Amid the bustle of fair attendees, food vendors and merchants, more than 100,000 Bostonians crowded Harvard Avenue for the annual Allston Village Street Fair on Sunday.
Vendors shouted to the masses, offering free swag, while local musicians performed on two stages and hoards of fairgoers called to each other over the cacophony.
People of all ages were encouraged to add to a massive street mural, directed by local street artist Sidewalk Sam. Sam has been doing sidewalk art around the world for 41 years and helps with the Allston Village Street Fair regularly.
“I do it because gathered here are some of the most beautiful souls in the world,” Sidewalk Sam said. “There are people here that are so lovely, that make daily life beautiful, that bring their beauty out into the street and caress each other with their good spirit, and I want them to do a drawing on the ground to show how much they love themselves and each other, and how they believe that together we can make America beautiful.”
Children played in inflatable bounce-houses, or threw themselves against a Velcro wall, while others got their faces painted, got henna-tattoos and balloon animals and blew bubbles.
Booths had free food, and the Cabot Cheese sampling was popular for community members. There was also an international food court for those attendees that wanted something more substantial.
“It’s cool to feel like I have a community outside of Boston University,” said Emily Baer, a sophomore in the College of Communication. “Allston is much more than where I sleep between classes, and I forget that sometimes.”
For the 37 official sponsors of the event and other vendors, Harvard Ave. served as an opportunity for mass marketing.
Local businesses and colleges set up stands to pass out free goods and information.
Christine McCarey, assistant director of admissions at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said that she was marketing to get the word out about the school.
The Maritime Academy was giving out tote bags and T-shirts with their logo, and socializing with the steady stream of people passing by.
Despite working in the humidity all day, McCarey said she still had a good time.
“There’s a lot of different people, it’s a very diverse crowd,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun and everyone’s been very interactive. It’s been a great time.”