This year, New Haven attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for the largest pizza party, with over 4,000 people registered to date.
NEW HAVEN, CT – On Thursday morning on the New Haven Green, Mayor Justin Elicker will be joined by Brian Wolfe, Executive Director of Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program (CCAP), and Colin Caplan, founder of Taste of New Haven, along with other city and civic leaders to promote and preview the tenth annual New Haven Grand Prix and theA-1 Toyota Apizza Feast (“AH-beetz Feast”) in Downtown New Haven. Officials and event organizers will provide details about the bicycle race, street and food festival, road closures, and New Haven’s ambitious attempt to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Pizza Party— all taking place Friday, September 12th, from 4 to 10 p.m.
As CCAP notes, “this isn’t your ordinary bike race or street festival.” The New Haven Grand Prix offers residents and visitors the opportunity to witness top professional and amateur cyclists compete in eight races along a four-corner route around the New Haven Green, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, while celebrating New Haven’s renowned food and nightlife scene. The cycling competition happens alongside the A-1 Toyota Apizza Feast, organized by Taste of New Haven, which creates a family-friendly block party atmosphere with live entertainment, wine and local craft beer gardens, and over 50 vendors offering pizza, food, and other items.
This year’s main event is New Haven’s effort to break the current GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Pizza Party. Led by New Haven pizza aficionado Colin Caplan, the record attempt will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on the New Haven Green, coinciding with the A-1 Toyota Apizza Feast at The New Haven Grand Prix.
New Haven plans to host a pizza party for up to 5,000 people, aiming to break the current record of 3,357 set in 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Attendees will get early access to the Apizza Feast, which opens to the public at 7 p.m. According to GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS rules, each of the up to 5,000 participants must eat at least two slices of pizza while being observed to ensure proper counting, documentation, and authentication. The event will be immediately disqualified if 10% of the pizza party attendees leave during the three-hour window.
Tickets for the pizza party are now available at tasteofnewhaven.com/apizzafeast. Prices range from $17 for kids (under 18) to $22 for adults and include two slices of pizza, a bottle of water, and a drink ticket. Registration for the Grand Prix will remain open through race day at bikereg.com/the-new-haven-grand-prix.
The Grand Prix and the Apizza Feast are returning to New Haven for their tenth year and are expected to attract between 10,000 and 15,000 attendees. Besides the entertainment, the festival acts as a fundraiser for CCAP, a nonprofit organization that offers youth opportunities to learn and succeed through cycling across Connecticut.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: Event promoting 10th Annual New Haven Grand Prix cycling race and A-1 Toyota Apizza Feast, featuring New Haven’s effort to break the current GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Pizza Party.
WHEN: Thursday, September 4th at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: New Haven Green — northeast corner near College and Chapel Streets, in front of the Pierre Lallement plaque, the inventor of the bicycle.
WHO:
- Mayor Justin Elicker;
- Brian Wolfe, Executive Director, Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program;
- Colin M. Caplan, Owner, Taste of New Haven;
- Among others.
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Press Contact:
Lenny Speiller | 203-725-4249; Lspeiller@newhavenct.gov