New Haven, the self-proclaimed “pizza capital of the world,” cemented its place in history on Friday by claiming the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party. During the 10th annual Apizza Feast, an event held in conjunction with the New Haven Grand Prix, a staggering 4,525 people gathered to make history, easily surpassing the previous record.
The event, orchestrated by local organizer Colin Caplan, was a logistical feat. To qualify for the record, participants had to remain in a designated area and eat at least two slices of pizza during a three-hour window. The rules were strict, and a Guinness World Records official adjudicator, Thomas Bradford, was on hand to verify the count.
The previous record was held by Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 3,357 participants, a title they had held since January 2023. New Haven’s goal was to gather 5,000 people, a target they ultimately fell just short of, but still achieved the record with a comfortable margin.
The atmosphere on the New Haven Green was electric. “It’s great energy to see the whole city come together,” said Yale student Owen Zhang. “It’s not often that we get to connect with the New Haven community, but just seeing everyone here enjoying pizza. The pizza is amazing, the people are amazing, the energy is amazing.”
Event organizer Colin Caplan, visibly emotional after the announcement, praised the community’s collective spirit. “I think I’ve never felt more love from a community, never ever ever,” he said. “This was all love from the community, all pizza. We built something historical here today. We got the world’s largest pizza party because everyone came out.”
The record-breaking celebration not only highlighted New Haven’s iconic pizza culture but also demonstrated the power of community in achieving a shared goal.
