– Photos and video by Harry Kane

The festivities along Shore Drive began around noon on Sunday. “This is the fourth out of five events in the Somerstreet series,” said Carlene Cambell, the Director of Community Relations. “This is our second year in existence. The whole theory behind this is shutting down separate parts of the city and exploring it.”

Knucklebones provided athletic equipment and toys for the kids to play with during the event. “Our goal is to inspire play and inspire the love of play,” said Karen Manikowski. “We are opening a store in Davis Square at 196 Elm Street. We want to hold programming in our store, including mothers groups, consultations, the training. But mainly we want to focus on children.” The store will focus on children from 8 months to 6 years of age and will allow the kids to play with the equipment before it’s purchased.

”We’re kind of going in line with Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ … she’s starting to do this National movement for kids to eat healthy, get children active, and addressing some of the issues that we have, such as, child obesity, diabetes, heart disease and chronic lung cancer,” explained Manikowski.

Jimmy Del Ponte entertained in between music sets. The Somerville Sunsetters performed a bunch of their classic show tunes. At 2 p.m. the kids tried some yoga and worked on balance and coordination with hula-hoops. Then at 2:30 a Marionette puppet show featured a pirate searching for love.

It is also worth noting that the Gentle Giant Rowing Club is based at 32 Shore Drive in Somerville at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse. “We sponsor programs for high schools to get kids rowing here and to interest people in rowing, noted Hillary Abbey, a Board Member for Gentle Rowing.

Whatever your interests may be, it is always fun to explore new areas of Somerville and meet new people. Somerstreet events such as Rolling on the Mystic have been a successful means to this end.

– Harry Kane