This weekend, Westcott Street will harken back to its hippie history.
The Westcott Street Cultural Fair, which takes place Sunday, Sept. 21 from noon to 6:30 p.m., began in 1991 after a group of arts-minded neighborhood residents sought to celebrate their surroundings. Westcott Street was once called the "Greenwich Village of Syracuse" for its commitment to local culture, fair organizer Sharon Sherman said.
The festival, as it's run now, aims to celebrate those ties that link the specific place with the art and cultural contributions that rise from it, Sherman said.
"The original idea was to promote the neighborhood and get people to our business district. It's also very important is to connect with the university population that provides vitality to our neighborhood. That diversity helps the neighborhood's vibrancy."
Diversity comes not only from the local colleges, but from an assortment of community members as well. On stage, bluegrass bands will mingle with Zimbabwe marimba music, and salsa performers will share the spotlight with South Indian dancers. For the kids, there's a magician, a mime and more.
All performers are paid, Sherman said.
But none of this entertainment would happen without the proper organization, Sherman said. As the Westcott Street Cultural Fair Committee chair, she would know.
Ten different committees head up the fair's development, Sherman said. Some of them, like the one in charge of performers, began meeting in March to discuss initial plans. In total, about 50 people work to tighten up the fair's loose ends, and nearly 150 students from Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry help out the day of — in addition to another 40 community volunteers.
All added up, Sherman said, the Westcott fair is the end result of hard work and collaboration.