Gallery • 4 Photos

Willa Rudel

The 2019 MayFair was on May 19th in Harvard Square.

Sunday, May 19th started out with an unforeseen rainstorm, and attendees of Cambridge’s 36th annual MayFair struggled against the weather. The festival started at noon, and the rain started shortly after. However, instead of permanently shutting down, street vendors and musicians packed up their equipment and prepared to wait the rain out nearby. They were in luck—after a few hours, the sun came out and the festival reopened with an entirely different atmosphere. Festival-goers roamed with the ability to truly look at the stands, and MayFair began to feel like a celebration of spring.

“I had never heard of [MayFair] before, and a lot of people were telling me they were looking forward to it,” Jerlyn Edmond ’21 explained. After attending the festival, she understood why. “It felt like a really good representation of Cambridge and all the different communities,” she said. “Just seeing everyone come out to have a good time was really nice to see after the rain stopped. Also, there was really good food.”

Shira Ben-Anat ’21 also went to the event. “You can eat all sorts of foods and listen to all kinds of music,” she said in regards to her motives for attending. “It’s a celebration of culture.” Ben-Anat thought that the fair was a success, and she’s looking forward to next year.

Although the annual chalk art display was impossible this year due to the rain, a wide range of musicians still performed on the popular hub for local music, Club Passim’s stage, showcasing Cambridge’s best in a wide range of genres.

From 12:00 to 6:00 PM, The Wolff Sisters, The Blue Ribbons, Dietrich Strause, Arc Iris, and Billy Wylder played with passion to a rapt audience that grew with each new artist. “The music is exciting,” Ben-Anat added. “It’s a special part of MayFair.”

Not everyone who went to MayFair was invested in the performances. For some, the festival was more about the food. From fried dough and empanadas to whole coconuts available for purchase, MayFair had something for everyone. “It’s cool to come here because you can get 5-hour Energy and free ice cream in the same place,” said Pouya Sadeghpour ’21.

Local businesses displayed their products in tents along the street, and many even gave out samples. “I like the free stuff,” Sadeghpour added. “It’s the best part.” One vendor gave out free ice cream, and the tent was swarmed for the entire duration of MayFair. Other stands showcased jewelry, paintings, artfully carved boxes, and yoga classes.

Although MayFair had a rocky start, the shift in weather halfway through completely transformed the event and turned MayFair into a celebration of community, culture, and the many things that make Cambridge unique. “I’d definitely go back,” Ben-Anat reflected. “This year was really fun.”

This piece also appears in our May 2019 print edition.