CAMBRIDGE ARTS RIVER FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS SATURDAY JUNE 1

The recent Memorial Day weekend, with its golden sun and warm weather, was a welcome respite after the long New England winter and a cold and rainy spring. I spent the weekend kayaking on the Charles, picnicking in my local park, and strolling the suddenly green streets of my neighborhood. Everywhere I went, I encountered other Cantabrigians out and about and enjoying the sunshine. Now that we are out, we don’t want to go back in. Thankfully, there are many free outdoors art events to look forward to as we slide towards summer.

Coming up this weekend, don’t miss the 40th annual Cambridge Arts River Festival, now in its new location in the Central Square Cultural District. The festival, which will take place on Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will bring the neighborhood alive with four stages of music plus dance, theater and vendors selling crafts, international foods and craft beer. Festival visitors can participate in numerous immersive art experiences, from puppet making with the Puppeteers’ Cooperative, to painting a city snowplow and to watching poetry printed by steamroller on the sidewalk.

This year’s festival will feature a strong theme of environmental action, and organizers are taking steps towards making the festival a zero-waste event. Visitors can make a protest shirt with Wee the People, hear poetry about climate change at the poetry tent, or join in painting a mural about women small-scale farmers with Somerville artist Liz LaManche. The festival will kick off with a People’s Sculpture Race at 11 a.m. Later in the day, at 4 p.m., all are invited to march in the first ever Mermaid Promenade. Marine themed costumes are highly encouraged!

Artscope Magazine is once again proud to be a media sponsor for the Cambridge Arts River Festival; for a complete rundown and schedule of the day’s activities, please visit cambridgema.gov/arts/Programs/riverfestival.