stART on The Street - Worcester

Every year for the past 15 years the City of Worcester closed down two blocks on Park Ave between Highland Street and Pleasant Street and has an Craft and Arts Festival called "stART on the Street".  Our neighbor was setting up there to sell her Batik Dyed T-shirts, so we decided to check it out. Being our first time there we did not know what to expect or what the parking situation was.

Our Neighbor's Booth at stART

 We decided to park in the neighborhood where I lived during my junior year in college at WPI with 3 other classmates. It was only 2 blocks from Park Ave. I hadn't  been back to the area in years. This is my old apartment building. I lived in the 4th floor, back then the side porch looked like it was about to fall down with at least a 30 degree pitch to the porch.  I am glad that they built a new porch.

When we got to Park Ave & Elm Park, the entire place was busy with shoppers and bands playing on three different stages. One at Elm Park, One at Elm & Park and the third at Pleasant & Park.

Large Crowds

  There were many vendors selling all type of crafts

Wind Chimes etc, made from old Silverplate Utensils

After shopping and seeing our neighbor, we ate lunch at The El Basha Restaurant, it was nice getting out of the heat and sitting in comfortable chairs for lunch rather than just eating Food Truck food and standing around or sitting on the grass or curb.  After lunch we went across the street to listen to the band that was playing.

After the band finished, they moved all the chairs & table aside to make room for The Asociación Carnavalesca de Massachusetts Dance Group that brings a bit of Dominican Carnival to the United States.  They are also called "Keeper of Tradition" keeping the Dominican culture alive.  The costumes were absolutely unbelievable!

 Very interesting dance cultural display.  Someone said that you could see more of this stuff at the Worcester Caribbean Festival in August. Will have to try to remember that next year.

They also had many street performers such as jugglers.

It was a great festival that we will have to attend next year again.