It’s not a pie in the sky dream—New Haven has its sights set on smashing the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party.

“There is nothing that says New Haven more than apizza or, as you all know it, as pizza,” said Taste of New Haven founder Colin Caplan at a news conference Thursday.

Caplan, who’s helming the effort, was joined by New Haven’s mayor and other city leaders to promote the annual New Haven Grand Prix and Apizza Feast. The bike races and street festival, which have become a signature event downtown, will take place Friday, Sept. 12, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The main focus of this year’s event, though, will be the bid to break the world record for the largest pizza party. It’ll take place on the Upper Green from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The title is currently held by Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“The record is 3,357 people. That was a record set in 2023. Our goal is 5,000 people,” stated Mayor Justin Elicker.

That shouldn't be too hard for a state dubbed the National Pizza Capital. Elicker said as of Thursday morning, almost 4,200 people had already registered to attend. Tickets cost about $18 for those under 18 and about $23 for adults. Admission covers two slices of pizza, a beverage, and for anyone 21 and older, a drink ticket.

“How do you feed 5,000 people in three hours. That's 10,000 slices, 625 pizzas—18-inch pizzas sliced into 16.” Caplan said.

Big Green Pizza Truck will be there making the pies for the record-breaking attempt.

“Six ovens, six trucks and trailers to make sure 5,000 people can get 10,000 slices in three hours,” Caplan explained. “That's a lot of pizza.”

Guinness has strict rules for the bid. Volunteers will be there watching to make sure participants finish two pieces of pizza in a designated spot and stay in the festival area until the end of the event. The city’s leaders are more than confident it will all pan out.

“I don't want to be a spoiler, but we're going to win,” stated Elicker. "We are going to win."

The pizza party is the only portion of the festivities that requires a ticket. Partygoers will also get early access to the Apizza Feast, which opens free to the public at 7 p.m. The festival will include about 50 food and drink vendors—over 20 serving New Haven’s signature food—and live music.

Alongside all that, the Grand Prix will hold eight bike races covering a .7-mile loop around the Upper Green and Yale’s old campus. Around 300 cyclists about expected to participate—professionals and amateurs—with the fastest riders reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. Prior years drew up to 20,000 spectators.