By KAYLA ROYSTER
Staff Writer
The Madison Street Fair isn’t just a time in which items are sold and businesses are advertised. It is an annual event in which the Albany community gets together to partake in activities, eat some really good food, and support each other.
The street fair Sunday was alive with a large variety of vendors. These included local eateries, tattoo parlors, arts and craft, dancing and drumming, painting, raffle events, used book sales, massage booths, and activities for kids, like the Kids Zone, yoga, chess, and a lot more.
There was a section at the fair called the “Community Mural,” in which anyone over the age of five can contribute to painting it. When you think about it, it’s amazing to see where one person starts off and another continues. The idea that one person’s mind can create and how others can help that image turn into a story.
There are booths set up in which you can buy handmade crafts or even make some yourself, be it bowls and vases, or paintings. There are people selling handmade jewelry as well, which is very unique to see in a society in which the most desired item is dependent on the size of the crystal, not its intricate design and the hard work that’s been put into it.
People walked around admiring the wares with children in hand or dogs on leashes. It was just a time in which the neighborhood got to communicate and speak with one another.
The College of Saint Rose had a booth set up in which they advertised using our own students, who were more than happy to be there, smiling at those who walked by or stopped to ask some questions.
Where there is a Saint Rose tent, there are Saint Rose students such as Ariana Zamot, a sophomore, and Moesha McLaughin, a freshman, willing to talk to anyone who came by. After a quick chat with McLaughin, she admitted that she was disappointed that there were no animals here since she saw a horse previously. Later we discovered that animals had actually been included that former year.
“They can have better music near each individual tent,” she said, sharing her thoughts on how to improve the event. Zamot gave her insight on one of her favorite aspects of this event: the food.
“I love the lemonade, and the big fried dough station looks very appealing.” Zamot said.
Before leaving the fair, I made sure to stop by and listen to the Saint Rose female acapella group “The Girls Next Door.” They performed acapella versions of current popular hits such as “Love Me Like You Do”, “365”, “Kiss Me”, and “I’m Not The Only One.”
It’s amazing to see Saint Rose and its students getting involved in the community. You too can be involved by supporting Saint Rose clubs and attending the events around Albany.
