As the morning sun rose over West Campus and its shrinking collection of student party-goers, red cups and cans, Allston and Brighton residents took it upon themselves to throw their own bash.
In celebration of Brighton’s bicentennial, locals gathered at the Allston/Brighton Street Festival yesterday to celebrate with Dunkin’ Donuts, Hoodsie Cups and Red Bull and get their fill of local fare music, a parade and street performers.
“It’s the one time that the whole community gets together and everybody celebrates,” resident Lisa Cummings said. “It’s a tradition that keeps growing.”
For the first time, the festival — organized by community residents in conjunction with the Allston Board of Trade, The Allston-Brighton Bicentennial Committee, Parents and Community Build Group and Ringer Park Partnership Group — also included neighboring Allston, Joan Pasquale, director of Parents and Commnicty Build Group said, who described the event as “an urban Mardi Gras.”
“Brighton is celebrating its 200th anniversary but I wanted something done in Allston,” said Joan Pasquale, director of Parents and Community Build Group, who described the event as “an urban Mardi Gras.”
“With the help of local vendors, we have put together an event that can go out to the community.
“We want to change the face of Boston,” she continued. “We have everything here, and we want others to experience Allston the way we do.”
PCBG spokeswoman Darcie Wicknick said yesterday’s festival represents the height of community involvement this year.
“This is the first event ever to be planned for the community, by the community,” Wicknick said. “Everybody has had an impact. It was a tireless effort, but doing this kind of thing is fun. I love planning these events.”
Residents said the annual festival promotes unity among the neighborhood that comprises a small part of a much larger metro region.
“In a big city like Boston, you can get so lost,” said Brighton resident Megan McGough, a first-time festival volunteer. “Events like this give residents a sense of community.”
Norma Casaya, a Brighton resident and festival vendor, said the bicentennial, combined with the addition of Allston vendors and attendees, contributed to the largest street festival in the neighborhood’s history.
Emerson College student Stephanie Nelson said she decided to stop by after watching the festivities from the T.
No matter their reason for attending, members of the crowd said the fair offered one last enjoyable, warm-weather experience before New England temperatures begin to drop.
“[It felt] good to be outside and to see people happy,” said festival volunteer Sunita Mulchandni.
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