By William Tauro
The SomerStreets Carnaval” took place along East Broadway this past Sunday promoting active living and reconnecting with city neighborhoods.
SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally-renowned Open Streets concept that closed busy city streets to vehicles and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity.
Throughout the day SomerStreets, the City and its community partners aimed to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.
The hundreds of residents that attended the event enjoyed the best of the East Broadway Business District and the East Somerville community including food, music, and culture from around the world.
The event extended along East Broadway from the intersection of Broadway and McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Ave. The festival kicked off with a Motion Parade at noon that began at the Cross St. Senior Center (165 Broadway).
A variety of interactive activities including hola hooping, stilting, parkour and relay races took place. Spectators hoped aboard the Arts Council’s MUSCRAT bus for giant bubbles & gadget making!
There was music throughout the day on three stages! Acts include Samba Viva with Grupo Camarote, Opposite People, Grupo Los Nitidos, Bloco AfroBrazil, Mariachi los Viajeros de Mexico, and The Gravel Project.
At our community performance area spectators enjoyed Onstage Dance Company, El Sistema Somerville, and Pete ‘Afro D’ Shungu and tunes were spun by local DJ Soto.
SomerStreets: Carnaval was organized by the City of Somerville, the Somerville Arts Council and East Somerville Main Streets.
