Princeton street fair set for Saturday, April 23.
Communiversity 2005, Princeton’s 36th annual town-gown street festival, is in its final countdown.
The celebration is slated for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, rain or shine, in downtown Princeton and throughout the Princeton University campus. Admission is free.
Presented by The Arts Council of Princeton and the students of Princeton University, Communiversity has become an area tradition, attracting more than 10,000 people.
Featured will be entertainment on four stages, children’s activities and games, and a wide array of food. More than 175 artists, crafters, merchants and local organizations will join in this year’s festivities as they exhibit and sell their wares on Nassau and Witherspoon streets, which will be closed to traffic for the duration of the event.
"Communiversity is a beloved annual tradition in Princeton," said Janet Stern, The Arts Council’s program director. "Over the years, I’ve heard from more than a few families that they actually relocated to Princeton because of the community feeling engendered by Communiversity. And this year is turning out to be the most thrilling of all," she said.
"We have lined up more artists, more crafters, more nonprofits and more vendors than ever before not to mention the most impressive array of performers I can remember," Ms. Stern said. "What I’m particularly excited about is the number of interactive opportunities like the tap dance jam, African drumming and dancing, the Middle Earth Children’s Theater and the university’s athletic events that invite onlookers to participate. If you have tap shoes, bring them to Communiversity. There’s truly something for everyone this year."
The Grand Sponsors for Communiversity 2005 are Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Tyco International Ltd. Other leading corporate supporters include Miele; The Times; Triumph Brewing Company; Weichert Realtors; Commerce Bank; JP Morgan Chase Bank; Patriot Media; PNC Bank; Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate; Mason, Griffin & Pierson P.C.; PDQ Press; Princeton Fuel Oil Co.; Princeton Real Estate Group, LLC; Stevens & Lee P.C.; and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace. The festival is being produced by KMA Events LLC of Princeton.
Some of the highlights planned for Communiversity 2005 include live music by local favorites, such as the Klez Dispensers (Klezmer music); Eco Del Sur (traditional and contemporary Andean music); Bob Norman (contemporary folk music); Fiction Romance (original rock); The Shaxe (a rock-jam band); Drew and Bebe (acoustic guitar and vocals); and Mwt Shekemet (African drumming and dancing).
There will be theatrical performances by Princeton University’s Triangle Club and the Middle Earth Children’s Theater; dance demonstrations by the Princeton Country Dancers, BodyHype and the Sandman Sims Feet First Foundation (presenting a tap dance jam); local choral and a cappella groups; and the International Center’s "Parade of Flags."
At The Arts Council booth itself, children will have the opportunity to express their creativity through painting at Nana’s Make a Mess Workshop, sponsored by the family of artist Julienne Sylvia Winarsky in her memory. Youngsters can also enjoy decorating their own ceramic tiles, having their faces painted and fishing for prizes in The Arts Council’s "Fish Pond," sponsored by Nassau Street Seafood/Blue Point Grill.
Public parking is available in lots and garages located on Chambers Street, Hulfish Street 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.
For more information, call The Arts Council of Princeton at (609) 924-8777 or visit its Web site at www.artscouncilof princeton.org.

