The Bristol Mum Festival is an annual festival in

Bristol, Connecticut Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, southwest-west of Hartford. The city is also 120 miles southwest from Boston, and approximately 100 miles northeast of New York City. As of the 2020 census, th ...

which includes a Mum Parade in Connecticut. The festival celebrates

chrysanthemums Chrysanthemums (), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants of the genus ''Chrysanthemum'' in the family Asteraceae. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia and the center o ...

, formerly a major product of the town, and was first held on Sunday, October 7, 1962. Opening ceremonies kicked off the celebration, now known as the Bristol Mum Festival. Amidst the floral carpet of the former Bristol Nurseries on Chippens Hill. Ralph Joerres, the first Chairman of the Festival opened the festivities inviting everyone to the first Open House events which were welcoming Bristolites to the American Clock & Watch Museum, Bristol Water Company and the newly remodeled North Side Bank & Trust Company. The members of the Chamber of Commerce and

City of Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

officials assembled a list of activities to take place over six days. They wanted to focus on the positive things happening in Bristol. When the festival opened it was originally known as the Fall Festival. In 1963 the

Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemums (), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants of the genus ''Chrysanthemum'' in the family Asteraceae. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia and the cent ...

(mum) was also added to the festival's name. Prior to 1986 (when production stopped), the nurseries in Bristol produced over 80,000 mum plants, with acres of land covered in mums. During the festival over 10,000 people would visit the nurseries. This festival went on hiatus in 2020.

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* * {{coord, 41.669, -72.941, region:US-CT, display=title Bristol, Connecticut Festivals in Connecticut Tourist attractions in Hartford County, Connecticut