Welcome to the Barnum Festival!
The annual Barnum Festival is a seasonal celebration of the life and times of Bridgeport’s most famous resident, entrepreneur and showman P.T. Barnum. Dating back to 1948, the Festival supports local businesses, lifts community spirit and honors Barnum’s role as a civic leader, showman and public servant.
The seasonal celbration is held at locations throughout the Greater Bridgeport area includes fireworks, parades, concerts, cultural activities and family-friendly entertainment. Its goal: build community spirit, enrich the lives of area residents and give back to the community through philanthropic efforts.
Learn more about the Barnum Festival — Click Here
Meet 2027 Barnum Festival Ringmaster!
Nick D’Addario is a fourth-generation business leader, public servant, and longtime supporter of the Greater Bridgeport community.
Born in Bridgeport and raised in Fairfield, Nick comes from a family whose ties to the region stretch back nearly a century. In 1927, his great-grandfather, Nicola D’Addario, founded the business that would grow into D’Addario Industries and Hi-Ho Energy Services. His grandfather, F. Francis “Hi-Ho” D’Addario, expanded the family business and helped establish a tradition of entrepreneurship, civic involvement, and philanthropy that subsequent generations have continued.
Today, Nick serves as President of Hi-Ho Energy Services, carrying the family business into its fourth generation as it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2027.
Nick’s connection to the Barnum Festival is also deeply rooted in his family’s history. His grandfather, F. Francis “Hi-Ho” D’Addario, served as Ringmaster in 1967; his cousin, Mario D’Addario, served as Ringmaster in 1995; and his uncle, David D’Addario, served as Ringmaster in 2000. Nick’s selection as the 2027 Ringmaster continues a remarkable family tradition of involvement with the Festival spanning six decades.
That history is part of a broader family commitment to the Greater Bridgeport region. For generations, the D’Addario family has supported organizations and institutions throughout the community, including the Barnum Festival, Cardinal Shehan Center, Child & Family Guidance Center, The Klein Memorial Auditorium, University of Bridgeport, and Sacred Heart University.
Community and public service have been equally important in Nick’s own life. He currently serves as a Selectman for the Town of Easton and previously served on Easton’s Planning and Zoning Commission. He is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Child & Family Guidance Center and serves on the boards of the Barnum Festival and Cardinal Shehan Center. He is also a former Chair of the Board of The Klein Memorial Auditorium.
A graduate of The George Washington University and Vermont Law School, Nick lives in Easton with his wife, Caroline, and their son, Fritz.
As a member of a new generation of business and community leaders, Nick believes strongly in honoring the people and institutions that built Greater Bridgeport while encouraging a new generation to become involved, give back, and lead. That commitment is reflected in his theme for the 2027 Barnum Festival: “A New Generation of Community Leadership.”
As Ringmaster, Nick looks forward to celebrating the Barnum Festival’s rich history, bringing people together, and carrying forward its longstanding tradition of creating joy, civic pride, and community throughout the Greater Bridgeport region.
