By Elle Wood

MILFORD – The ladybug will always hold a special place in Milford’s heart.

To celebrate, the Bug and Bud festival will return to the city on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Milford.

The event will include a variety of vendors, activities and more for people of any age.

“We have about 150 vendors, three streets blocked off, live music from a local radio station,” said Sara LeBright, the director of Downtown Milford Inc. “We will have a kids corner that has bounce houses, crafts and games and a pet parade.”

The live music from a radio station is new to the festival this year. They hope it brings a new way of entertainment to Bug and Bud.

“I am excited that we are going to have a lot of live music, which we did not have before,” said Ms. LeBright. “We are going to have the radio station there, and we don’t normally have that.

“I like to walk around and shop with music because it can get humdrum when there isn’t a lot going on.”

Another feature will be the kids train that will run from Walnut Street to Washington Street alongside the Mispillion River, explained Ms. LeBright.

The vendors that are participating in this year’s celebration have expressed their excitement leading up to April 27.

“A lot of the vendors are really excited to be there,” said Ms. LeBright. “We tried to meticulously place them.

“There is really really good selective vendors, it’s not just anybody that applied this year.”

The ladybug became the state insect in 1973 when a second-grade class in Milford petitioned to Delaware State Legislature to accept the ladybug to represent the First State.

Milford is also a USA Tree City which is another reason to celebrate the Bug and Bud festival in Milford.

Milford has a lot going on that day. April 27 is also the day of the Milford city election. However, Downtown Milford Inc. does not think it will have a negative impact on the event.

They hope that as people are going out to the election, they will want to come out to the Bug and Bud festival because they are already out for the day, explained Ms. LeBright.

Another concern is the roadwork that is taking place on Walnut Street where the festival will take place. The city is working on a project that is developing the roadway that connects each side of the Mispillion Riverwalk.

They are creating an elevated surface to help reduce speeds of drivers on the street and have a handicap accessible walking path to both sides of the riverwalk.

“They are telling us it will be done,” said Sara LeBright, the director of Downtown Milford. “The construction is right outside my office, so I ask them daily.

“The area will be open and walkable.”

Ms. LeBright hopes that the event brings people to downtown to walk around and see all that the area has to offer.

"I’m hoping it’s really good foot traffic,” said Ms. LeBright.

Admission to the festival is free but purchases may be required at vendors.

For more information about the festival, visit downtownmilford.org.

A pull-out “Bug & Bud” event guide will be published in the April 21 and April 24 editions of the Daily State News and also online at BaytoBayNews.com/SpecialSections.