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Celebrate Shelton: Three Days of Food, Music & Community Sept 18-20th

CTbites Team September 18, 2026

Celebrate Shelton Announces Three Days of Food, Music & Community — Featuring Inaugural Next Up Live: CT Rising Sounds Emerging Artist Competition

40+ Food Trucks, Local Artisans, Live Music, Family Programming and Connecticut’s Next Generation of Musical Talent Take Over Veterans Memorial Park September 18–20

Celebrate Shelton is bringing three days of food, music, shopping, family-friendly entertainment and community connection to Veterans Memorial Park this weekend, September 18–20 for Food Trucks on the River: Fall Edition.

The expanded three-day festival will feature 40+ food trucks, local artisans and vendors, a mobile bar, live music, family programming and the inaugural Next Up Live: CT Rising Sounds Emerging Artist Competition, a new platform created to spotlight Connecticut’s emerging musical talent.

NEXT UP LIVE: CT RISING SOUNDS

One of the weekend’s highlights will be the inaugural Next Up Live: CT Rising Sounds Emerging Artist Competition, giving Connecticut musicians the opportunity to perform for a large live audience, gain exposure and take their music to the next level.

On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 10 of Connecticut’s most promising emerging artists will take the stage, each performing a live set as they compete to become the first-ever Next Up Live: CT Rising Sounds Champion.

The competition celebrates the depth of musical talent coming out of Connecticut while creating a meaningful platform for artists ready for their next opportunity.

The winning artist or act will receive a career-building prize package that includes:

A featured performance on the Celebrate Shelton Main Stage at a major 2027 event, in front of thousands of attendees
A complimentary recording session at The Recording Den
A booking opportunity at Park City Music Hall
A live on-air interview with WOW Radio 97.7 FM
The title of First-Ever Next Up Live: CT Rising Sounds Champion

“We wanted to create something that goes beyond simply putting a band on a festival stage,” said Nicole Heriot-Mikula of Celebrate Shelton. “Next Up Live is about creating a real opportunity for artists - giving them exposure, connecting them with industry professionals and supporting them as they grow and move their careers forward. We’re incredibly excited to introduce these artists to our community and give audiences the chance to discover who might be the next big thing coming out of Connecticut.”

The Next Up Live Top 10

Bill Dempsey, Esmer, FieldTrip Collective, Foggy Otis, Matt Kampe + The Hub, Phatt James, Rachel Rose, SB Khi, UGoddess and West Hill Road.

Artists will be evaluated with an emphasis on musicianship, songwriting, originality, creativity and stage presence.

THREE DAYS OF FOOD, MUSIC & COMMUNITY

Beyond Next Up Live, Food Trucks on the River: Fall Edition offers something for everyone throughout the weekend.

Festival-goers can enjoy more than 40 food trucks throughout the three days, featuring a wide range of cuisines, snacks and sweet treats, along with an Artisan Market showcasing local makers, artists and small businesses.

A mobile pop-up bar will feature New Belgium brews and hard-charged teas, Bad Sons canned cocktails and LoveLou Wines.

Families can enjoy a Family Fun Zone featuring Sensory Play Center activities for all ages, Artistry Creativity Studio Mosaic Art Tile workshops and a performance by The Singing Gnome. On Sunday, Laser Tag On-The-Go will bring an added dose of adventure to the park.

The festival’s live music lineup features regional headliner Upstate, with direct support from Charlotte Roth & The Big Drama and Brother Other. Saturday will also feature Cosmic Jibaros, while DJ Doey Joey will keep the energy going on Sunday with a special Kids Dance Party.

A WEEKEND THAT GIVES BACK

A $5 suggested donation is encouraged to help support future Celebrate Shelton events, to ensure they remain free to all attendees as well as to continue the Celebrate Shelton Community Impact & Opportunity Scholarship with the Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley.

“Events like this are about more than a great weekend,” said Skrtic said. “They are about investing in our community, supporting local businesses, giving artists a platform, creating opportunities for young people and bringing people together. Every suggested donation helps us continue that work.”

Tables and chairs will be available throughout the festival. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and/or lawn chairs to guarantee seating.

EVENT DETAILS

Food Trucks on the River: Fall Edition

Friday, September 18: 5:00–10:00 PM
Saturday, September 19: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Sunday, September 20: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM

Veterans Memorial Park
38 Canal Street East
Shelton, Connecticut

Admission is free. A $5 suggested donation is encouraged.

For event information, schedules, vendors and updates, visit www.celebrateshelton.com.

ABOUT CELEBRATE SHELTON

Celebrate Shelton is a community-focused organization dedicated to creating vibrant events and experiences that bring people together, support local businesses and artists, and strengthen the Shelton community. Through events, partnerships and community initiatives, Celebrate Shelton works to make Shelton a destination where people can gather, connect and celebrate.

RSVP Reopens in West Cornwall Under Chef Bolivar Hilario

For many chefs, there’s a moment where they face a fork in the road on their culinary journey. For Bolivar Hilario, who gained lots of notoriety as the executive chef of Community Table the past three years, he was due to choose a path. Coming off of two Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association CRAZIES wins for Best Restaurant in Litchfield County and for overall Connecticut Restaurant of the Year while he led Community Table’s kitchen, plus a nomination for Chef of the Year, Hilario, in the back of his mind knew he had to do something for himself, something he could put his stamp on.

Sneak Peek At Chef Bill Taibe's NEW Restaurant, hi’Amba, Opening in Westport...VERY Soon

You’ve heard the buzz. You’ve tried to peek into papered garage door windows. In a few short weeks, Chef Bill Taibe will be opening the doors to his new spot in Westport, CT.

What’s the concept? “Eastern Mediterranean Kawa Ni,” says Taibe. Are we here for it? Heck yes we are.

Meet hi’Amba, an all-day bakery, café and restaurant built around a working bakery and the flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and Southwest Asia.

At launch, hi’Amba will focus on breakfast and lunch with house-made breads and pastries coming out of the ovens throughout the day, alongside a robust coffee program featuring Ilse Coffee and some unique Middle Eastern inspired beverages.

The menu will feature Jerusalem bagels, pita straight from the oven, Man'oushe (Lebanese Flat Bread), with beautiful lacquered pastries. For those of you seeking your protein fix, breakfast will also involve hot eggs and shakshukas.

“As we get into the day, we’ll expand the bread, get into big sandwiches, big bowls of salad, and a really big “dip” program-those are kinda the base of it- dishes like hummus (many varieties), baba ghanoush, creten mash, muhammara, hindbeh” Sandwiches will include things like “swordfish shawarma and lamb kebab”, says Taibe.

Flat Out Burger Expands from NYC to CT with Fairfield Location

The smash burger trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anywhere. Especially not in Connecticut. Popping up all over the state, well after big chains like Five Guys and Shake Shack arrived on the scene, are smash burger spots, both independent ones, and micro chains. 7th Street Burger, which operates over 40 locations, just opened in New Haven, with another set to debut in Stamford in November 2026. The New Jersey-based Mashed Burger, a smaller chain that also serves Nashville hot chicken and churros, got into Stamford back in February. Also growing and recently making its entry into the Connecticut market is another Big Apple burger joint is Flat Out Burger, which started slinging crispy-edged, cheesy, saucy burgers at the busy corner of Grasmere Avenue and the Post Road on August 15.

Silvermine Coffee Roasters Opens in Norwalk with Unique Beans From Across the Globe

The smell of freshly roasted coffee greets customers as they step into Silvermine Coffee Roasters in Norwalk. Behind each cup is more than carefully sourced beans- it’s years of experimentation, craftsmanship, and a desire to showcase the unique story each coffee bean has to tell. What began as frustration with bad coffee has evolved into one of Fairfield County's most distinctive specialty coffee roasters, offering nearly 30 carefully crafted blends from around the world.

For owner Thomas Morsanutto, coffee roasting was never part of the original plan. While working at a financial technology company in Wilton, he grew frustrated with the quality of coffee available in the office and began coffee roasting himself.

“I spent hours roasting coffee for friends and family, but eventually it just wasn't sustainable. I decided to take a chance and build a real business that focused on takeout coffee, coffee beans, and online sales. We wanted a concept that could succeed even if people weren't gathering into a cafe,” Morsanutto said.

Chez Jack Opens in Norwalk: Breakfast + Lunch with a Quebecoise Twist

The strip mall right on the Norwalk – Wilton line, has a new tenant who’s come from Canada to do his thing. Taking over the space (and some of the spirit) occupied for the past nine years by The Dilly Duck Shop is Chez Jack, where they’re doing breakfast, coffee, artisan sandwiches, and an authentic poutine, because there is a Quebecoise vibe scattered about the menu. The “Jack” in Chez Jack is Jacques Talbot, a successful veteran chef and restaurateur behind the Cosmos restaurants (or resto-lounges) in Quebec City.

Between Friends Sandwich Co. Opens in Norwalk

Before the first bite, Between Friends was built on one simple belief: the best conversations happen over great food. Today, that idea has become one of Connecticut’s newest sandwich destinations, serving handcrafted sandwiches that are anything but ordinary.

At Between Friends, every sandwich is inspired by real people and their go-to order. The menu features premium ingredients, bold flavors, and crave-worthy combinations that strike the perfect balance between comfort and creativity—designed to leave a lasting impression.

Fan favorites showcase the bold flavors that define Between Friends. The Late Night Romeo layers crispy chicken cutlet with smoky bacon, cheddar, crisp lettuce, onion, and the signature house Russian dressing for the perfect balance of crunch and richness. Cyn City takes indulgence to another level with crispy chicken cutlet smothered in creamy vodka sauce, burrata, Parmesan, and house pesto. For a fresh, vegetarian option, That’s-a-Maury combines crispy eggplant, creamy burrata, sun-dried red peppers, peppery arugula and house pesto for a sandwich that’s as vibrant as it is satisfying.

DoChéri Opens in Darien with Artisan European Chocolate

Summertime in Europe means walking along the Seine, swimming in the Cinque Terre, and enjoying all the pastries and chocolate Europe has to offer. But, if you're like me and staying stateside this season, lucky for you, we've got Europe at home.

At DoChéri in Darien, you'll find a Parisian-inspired interior and French-style chocolates infused with Ukrainian artistry. Founded by Maryna Steadman, DoChéri opened just a few months ago and is quickly becoming everyone's summer bucket-list stop.

Chocolate wasn't always Maryna's dream. Eight years ago, she was living in Ukraine and working in finance, spending more than a decade building a career in banking. But after moving to the United States, a new country ignited a new question: What can I do that I really love?

Minas Carne Brazilian BBQ Replaces Mariposa Taqueria in Danbury

At the end of March, the Reyes Family announced that Mariposa Taqueria would be closing after six years on Mill Plain Road. Technically, though, they weren’t going anywhere. Instead, they decided to change it over to one of their other long-standing concepts in the city of Danbury. Not Amigo’s Deli. Not Mezon Tapas Bar, which was previously in the Mariposa space. But rather, a second, slightly different iteration of Minas Carne Brazilian Barbecue called Minas Carne Brazilian BBQ & Bar.

Phase Two: The Haven Opens Rooftop Restaurant + Bar in Norwalk

In February, we brought you a piece highlighting The Haven and all its different components; the event space, the speakeasy, and two others that were on the way in a wellness forward cafe and the rooftop. Well, folks, the latter is here, and if you missed the rooftop that was formerly part of Evarito’s, it’s back, and it’s totally reimagined. Co-owner Christian Burns, who, as you know was behind Evarito’s and The Pompano in the same space as The Haven, and his partners, Joe and Aldo Criscuolo, saw a new vision for the roof that got launched just in time the summer season and beyond.

Chef Tom Kaldy & Joe Keane Open The Hidden Kitchen in Manchester, CT

The Hilliard Mills still carry the memory of industry, with brick walls and tall windows that loom over Bigelow Brook in Manchester. The complex is credited as being the oldest woolen mill in the nation, a nationally listed historic site. Where loud machinery once clattered for centuries, today there is something much quieter, the main building now filled mostly with office and business space.

But in October 2025, something else began to take shape in what had been the rather bleak atrium of this historic treasure. The almost 300-year-old space has been transformed, adorned with an eclectic mix of classic album covers, where tunes from these albums like Synchronicity by The Police now echo through the rafters. Two fine dining chefs, long accustomed to pressed tablecloths and tasting menus, have traded china and linen for counter service and take-out containers with their new venture, The Hidden Kitchen at Hilliard Mills. Chefs Tom Kaldy and Joe Keane opened this “Chef-Owned Takeout Café” as part of a larger operation offering full-service catering and themed cooking classes, and it’s as much a reimagining of a typical lunch joint as it is a love letter to the community at large.

TAC Burger: Wave Hill Breads Owner Opens Smash Burger Spot in Norwalk

From master baker to burger maker isn’t a natural progression, but for Wave Hill Breads’ owner, Tim Topi, that’s exactly what he did. While simultaneously running Wave Hill’s wholesale location on High Street, and a bakery-cafe on Westport Avenue that opened in 2024, Topi decided to give smash burgers a shot for a few reasons. One, there was a vacancy a couple storefronts away from the cafe where Francesca’s Authentic Italian Deli once stood.

Norwalk Bagel Co Opens in South Norwalk With Sourdough Bagels & Breakfast Menu

South Norwalk just got a serious bagel upgrade. Husband-and-wife culinary team Chef Gary King and Pastry Chef Emily King are officially opening Norwalk Bagel Co. on Wednesday, May 13, bringing handcrafted sourdough bagels, elevated deli classics, house-made baked goods, and chef-driven breakfast and lunch offerings to the neighborhood. The duo, who launched the popular Ridgefield Bagels & Bakes in November 2023, are now expanding their scratch-made, naturally leavened bagel concept to South Norwalk.

Luca's Beach Kitchen Opens at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk

If you’ve been to Calf Pasture Beach anytime since the end of May, the bright colored, beachy food trailers near the concession pavilion very likely caught your eye and captured your attention. Aiming to make some changes to Norwalk’s beach with Luca’s Beach Kitchen is Anthony Luciani, his wife, Rosa, and their partner, Cory Burns. Luciani, as locals know, is a Norwalk native who owns the popular Mr. Frosty’s Ice Cream Shop nearby and a food truck, Seaside Sliders. As for Burns, he used to work for Luciani as Mr. Frosty’s first ever ice cream truck driver. Long story short, they stayed friends for over 20 years, Burns wanted to leave his career in finance behind and team up with his buddy on a cool concept.

Chef Mogan Anthony + Seleste Tan Open Barnoodle in Greenwich: Handrolls, Noodles + Small Plates

At the beginning of 2025, Greenwich locals and the husband-and-wife team of Mogan Anthony and Seleste Tan opened the doors to La Bistro in Cos Cob. Just over a year later, a mile-and-a-half north on the same street, across the Cos Cob line into Riverside, they’re at it again. And this time around, they’re leaning on their Southeast Asian culture for inspiration at Barnoodle.

Carpenter's Pub Opens in Black Rock From Familiar Neighborhood Faces

Carpenter’s Pub may be the newest haunt on Fairfield Avenue, but the trio of owners behind it are familiar faces in Joseph Farrell, Sean Nye, and Marty McCarthy. For seven years, Farrell was behind the popular Walrus + Carpenter, originally located a hop, skip, and a jump away from where Carpenter’s is, while McCarthy’s Fire Engine Pizza (with two more spots in Milford and Shelton) has been a neighborhood staple for over 25 years, and Nye, a celebrated barman, who now lives in Black Rock, has likely mixed you a drink at Farrell’s Walrus + Carpenter, The Spread or El Segundo, L’Escale, or one of the two Milestone locations. How the three came together to open this American gastropub happened in stages.

Chef Carlos Perez Takes The Helm At Good News Restaurant & Bar in Woodbury

The year was 1992. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union and apartheid in South Africa dissolved. At home, the Los Angeles riots erupted after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, Hurricane Andrew, a devastating Cat-5 storm, slammed into South Florida, Bill Clinton defeated incumbent George H.W. Bush in the presidential election, and completely below the radar, a new idea came to light when the first text message, “Merry Christmas Eve,” was sent.

Coincidentally, in the small town of Woodbury, Connecticut, Carol Peck opened the Good News Cafe.

Celebrate Shelton: Three Days of Food, Music & Community Sept 18-20th

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Celebrate Shelton: Three Days of Food, Music & Community Sept 18-20th

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