Last Saturday, Northampton closed Main Street to car traffic for the evening, transforming downtown into a broad pedestrian plaza.
The Downtown Northampton Association (DNA) organized this Summer Stroll, the likes of which, until now, had only been imagined. The Expandable Brass Band got things started by parading pied-piper style through the gathering crowds. The Whole Children’s Joyful Chorus sang while they passed.
BMX bikes flew off of an impossible ramp in front of City Hall while stiltwalkers and giant puppets strolled up and down a street that only hours before had been choked with cars jockeying for a parking space.
I was working as a pie hawker for the Florence Pie Bar. We set up shop in front of the courthouse, and the world came to us.
Kaliis Smith managed the karaoke tent for Hits 94.3 all evening, and then, as a coda as they were breaking down for the night, she let loose with a full-throated version of the Beastie Boys song “Sabotage.”
Jesus Pagan & Conjunto Barrio played booming salsa from a stage set up between Local Burger and Fitzwilly’s while people literally danced in the streets. And since it’s Northampton, there were also folks hula-hooping to the beat.