The fifth annual Slice of Saugatuck, a celebration of the section’s shops, restaurants and its integral place in the history of Westport, is scheduled for Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., with 47 local businesses and 26 restaurants participating.
Saugtuck Slice visitors line up outside Tarry Lodge last year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
The event goes from Railroad Place to the fork of Saugatuck and Riverside Avenues, featuring food samples from participating eateries for those who walk the Slice.
New this year will be two beer gardens, one on Bridge Square and the other on Railroad Place, according to Matthew Mandell, Slice creator and the executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the event.
In addition, Mandell said there will be eight bands playing in six locations throughout the afternoon, demonstrations by Makerfaire in Luciano Park, “climbing, walls, an obstacle course, a balloon vendor, Hula Hoop Lady and a boucy house.”
“This is fun for the whole family,” said Mandell.
He noted that this year’s hours were designed not to cut into participating restaurants’ luncheon business, “and it sets up a Saugatuck Happy Hour at 5 p.m., so that people can go back to their favorite restaurant and continue to enjoy the day, and it leads right into dinner.”
Mandell said he anticipates attendance to be between 2,000 and 2,500.
Cost to walk the Slice is $10 for adults, $5 for children.
Mandell said that over the years, $14,000 in proceeds from the event have go to Homes with Hope to fund the town’s food pantry and homeless shelter.
—James Lomuscio
