'Bittersweet.' Stamford's 'Alive at Five' concert series ends after 27 years

The event began in 1997 as a way to draw people to downtown Stamford, and for three decades, it brought some of the biggest names in music to Fairfield County like Hootie and the Blowfish, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Shaggy, and more.

Justin DeVellis

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Dec 3, 2024, 3:02 AM

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Updated 19 hr ago

Summers in Stamford are about to look different.

The city's popular concert series "Alive at Five" is ending, according to Stamford Downtown.

"It's sad to see it go," President Michael Moore says. "But we're ready to start new memories now."

The event began in 1997 as a way to draw people to downtown Stamford, and for three decades, it brought some of the biggest names in music to Fairfield County like Hootie and the Blowfish, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Shaggy, and more.

Music will always be a part of downtown Stamford, but Moore says the city is in a transition period and people want different events.

"It certainly wasn’t for financial reasons," Moore says. "It was because downtown is in a different place now, and we have to think about what’s needed for the folks that are coming here now."

“It’s bittersweet to see a concert series like that go," Stamford's Andrew Michaud says.

"I have a feeling that if Stamford takes it away, they will replace it with something else," Pamela Kiernan says. "It will just change shape, but it won’t be gone entirely."

Columbus Park hosted Alive at Five until the event moved to Mill River Park in 2021.