The 23rd Annual Bud and Bug Festival is planned for Saturday, April 25 from 9 AM to 4 PM. This kick-off to spring will feature entertainment, vendors, food trucks and the popular People and Pet Parade.
“This year we will continue our tradition of promoting Milford as bicycle friendly,” Sade Truiett, Downtown Milford Coordinator, said. Chairperson for Downtown Milford Inc. who puts on the festival, said. “We are asking children and adults to decorate their bicycles with spring-themed decorations. We also want to see some fun costumes on both the people in the parade and their pets. All pets are welcome! Last year, we even had a guinea pig! The parade is sponsored by Fur Baby.”
Downtown Milford Inc. is asking those in the parade to dress as flowers, trees, ladybugs, butterflies or anything else “spring related.”
“Like last year, the parade will start at the end of Washington Street in front of Studio You, walk around Penny Square on the sidewalk, then head down the center of Walnut Street to the library amphitheater,” Truiett said.
There will also be entertainment all day at the amphitheater, a Kid’s Zone that will include bounce houses. Everything in Kids Zone is free for all who attend. There will also be family- and children-themed vendors in Kids Zone.
“We have over 125 craft vendors as well as about 15 food trucks,” Truiett said. “We have set up several food courts, one in the state parking lot, one in the parking lot across from Park Place, one along North Washington Street and one along Denney Row to make it easier for people to find food during the festival. Of course, we highly encourage visitors to enjoy delicious meals at our local restaurants and shop in our stores that day as well.”
Milford Senior Center will sponsor a “resting station” with chairs and tables for eating, resting or simply people-watching at the festival. The resting station will be in the senior center parking lot on Denney Row.
Entertainment will be featured all day with several bands and a DJ. Entertainment will be located in the library amphitheater throughout the day. All downtown businesses will be offering specials throughout the day and Downtown Milford Inc. will have their Milford merchandise available for sale.
The festival began in 2004 for two reasons. The first was that Milford received designation as a Tree City after meeting certifications by the National Arbor Day Foundation. This was spearheaded by Gary Emory, then director of Milford Parks & Recreation and then-arborist, the late Bill Pike. The second reason to acknowledge that the designation of the ladybug as the Delaware State bug was spearheaded in Milford.
“It was a second-grade class at Lulu Ross Elementary School who pushed the legislature to name the ladybug as the state bug,” Truiett said. “The governor literally signed the law on the back of a child from Milford wearing a ladybug costume.”
Originally, the festival was a partnership with Downtown Milford Inc. and Milford Parks & Recreation Department. A news article announced in 2015 that $8,758 was donated to the department, half the proceeds of the event. Over the years, the event has become one of the largest fund raisers for Downtown Milford Inc.
The event is rain or shine. As a reminder, Walnut Street, Washington Street, Park Avenue and Denney Row will be closed to traffic starting at 6 AM until 5 PM. Vendor assignment notices have gone out. Any vendor who has not received a notice should contact [email protected].
