By William Tauro
This past Sunday, for the 8th year in a row, East Somerville Main Streets partnered with the City of Somerville and the Somerville Arts Council and presented Carnaval @ Somerstreets.
The event was held on Broadway in Somerville. Broadway was closed off from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Ave, but open to thousands of people that enjoyed awesome music, performances from community groups, children’s activities, and food from all over the world wuth interactive activities, flea and artisan market, and more!
Activities and programming included:
Live music on two stages including: Grupo Los Nitidos, A Nova Brazil, School of HONK, M’bolo, Nuz, and Opposite People. Listen to a concert from our very own string section from El Sistema and dance from Rancho Folclórico Corações Lusíadas.
-A variety of international foods from local restaurants
-Aerial Arts by Esh Circus Arts
-Stilting workshop with Open Air Circus
-Flea and artisan market by Somerville Flea
-Shorts film viewing and talk show interviews with Somerville Media Center
-Lego building activities with Federal Realty
-Craft & gadget making with Parts and Crafts
-Face painting & henna painting
-Bouncy House
-Soccer, preschool games and other active fun with Somerville Recreation
-Dunk tank and the chance to dunk some of your neighbors and local elected officials
-Explore a fire truck and ambulance
-Community vendors and local businesses and more!
The Boston Host Lion’s Club, Cambridge Lions Club, Boston Chinatown Lions Club and as well as the Somerville Lion’s Club in a joined effort also present at the event with the sleek new Lions Eyemobile performing free eye exams and screenings to the public.
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SomerStreets
SomerStreets 2018 dates now posted!
Sunday, August 5: Seize the Summer: Holland St. (Davis to Teele Square)
Sunday, Sept 16: Strike Up the Band: Highland Ave. (School St. to Lowell St.)
Sunday, Oct 14: Monster Mashed-Up: Somerville Ave. (Hawkins St. to Spring St.)
(Rain Date: Oct 28)
All events are 2-6pm, the August and September festivals are rain or shine
SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally-renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the City and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.
SomerStreets builds on the Shape Up Somerville healthy living initiative. Similar open streets events take place all around the world, providing space normally taken up by automobile traffic for people to be more active.
SomerStreets is an annual series that takes place one Sunday per month June through October.
For the August, Sept, and Oct festivals the call for talent is HERE and the call for community and business vendors is HERE.
Craft vendors are being curated by the Somerville Flea.
For the June SomerStreets contact Teresa Vazquez-Dodero at teresa@eastsomervillemainstreets.org.
If you’re have questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact: Nina Eichner, Special Events Manager, at (617) 625-6600 ext 2998 or neichner@somervillema.gov
