The Brookfield Floating Bridge Celebration Planning Committee hasannounced today two-day celebration focusedaround the opening of the 8thBrookfield Floating Bridge on May 23and 24.Festivities will take place in the center of Brookfield, Vermont, in the vicinity of Hippo Park, the floating bridge, and the Old Town Hall.The Brookfield Floating Bridge is the only bridge of its kind east of the Mississippi.There have been seven bridges over the past centuries, and the opening of this bridge marks the eighth bridge traversing the lake.The bridge, designed by TYLin and constructed by the Kenyon Corporation and Miller Construction, is expected to last 100 years.
The celebration is open to the public and will include an opening ceremony, parade, music, vendors, food, displays, farm tours, historical talks and activities for adults as well as children. It will begin at11 AMon Saturday, ending with a dance from 8 to 10 PM, and will start up again on Sunday at 10 AM and end at3 PMwith another musical performance.During theSaturdayafternoon festivities, the downtown of Brookfield will be closed to through traffic from10 AM until 4 PM.Signs leading into Brookfield will guide drivers to various remote parking sites that will be serviced by continuous shuttle buses. A full schedule of events is available on the events Facebook page, “Brookfield Floating Bridge Celebration”, the White River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s website atwww.whiterivervalleychamber.com, and via the Town of Brookfield municipal website atwww.brookfieldvt.org.
On Saturday, music will be performed by The Trailer Blazers (10 AM to12 noon). There will be activities for children including face painting and The Art Bus. Brookfield’s Old Town Hall will host a display by the Brookfield Historical Society, and Kit Gage will give a talk about all the floating bridges, past and present. Special postcards, first day envelopes, a limited number of Brookfield Floating Bridge Opening Day t-shirts, featuring an illustration by noted Vermont Laureate Cartoonist Ed Koren, and a souvenir commemorative booklet on the past and present bridges will also be on saleSaturday.
A multitude of vendors will be set up with information and a variety of local items for sale including Third Branch Flowers, Silloway Farm, Fat Toad Farm, Brookfield Bees, Carrot Lady Productions, and the Brookfield Art Group. Displays by the historical society, and Floating Bridge Food & Farm Coop will be set up, and the Brookfield Town Library will hold a used book sale as well.
The opening ceremony will include the Brookfield Elementary School Chorus performing the State song, “These Green Mountains,” followed by a program including Congressman Peter Welch, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation Sue Minter, and Brookfield Selectboard Chair John Benson, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the bridge. First to cross the bridge will be a celebratory parade including a bagpiper, antique vehicles representing the years 1936, 1978 and 2015 (in honor of former bridges), the Randolph Union High School marching band, an antique tractor, and the Step ‘n’ Time Line Dancers.
Food vendors will be on site for lunch and afternoon snackingon Saturdayincluding Brookfield Mason’s (BBQ burgers, hotdogs, and stuffed peppers), Ana Diaz’s Mexican Loncheria (serving burritos, tacos, and other Mexican treats), the Orange County Democrats (serving coffee, hot chocolate, donuts and pastries), and the Randolph Union High School French Class (making and serving crepes). Additionally, food with a hyper-local focus will be offered by Ariel’s Cantinaon Saturday&Sunday(fresh, seasonal Mexican food).
A very special dinner will be servedon Saturdaynight, beginning with cocktails and appetizers brought to you by Ariel's and the Floating Bridge Food and Farms Cooperative at4 PMand dinner overlooking the bridge at Ariel’s starting at5:30 PMwith all hyper-local fare. Reservations are required and you can reserve a seat by calling Ariel's Restaurant at802-276-3939.
Continuingon Saturdaywill be a dance in the Old Town Hall with music by the Bear Hill Jammers.This will be fun for all ages, providing they can stay awake from8-10 PM. On Sunday afternoon from1:30 to 3:00 PMBrookfield’s own “Flowting Bridge Band” will rock on at the Old Town Hall with music in the tradition of the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and Phish.
Extending your weekend of local fun is advised with farm tours from members of the Floating Bridge Food and Farms Cooperative Saturday and Sunday. Green Mountain Girls Farm will be open from9-11 AMoffering “Lattes on the Hoof & Farm Tour,” including meeting piglets & goat kids (admission $10/person). LH Stowell Christmas Trees Farm will offer a tour on Saturday at 10:30 AM and againon Sundayat 1:30 PM, where you can tour their farm and see an electric train demo (admission is free). Fat Toad Farm will offer a Goat's Milk Caramel Farm Tour (admission $12/person) all weekend long, Fri.-Mon., at select times. You must make reservations online at their website for that tour,www.fattoadfarm.com/farm-tour-reservations/.
Many thanks to the sponsors, financial supporters, volunteers and other contributors to the two day event with special thanks to: Brookfield Community Partnership, Brookfield Historical Society, Brookfield Town Selectboard, Chelsea Animal Hospital, Town of Randolph, Century 21 The Mill Stone Agency, First Congregational Church of Brookfield , Floating Bridge Food & Farms Coop, Frankenburg Agency, Inc., Haggett Trucking & Rubbish Removal, Kacik Consulting Services LLC, JB Portable Toilets, Orange Southwest Supervisory Union, Sprague Ranch, The Klemick Family, Ed Koren, Liberty Orchard, Hance Electric, Mascoma Savings Bank, Miller Construction, Northfield Savings Bank, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, T. Y. Lin International and the White River Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Source:Brookfield Floating Bridge Celebration Planning Committee. 5.5.2015. VERY TOP PHOTO Courtesy of Planning Committee. Removal of the old bridge courtesy of VTrans.