Windsor’s Town Green was filled with bright tents, music, and the aroma of fryer oil on Saturday, May 17, as the community marked the 70th annual Shad Derby Festival. What began in 1955 as a Connecticut River fishing tournament has grown into a day-long spring fair that draws civic groups, food vendors, crafters, and families from across the region.
From late morning to mid-afternoon, dozens of booths stretched across the Windsor town green. On the food side, long lines formed for fried Oreos, tacos, and a variety of other foods. Many visitors headed home with kettle corn and more than a few crafts in their bags.
Among the exhibitors was SPARKS, a Loomis student-run club that promotes STEM outreach. Their table offered hands-on slime making, giving younger festivalgoers a quick lesson in chemistry and sending them off with neon souvenirs (and, occasionally, sticky fingers).
Live entertainment played throughout the day while shoppers browsed a variety of locally made crafts and goods. Just after noon, the Shad Derby Parade—led by marching bands, the Windsor Fire Department, and contestants to be Shad Derby Queen—made its traditional turn onto Broad Street before finishing at the Green.
Outside the main fair, a 5K run and fun walk opened the schedule for early risers, but most Loomis students arrived in time for lunch and an afternoon of browsing.
For most Loomis attendees, the focus remained on the food, craft stalls, and sun-soaked lawn where friends reunited after a potentially brutal week of AP exams. As one local vendor put it, “The shad always come back, and so do the crowds.” With Saturday’s turnout, that seems certain to hold true next May.
