PRINCETON: Communiversity draws thousands

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   Music drifted oven the street, wafting with the smells of recipes from around the world as belly dancers vied for attention with a children’s performance troupe while the sounds of bands mingled with thousands of people at Communiversity Festival of the Arts on Saturday afternoon.
   With a picture-perfect sunny day, Nassau and Witherspoon Streets and Palmer Square were packed curb-to-curb with people.
   ”My son loves the music and dancing; he loves that stuff,” said Debra Pearlstein, who was attending with her family, including 4-year-old Ben.
   The family friendly atmosphere was the main draw, brining people from around the state and around the world.
   ”I love there’s something for everybody,” said Sunitha DeSilva from Basking Ridge, who was attending with her brother from Princeton Township and family from India. “There’s something for the adults and the kids.
   ”The face painting and the bounce house was a huge hit with the children. They also loved being able to sit in the firebrick cab.”
   ”We’re here every year, we’ve been coming for 11 years,” said Claus Anderson of South Brunswick as his 3-year-old son high-fived Sparky the fire dog and hopped into the cab of a fire truck.
   ”The best part is meeting everyone we know and meeting new people.”
   There was no lack of lunch choices as vendors sold foodstuffs that ranged from fried pickles to sushi to paella as bands and other acts took the various stages all afternoon.