a beer and wine garden. “It’s gotten bigger and better every year,” Gnandt said. “It is definitely one of the flagship events of the festival.” Gnandt’s wife, Peggi, helps him organize the car show and the Jam at the Dam, a country music concert at the Monroe venue. She will be an asset when he serves as ringmaster. “She’s my secret weapon,” Gnandt said. “She’s so organized, imaginative and creative with her ideas.” Frank Gennarini, who had the distinction of serving as ringmaster of the Barnum Festival three times due to the pandemic, had asked the Gnandt’s to join the board of directors years ago. Sadly, he had become ill and passed away on June 22, but not before orchestrating the Barnum Golf Tournament to be held at Blackhawk Country Club in Stratford on Monday, Sept. 16 … and Gnandt’s nomination as the next ringmaster. “He was an incredible mentor and friend,” Gnandt said of Gennarini. “He celebrated life every day, until the end. In your life you meet a lot of people. He was just one of the special ones, who came through.” He remembers visiting Gennarini when he was on home hospice on one visit, Gennarini told Gnandt he wanted him to be the next ringmaster and had put his name forward for consideration by the Nominating Committee. Gnandt said he was honored. “After that, I was asked into a meeting with other past ringmasters to discuss the task and, basically make sure that I was ready,” Gnandt said of the role, which has ceremonial duties, along with promotion, organization and fundraising for the festival. Gnandt’s parents did not live long enough to see their son become ringmaster. “My parents loved the festival. They would be very proud and excited,” he said. “Everyone that does know is excited, supportive and interested in being involved in our year.” “I’m honored to receive this prestigious position,” Gnandt said. “Having worked with the festival for the past five years, my wife Peggi and I are ready for this coming year’s events. We have an exciting year planned. We’re going to continue the full schedule of traditional events, as well as add some new events to the schedule. See you as we keep the tradition alive in 2025.”
The Tradition is Still Alive in 2025. Visit barnumfestival.org for a schedule of future events, including Meet the Ringmaster at Vazzy’s Four Seasons on Nov. 19 for its famous pasta night and more.