Another huge draw: Thousands pack Princeton for annual Communiversity (with multiple photos)

Phillip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
By Philip Sean Curran
Staff Writer
Downtown Princeton was packed Sunday for Communiversity, the outdoor town-gown street fair that is a major draw for the town.
Nassau Street and other sections of the area were filled with people milling about, to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the annual event. More than 200 vendors included local nonprofits, restaurants and others, with plenty of food and entertainment through the afternoon.
“It went well, it was a beautiful day,” Mayor Liz Lempert said. “Everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
This marked the 47th edition of Communiversity. The event is organized each year by the Arts Council of Princeton, with participation by Princeton University students.
“Communiversity ArtsFest is a town-gown event celebrating art and community with something for everyone: live performances, creative artistry, and crafts, interactive children’s activities, delicious food and drink,” said Taneshia Nash Laird, executive director of the Arts Council.
“We appreciate the extremely talented visual artists who participated in many creative activities including the ACP Atelier in Palmer Square which was the hub of the Arts Council-sponsored art activities; the ceramics and painting demonstrations at the Paul Robeson Center; the artists that set up their easels throughout Communiversity as part of Paint Out Princeton; the vibrant sidewalk chalk murals; and all the many forms of creative expression that make Communiversity such a unique and memorable event. As a people-centered nonprofit with a mission of building community through the arts, we are grateful for the collaborations that allowed us to produce another hugely successful event.”​
Communiversity is a huge draw. Police estimated the crowd at 35,000 people, according to the Arts Council.
Given the crowd size, security was a priority for local police. Officials earlier in the week had talked of the precautions law enforcement would take to keep things safe.
“It was absolutely fantastic,” said Princeton Public Library Director Brett Bonfield, who enjoyed the music and the food.