Here's What You Need To Know About PoCo In Northford This Weekend

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — Here's everything you need to know about the PoCo Festival, which opens Friday.

Visit the PoCo Facebook page for lots more information and updates.

Nuts and bolts:

The North Branford Potato & Corn Festival, is being held at Augur Park, 290 Forest Road, in Northford. The hours are: Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shuttle buses:

North Branford Poco Festival offers $2 round trip shuttle services to and from the event.

Northford Side: Shuttle buses will pick up at Stanley T. Williams Community Center, 1332 Middletown Ave, Northford CT. ADA Shuttle - (Top of the Hour) Available at STW ONLY

North Branford Side: Shuttle buses will pick up at North Branford Intermediate School 654 Foxon Road (RT80), North Branford, CT.

North Branford High School 49 Caputo Rd. North Branford, CT.• Note no shuttles will be available at Jerome Harrison Elementary School

Parking:

$25 onsite general parking will be located at Augur Valley entrance at 641 Totoket Road.

$25 Handicap parking will be located at the main festival entrance 290 Forest Rd (Rt 22)

Valid handicap parking permits will be required to be displayed. Handicap parking is on a first come basis.

Student Drop-off?pick-up:The designated student drop off/pick up will be at the Augur House on Forest Rd (Rt 22). The entrance is located just north of the main entrance traveling north on Rt. 22.

Festival policy:
Please be advised weapons, fireworks, electric stun guns, replica guns, ammunition, mace, and pepper spray are prohibited from the Festival grounds. Backpacks, bags, and containers are subject to visual search. Bicycles, skateboards, and personal motorized vehicles including golf carts are prohibited from the Festival grounds. Drones are strictly prohibited. Smoking (Including electronic cigarettes or ‘vaping’) is prohibited on the Festival grounds. Personal pets are not allowed; service animals are welcome. By entering the Festival grounds, you are consenting to the use of your image in photographic, video, and digital media for the purposes of publicity by the Town of North Branford and the Potato and Corn Festival.

Attractions:

HTX Helicopter Tours
HTX Helicopters tours and charters provide a unique and exciting way to explore scenic areas and landmarks from the air, including city skylines, natural landscapes, and popular tourist destinations. Weather permitting, HTX will be providing tours all three days. The tour will take you over Tilcon Quarry, Lake Gaillard, the beautiful landscape of North Branford/Northford, and on clear days you will enjoy views of Long Island Sound, all right from our festival. Tours are $60 per person and fly during daylight hours, weather permitting.

Rides and by Fiesta Shows
Fiesta Shows is New England’s largest traveling amusement provider. Limited $5 off weekend wristband coupons will be available! Fiesta will be bringing a variety of rides for all ages (the most we have ever had!), games, amusements, carnival treats, and New England’s LARGEST portable ferris wheel, the 3rd LARGEST nationwide.

PoCo Beer & Wine Garden

The Beer/Wine Garden will be returning to the 2025 PoCo Festival! It is conveniently located next to the stage so you can enjoy all of the entertainment while enjoying a glass of wine or beer. There will be seating inside the garden so you can choose delicious fare from the 20+ food vendors on the fairgrounds to enjoy with your beverage. The Beer/Wine Garden will be open Fri., 8/2 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm; Sat., 8/3 from 11:30 pm – 10:30 pm; and Sun., 8/4 from 11:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Our PoCo Beer and Wine Garden is being run in partnership with North Branford’s own, Central Cafe!

Sickline Carving
We are super excited to have Sickline Carving joining us all 3 days of PoCo!! Come watch chainsaw carver Adam Mulholland create unique pieces of art live!! Several pieces sculpted during PoCo will remain in town for the community to enjoy for years to come.

The Victoria Circus

New for this year, Daring Motor cross steel arena, acrobatics, and a high wire. Several performances each day.

Middlesex County Tractor Pullers Tractor Pull area. Friday 5pm until close

Burpee Exotic Petting Zoo More than 40 exotic and unusual domesticated animals in “America’s brightest, cleanest, friendliest, petting zoo”. The zoo is housed under their own colorful big top.

Contests and games:

FRIDAY
5:30 Potato peeling - adults only (stage area)
5:45 Jump Rope Run - all ages (field)
5:50 Potato sack race - all ages (field)
6:00 3-legged race - partner needed (field)
6:05 Wheelbarrow race - partner needed (field)
6:45 Pie Eating Contest -all ages (stage area)
SATURDAY
12:30 Corn Husking and eating - all ages (stage area)
1:00 Sponge Bucket - ages 5 and under (field)
3:00 Mashed Potato making - adults only (stage area)
3:30 Hula hoop contest - all ages (field)
3:45 jump rope run -all ages (field)
3:50 Crabwalk race -all ages (field)
5:00 Mashed Potato Toss - all ages,
partner needed (field)
5:15 Potato sack race - all ages (field)
6:20 Pie Eating Contest - all ages (stage area)
SUNDAY
12:00 Sponge bucket - ages 5 and under (field)
12:30 Corn Husking and eating -all ages (stage area)
12:45 Potato peeling - adult only (stage area)
1:00 Hula Hoop Contest -all ages (field)
1:15 jump rope run -all ages (field)
1:20 3-legged race - partner needed (field)
2:00 Potato toss at Mr Potato Head -all ages (field)
2:30 potato sack race -all ages (field)
2:40 crab walk race -all ages (field)
(Pie eating contest rain date

Live Entertainment Stage Schedule

Friday:

5:45 pm The Voice Contestant, Vocalist Kennii Araujo
7:00 pm Shot Down Band - modern country party
band Shot Down performs cutting edge tunes as well
as all the standard country favorites.

Saturday

1:00 pm The Pat Russo Band
5:15 pm The Voice Contestant, Vocalist Kennii Araujo
7:00 pm Connecticut’s favorite Party Band - Juicebox!
9:15pm The National Anthem sung by North Branford
7th grade student Hailey Bayusik

Sunday

1:00 pm Take 2 and Call Me in the Morning

4:00 pm County Line Dancing demonstration with Kickin it

Fireworks!

Show starts at approximately 9:15 p.m., Saturday. Rain date is Sunday.

Vendors

PoCo’s very own, local farm Fresh
Roasted Corn, & Loaded Baked
Potato FOOD Tent located right
next to the Mainstage!
California Curly Fries
Chompers
Get Roasted
j’scrabshack
jas
keifers
Los Mariachis
Repicci’s
Polish Plate
Prime Concessions
Textmex Fusion Food Truck
Thai Taste
Ultimate BBQ
VFW
Wild bills
Sultan Kebab
Paradise Island
Dougboy Mini Donuts
Ashley’s Ice Cream
You had me at mallow
Authentic Jerk & BBQ
Taste of Grill
Fiesta Shows