Portland Hosts Annual Old Port Festival
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Monday, June 15, 2015
The 42nd Annual Old Port Festival kicked off in Portland, Maine, at 11 a.m. on Sunday with the Kick Off Parade and continued all afternoon with amusement rides, music, crafts, activities and food, reports AP.
The parade is one of the signature events of the 42-year-old festival, which drew thousands of people into the Old Port on Sunday to hear bands play on six stages set up around the business district, dine on street food and take a spin on an amusement ride.
The festival dates to when the Old Port was transformed in the 1970s from a district of seedy bars and derelict buildings into a thriving commercial area known for its brick facades, cobblestone streets and high-end boutiques.
The event is centered in Portland's downtown district and also includes dancing, a rock climbing wall, children's performance stage and sidewalk chalk drawing.
An event dubbed "Get To Know The Real Portland" preceded the festival on Saturday. The festival wrapped up at about 5 p.m. Sunday.