Ellington

usician Peter Ellis didn’t expect to perform on the Ave this past weekend, but he decided to bring his cello to play for a crowd of thousands at the University District Street Fair.

“I had no idea the fair was going on,” said Ellis, who played at the fair for the first time this year. “I just decided to come out and play. It’s been good, somebody bought me a soda.”

He joined thousands of people who flocked to the fair under the spring sun this past weekend to walk along the pedestrian-only streets filled with musicians, performers, vendors and festival-goers. Bus stops became stages, the streets became dance floors, and the sidewalks hosted makeshift kitchens.

The two-day fair, the largest annual event in the U-District, drew more people than in previous years to enjoy its food, music, arts and crafts on the Ave this year.

The 41st-annual street fair, which was organized by the Greater University Chamber of Commerce, stretched from Northeast 41st Street to Northeast 50th Street. The event is usually a boon for businesses, attracting thousands to the Ave.

“We came close to 50,000,” said Teresa Lord Hugel, executive director of the Chamber. “It has been very successful.”

The city permit for the event allows 50,000 attendees, and this is the second year in a row that the fair has almost reached its capacity.

Sounds

Aside from Ellis, other musicians brought interesting instruments to the streets.

Dean “the Dreamweaver” stood out from the crowd with his tie-dye T-shirt, tablecloth and drum. It was his first time at the fair.

“I call it a dream drum, but it’s actually a Hapi drum,” he said.

Members of the Seattle Swing Dance Society twirled throughout the event, and the band Slimpickins played roots music for the people in the crowd from a bus stop on the 4500 block of University Way Northeast.

Sights

Apart from the music, the fair offered visitors much to look at.

Gordon Anderson sat at the back of a booth, holding a torch with the blue flame — 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit — melting clear glass tubes for sale.

“We come up with our own designs, and my wife paints them,” he said.

Barb Owen sold Tillandsia, commonly known as “air plants,” with her husband Rick.

The plants grow without any soil, soaking up water through their leaves, Rick Owen said.

David and Brandi Egnatz’s booth with hammock chairs caught the public’s attention. The couple traveled from Idaho to sell at the fair.

UW freshman Anthony Vazquez tried out the hammock chair with a friend.

“It’s comfortable,” Vazquez said. “It’s hard to get in, but once you get into it, it’s hard to get out.”

Tastes

Makeshift kitchens offered food from throughout the world for hungry street-fair attendees. Two blocks of eateries featured foods from places such as Kenya, India and the Philippines.

Pioneer Popcorn was always surrounded by people waiting for the “kettle korn” it sold.

The booth of Ron and Chris Peterson was another hit, selling honey in seven flavors. “Buckwheat honey, which has the highest nutrition value, is good for allergies,” Ron Peterson said.

Police officers were there to monitor the crowd and the traffic. Officer Jim Van De Bogart said the event was “family-oriented and peaceful.”

“It’s a large and well-behaved crowd,” said Sgt. Steve Martin. “Everyone has been overwhelmingly positive toward us.”

Reach contributing writer Jocelyn Chui at development@dailyuw.com.