Fitz's Fish Ponds Hosts Biggest and Best Koi Fest to Date: Koi Fest 2024!
Sep 7th 2024
A Spectacular Celebration of Koi and Community at Fitz’s Fish Ponds Farm
Fitz’s Fish Ponds Farm in Milford, NJ, was the place to be on Saturday, August 24th, as koi enthusiasts from across the world gathered for the highly anticipated Koi Fest 2024. This year’s event was an extraordinary celebration of koi culture, bringing together industry professionals, passionate hobbyists, and families for a day filled with excitement, education, and community spirit.
Months of Detailed Preparation
Koi Fest 2024 was the result of meticulous planning that began as early as June. The dedicated team at Fitz’s Fish Ponds (FFP) held numerous meetings to discuss every detail of the event, ensuring that each segment—from the auction to check-in, retail layout, and overall event map—was perfectly coordinated. The team's commitment to creating an unforgettable customer experience was evident throughout the event, which ran smoothly from start to finish.
A Week of Collaboration with Industry Leaders
The week leading up to Koi Fest saw the arrival of several special guests who played a key role in the event’s success. Tim Waddington from Quality Nishikigoi, Mark McKinney from Clearly Aquatics, Yvo De Wal (The Koi Partner), Eric Triplett (The Pond Digger), and Masaru Saito of Shintaro Koi Farm joined the FFP team in setting up the event. These industry leaders not only assisted with preparations but also generated valuable content, sharing insights and behind-the-scenes moments with the broader koi community.
Exclusive Access for Special Ticket Holders
Koi Fest weekend officially began on Friday evening with the arrival of Special Access Ticket holders. For $150, these guests were treated to an exclusive tour of the koi houses, led by FFP’s CEO and Owner Brian Fitzsimmons, along with Director of Koi Sales AJ Mandell, Retail Store Managers Tom Swinarsky and Ryan Cardillo, and Fish Department Lead Jim Cudworth. With assistance from the fish team, Mike Milazzo and Logan Plitzer, approximately 23 tours were conducted throughout the day. This exclusive experience allowed guests to have the first pick of the koi before they were brought to the event’s main tanks.
Special Access Night & Welcome BBQ
After the tours, vendors set up their booths while additional guests attended a welcome BBQ dinner. Notable attendees included Jeff Wheemhoff, President and Owner of Atlantic Oase, Lora Lee Gelles, Publisher and Owner of Pond Trade Magazine, Aquatic Plant Specialist Kelly Billings, and Duffy Shivaprashed of Ecological Labs (Microbe Lift). The evening was catered by Dan’s Backyard BBQ and provided an opportunity for industry leaders, pond contractors and koi enthusiasts to connect and share their passion for the hobby. Eric Triplett, The Pond Digger, interviewed many attendees throughout all stages of prepping for the event, the special access night and Koi Fest to capture all angles of guests experience!
A Day of Festivities and Fun
Koi Fest 2024 featured an impressive lineup of vendors and sponsors all which sponsored a total of 18 giveaways throughout the day! This included Twisted Ink Screen Printing (who prints all of FFP’s merch), Unity Bank, Atlantic Oase, Microbe Lift, Splash Labs/Easy Pro, Pondguard, and K Flanders Fish Charters, Aqua Meds, The Bonsai Shack, Mid Atlantic Koi Club, Sophie Screenprinting, Performance Pro, Reefco, Hikari, Dot Fitsimmons of ERA Bonaikowski and many others. Congratulations to ALL of our givewaway winners especially to Bob Schlect from the ZNA Koi Club who won the Koi Trip to Japan!
Unity Bank’s tethered hot air balloon rides were a highlight, adding a unique touch to the event. Attendees also enjoyed live music by the Brandywine Poets, who kept the atmosphere lively throughout the day. Food and drink were provided by Nana’s Pizza, 22West, Epic Cookies, and Q Bros Ice Cream, offering a delicious array of options for attendees. Children were entertained with koi-themed games, including corn hole, a bouncy house, stickers, tattoos, bubbles, life-size tic-tac-toe, and a hand-painted photo station, ensuring fun for the entire family.
An Exciting Auction
The auction was one of the day’s most anticipated events, with participants bidding on stunning koi displayed Japanese-style on a red carpet. Alfred, the auctioneer, kept the energy high, and many attendees left with prized new koi for their collections.
A Community United by Passion
The evening ended with a bonfire, where the FFP team, special guests, and customers gathered to share their love of koi and the pond industry. Koi Fest 2024 was a resounding success, and the FFP team is already looking forward to Koi Fest 2025 which is set for August 23rd 2025, where they will once again bring together the koi community for another unforgettable celebration.
