ITEM FILE PHOTO
Lynn Cultural District Director Kate Luchini.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — A neighborhood block party is coming to downtown Lynn.
“This is the first time we’ve had a festival in this part of downtown in a couple of years,” said Kate Luchini, director of the Lynn Cultural District.
The organization, whose mission is to enliven the downtown with arts and culture, partnered with Bent Water Brewing Co. and Tigerman WOAH, a local band, to organize the festival.
On Saturday, June 11, everyone can enjoy music, activities for children, competitions, vendors, food and drinks.
A stage will be set up on Mount Vernon Street and musicians will entertain the crowd from 1 to 7 p.m. Performers will include the School of Rock, Crystal Pan Jammers, Cultura Latina Dance, Camino Al Exceso, Wreck Shop Movement, BREAK and Tigerman WOAH.
“We will be closing Mount Vernon Street,” said Luchini. “All the activities will be held in that area. It’s a wide, one way. It’s the perfect street for this. We put the main stage right in the middle of it.”
Artists will line the street with tables, showcasing and selling items. Some artists will be busy at work during the event, Luchini said.
In the farmer’s market parking lot, party-goers can feast on food from local restaurants, including meatball subs made by Eastern Harvest Foods, Vietnamese sandwiches from Sach Ko food truck, and home cooked plates by North Shore Caribbean American Association.
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company will sell iced tea and coffee, and Bent Water will sell beer.
John’s Roast Beef & Seafood will host a “Slider Decider” eating competition. There will also be a Fluff Off competition. Participants will create their own recipes using Marshmallow Fluff, and the winner will take home a basket of the sweet spread.
Saugus Iron Works will have an iron pour for the children. RAW Art Works, Lynn Museum, Lynn Arts, North Shore Navigators, and the Lynn YMCA will also provide activities.
“It’s really to highlight all the cultural assets and activities that happen downtown,” Luchini said. “It’s a real community festival. We want to bring people downtown and generate excitement about great stuff that we have happening.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at bturcotte@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.