Stamford DSSD Preparing "Rockin' On The River" And More For Summer 2012

The Downtown Special Services District is actively planning two more city events to rival the success of summer 2011's , with revenues going back to the community that DSSD represents. 

"We've had a joint fundraiser with the Mill River Collaborative for the last two years, this'll be the third year, so we're planning something new and fun," DSSD president Sandy Goldstein told Patch.

DSSD's collaboration with Mill River will result in an event called "Rockin' on the River," which is scheduled for June 30, and will be held at Mill River Park.

"Rockin' on the River is going to be a wonderful fundraiser, under a tent, on the Mill River property," DSSD president Sandy Goldstein said. Revenue from Rockin' On The River will go to , and to the Downtown Sculpture program.

According to Goldstein, the planning committee for Rockin' On The River consists of 25 people, and one of their main, current focal points is to book "oldies" bands for the event, which will have a 50's-60's sock hop theme. 

"It's to make people aware of what the downtown and the Mill River have to offer," Goldstein said.

"Horsin' Around Downtown", which is this year's variation of DSSD's annual outdoor sculpture exhibit, will feature sculpted and painted fiberglass horses across Stamford's downtown, including areas around the Ferguson Library and Stamford Town Center. Local artists wishing to have their work featured in the exhibition will be selected via jury.

"It's going to be a spectacular event. We're going to have 40 horses painted downtown," Goldstein said. Horsin' Around Downtown is on-schedule for its June 1 opening, Goldstein said.

DSSD has its hands with 2012's Alive@Five, too. The application deadline for local bands interested in playing at this summer's Alive@Five is March 15. 

Bands across the city will compete for the chance to open for the first three weeks of Alive@Five at this year's "Bandapalooza", which is scheduled for May 18.

Still, Rockin' On The River is a current focal point for Sandy Goldstein and the DSSD, if for no other reason, because of the event's purpose.

"Our goal is to bring people to the Mill River to let them see how far the construction of the river has come," Goldstein said.