Official Website of the Windsor Shad Derby Festival

Official Website of the Windsor Shad Derby Festival
Windsor, Connecticut's Most Beloved Festival

The Shad Derby Festival is a long standing Windsor, Connecticut & beloved New England Tradition. It all began in 1955 with an annual fishing tournament to raise awareness of the growing pollution of the Connecticut River. In 1966, as the Fishing Derby grew in size a parade and festivities on the Windsor Town Green were added to celebrate & commemorate the Shad Derby while also helping promote the best of Windsor, Connecticut and the local New England area through it's many resources, businesses and civic organizations. Currently, 15 organizations that make up the Windsor Shad Fest Bureau proudly organize over 20 meaningful events associated with the Shad Derby Festival - that always culminates on the third Saturday in May. This website is dedicated to all the volunteers, contributors, businesses & civic organizations who always make sure "The Shad Always Return" every spring to Connecticut's First Town.