Septemberfest Filled Downtown Milford With Music, Local Vendors and Community Gatherings

Septemberfest took place in downtown Milford on Saturday, Sept. 12. Milford Presents hosted the free event along Broad Street, Catharine Street and at venues throughout the downtown district. The day combined live music, food, arts-and-crafts booths and local-business outreach aimed at both residents and visitors.

Music featured prominently across multiple locations. Leo Berthiaume, who performs as Leo B, described his set as an "end-of-season celebration" after the town's June Music Fest, and said he offers an eclectic mix of blues, folk, pop, familiar radio songs and original material. He performs solo with acoustic guitar, harmonica, backing tracks and a vocal harmonizer and often interacts with listeners through requests and song background.

Local community members also took the stage. Weichert Realtors' office manager Lisa Stefaniak emphasized that participating businesses bring people downtown and give them "a reason to come into town and see their friends and do something fun." Realtors Edie Duncan and Dan Verbeke performed together—Duncan on violin—illustrating how the festival mixes professional and community performers.

Attendees described Septemberfest as a routine part of the fall season in Milford. Marianne and Roy Santilli attend community events throughout the year and said the music attracts people of different ages and backgrounds. Another attendee who returns annually cited the weather, people and music as reasons to attend and said the festival benefits both residents and tourists.

Local vendors used the event to raise visibility and meet customers in person. Hopping Eagle Brewing Company brought several beers, including a blonde ale, a German Helles lager, a New England IPA and a mango jalapeño pale ale. A representative said the festival gives the brewery an opportunity to explain what they provide and tell locals where they're located.

Some participants combined festival presence with fundraising. Shanna Kenny attended to raise money with and for her niece, Marissa Kenney, who is running the New York City Marathon to support pancreatic cancer research. The festival provided a public platform for that effort.

Interviewed participants pointed to two practical outcomes: community connection and economic activity. Events like Septemberfest bring people downtown—residents and tourists—expose small businesses to new customers and provide a low-cost public setting for performers and fundraisers. For Milford, the festival fits into a pattern of frequent fall events that contribute to steady foot traffic and local visibility.

Milford's festival season includes other events such as the June Music Fest. Organizers and participants framed Septemberfest as part of that seasonal rhythm—an accessible way for residents to gather, for musicians to perform locally, and for small businesses and causes to engage the public.