By Gracyn Van Bemmel
Downtown Market Street witnessed a crowd of nearly 75,000 people on Saturday, Sept. 14, during the yearly In the Streets festival.
With live music and performances, the smell of food trucks wafting down the street, more free merch than a person could ever want, and many local and non-local attendees are drawn to this once-a-year event.
Bel Air native Arya Chaudhari, 20, said that her family, who lives an hour and a half east of Frederick, started a tradition of going to In the Streets when she was only 10 years old.
“My family has never missed the fair since,” she said. “While a lot of things are the same, so many things are different too, and that makes each visit so much more meaningful and memorable.”
The Frederick tradition started 1983 after Market Street was closed for many months due to renovations. The mayor at the time, Ron Young, wanted to hold a community festival to encourage reinvestment in downtown.
The first In the Streets attracted 10,000 people. Today, there are crowds of over 75,000.
Many local bands and musical artists have performed over the years, but perhaps the most notable is Taylor Swift, who performed a set of original songs at the 2006 festival.
“I’m a big Swiftie,” Serina Zhang, a student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, said. “So, when I heard that she performed at In the Streets, I had to see the fair for myself. This is my first time here.”
The 12-hour long festival consists of a handful of events: the Market Street Mile where participants are invited to run a road race, the craft beverage experience where people can learn more about local breweries and Up the Creek, which is an after-party held at the Carroll Creek Amphitheater.
Hood students who are interested in learning more about the event can go to celebratefrederick.com or keep an eye out for next year’s date.
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