Downtown Somerville will be packed for street fair and music festival

A colorful swirl of art, crafts, music, games, contests, raffles, merchandise, food, and more will draw a crowd of thousands to Main Street Somerville Sunday, Oct. 4 to take in all that the 29th annual Somerville Street Fair and Music Festival has to offer.

Sponsored by the Somerville Business & Professional Association, the street fair begins at 11 a.m. and continues through 5 p.m.

More than 150 exhibitors and food vendors are expected as Main Street Somerville will be transformed into a broad pedestrian boulevard. Vehicular traffic will be detoured.

From Doughty Street to Bridge Street, Main Street will be crowded with artists and crafters displaying their creations. It’s a shoppers’ paradise, with Main Street lined by over 150 vendors displaying paintings, pottery, photography, handmade jewelry, furniture and many other unique gifts.

Jugglers, clowns, stilt walkers and other street performers will entertain up and down Main Street throughout the day and there will be rides and games for the youngsters.

There will be live music throughout the day by bands performing at three different locations. “DJ Rob” will create an “outdoor dance party” beginning at 11am, followed by a live performance by the Flying Dogs of Jupiter Band, which has performed throughout New Jersey at numerous outdoor events. NJ-101.5-FM and 105.5 WDHA-FM radio stations will entertain and award prizes until supplies run out.

“Because the event attracts people from throughout the state as well as New York and Pennsylvania, it’s a wonderful opportunity for residents, civic organizations and the business community to come together and promote the town, as well as enjoy the great buys, great food and great entertainment,” said Lorraine Sarra, SBPA treasurer.

Like a Jersey shore boardwalk or a carnival midway, Main Street will feature a variety of food; the aromas wafting down the street will help guide you to hot roast beef sandwiches, racks of ribs, sausage & pepper sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs, funnel cakes, popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, pizza, cannolis, shish-ka-bobs and other culinary delights!

Volunteer firefighters from Somerville’s Central Hook & Ladder Co. #1 will set up their portable grill and serve up hundreds of hot roast beef sandwiches and birch beer, a tradition that goes back several years at the street fair.

“We are a family-friendly destination. There’s no better way to spend the day than browsing up and down Main Street with friends and family,” Sarra said.

Veterans’ organizations, school clubs, civic and service groups will also be on hand to sell fund-raising merchandise and distribute information about their organizations.

Visit the SBPA website, www.somervillebiz.org or call (908) 725-1893 for further information.