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By Gracyn Van Bemmel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Downtown Market Street witnessed a crowd of nearly 75,000 people on Saturday, Sept. 14, during the yearly In the Streets festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy family has never missed the fair since,\u201d she said. \u201cWhile a lot of things are the same, so many things are different too, and that makes each visit so much more meaningful and memorable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first In the Streets attracted 10,000 people. Today, there are crowds of over 75,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a big Swiftie,\u201d Serina Zhang, a student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, said. \u201cSo, when I heard that she performed at In the Streets, I had to see the fair for myself. This is my first time here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood students who are interested in learning more about the event can go to celebratefrederick.com or keep an eye out for next year\u2019s date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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