Town-gown outdoor fair to be held Saturday in downtown Princeton.
Communiversity, which has been bringing town and gown together for decades, will be bigger and better than ever when it takes over the downtown Saturday, its sponsors say.
Communiversity 2003 will be held from noon to 4 p.m., with parts of Witherspoon and Nassau Streets closed to traffic for the event.
Presented by The Arts Council of Princeton and the students of Princeton University, Communiversity attracts more than 10,000 people each year.
Township and borough residents, students, merchants, nonprofit organizations, musicians, performing and visual artists and food vendors will turn the Nassau Street area as well as the university campus into a colorful fairground with fun events for both students and families.
Princeton Borough Mayor Marvin Reed, Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand and Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman will speak at a noon opening ceremony.
Traditional favorites will perform on four stages, including Naacho, Sympoh, the Princeton Triangle Club and Flamenco Puro.
Children’s activities as well as more than 50 student booths will be in front of Nassau Hall on "Alexander Beach." A moon bounce, face painting and balloon animals will be included, and Middle Earth Theater will return to the grassy knoll behind Firestone Library with interactive storytelling and other activities sponsored by the university’s Cotsen Children’s Library.
New this year will be sports games and demonstrations by university athletes on Cannon Green, behind Nassau Hall. A sports clinic will be held for children at Weaver Track, south of Princeton Stadium, from 10 a.m. to noon, sponsored by the university’s Department of Athletics. Some of the other entertainment highlights include music by The Alice Project, The Klez Dispensers, Kronicles, The Shaxe and Gutterstar; dance demonstrations by diSiac, BodyHype and the "Anointed" Ezekiel Dancers, and theater by Princeton University’s Triangle Club and the Middle Earth Children’s Theater.
The arch sing in Blair Arch on the university campus will feature a cappella entertainment throughout the day.
In another new development, Witherspoon Street will be transformed into "Artists’ Alley," bustling with artists and crafters. On display and for sale will be paintings, photography, handcrafted jewelry, pottery, baskets, hand-painted furniture, and more.
Also new to this year’s event will be an architectural walking tour of the Princeton University campus, which will leave the Frist Center. Call Pam Hersh at (609) 258-3018 to register.
At the Arts Council booth, children will have the opportunity to express their creativity through painting at "Nana’s Make-a-Mess Workshop." Youngsters can also enjoy decorating their own ceramic tiles, having their faces painted, and fishing for prizes in the Arts Council’s "Fish Pond."
The Princeton Environmental Network is sponsoring a 5K and 10K race for the Princeton "Save the Tiger" Campaign. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Forbes College, 115 Alexander Street, and all proceeds from the $15 entrance fee go to the World Wildlife Fund to help preserve native tiger habitats. The race begins at 10:30 a.m. at Forbes and the majority of the race goes along the tow path.
Public parking will be available in lots and garages located on Chambers Street, Hulfish Street (next to Halo Pub) and Spring Street. Additional parking can be found on side streets and in Princeton University lots 10 and 10A, located off Washington Road on William Street.
In the event of cancellation due to inclement weather, there will be no rain date. If in doubt, participants and visitors should listen to WPST (97.5 FM).

