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date published:
September 7, 2009
by Josh B. Wardrop
Viva la
Carnival!
When the average person thinks of the
city of Cambridge, the things that commonly
come to mind are the Ivy League education
found at Harvard University, the
cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs
achieved at MIT and a population heavily
slanted toward the liberal side of politics.
Rarely is this scholarly little city across
the river confused with, say, a Caribbean
paradise.
However, each year Cambridge plays host
to one of the area’s most vibrant
celebrations of Caribbean culture, the
much-anticipated Cambridge Carnival. This
year, the 17th annual event is set to take
place on September 13—a change from the
carnival’s usual late-August date—and
promises to enthrall audiences with its
usual mixture of music, dance, food and
crafts celebrating Afro-Caribbean life.
Since the first Cambridge Carnival in
1992—a modest street fair at University
Park—the event has grown into one of New
England’s largest outdoor multicultural
festivals, eventually finding a home in
Kendall Square. Dating back to the 1600s,
the Carnival event has traditionally been a
way for African cultures worldwide to
celebrate their heritage, and that’s the
case in Cambridge with this fete that
combines steel pan drummers, food and craft
vendors and other activities with the day’s
centerpiece—a grand street masquerade parade
that covers 1.3 miles and features throngs
of performers in elaborate costumes that
bring the nations of Brazil, Trinidad and
Tobago, Haiti and many others to life in an
explosion of color and sound. Refer to
special events listing.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 24–September 20
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Brothers Chris and Rich
Robinson and their
Southern-fried rock band
The Black Crowes play
classic hits and new tracks
at the Bank of America
Pavilion. Refer to
current events music listing.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Legendary British duo Pet
Shop Boys cross the pond
for a rare visit to Boston,
performing their synth-pop
classics at the House of
Blues. Refer to
current events music listing.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Comedienne extraordinaire
and animal lover Lily
Tomlin
comes to Provincetown,
playing a comedy benefit for
the Pilgrim Bark Park. Refer
to
comedy listing.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
It’s an AL East face-off
when the Boston Red Sox,
led by David Ortiz
(pictured), begin a two-game
series against the
Baltimore Orioles. Refer
to
sports listing.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Food Network darling
Paula Deen offers a
cooking demo at the Bank of
America Pavilion, armed with
a selection of her favorite
Southern (and, no doubt,
butter-laden) recipes. Refer
to
special events listing.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
The Superheroine
Monologues
begins a two-week stint at
the Boston Center for the
Arts, taking a humorous look
at the trials and
tribulations of Supergirl,
Wonder Woman and other
battling bombshells. Refer
to
theatre listing.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Singer/mother/tabloid fodder
Britney Spears
returns to the TD Garden,
performing singles from her
wildly popular album Circus.
Refer to
current events music listing.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 &
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
The 2009 Boston Folk
Festival, headlined this
year by singer-songwriter
Dar Williams (pictured),
rolls onto the UMass Boston
campus. Refer to
current events music listing.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Former Letters to Cleo lead
singer and Dorchester native
Kay Hanley returns to
her roots with an appearance
at popular Cambridge hangout
T.T. The Bear’s Place. Refer
to
current events music listing.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 &
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
The biggest band in the
world returns to the Boston
area as U2 brings its
U2 360 tour to Gillette
Stadium. Refer to
current events music listing.
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