— Photos by Claudia Ferro

SomerStreet: Carnaval returned for its 6th year of shaking up East Somerville on Sunday, kicking off the 2015 season.

SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally-renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity.

Through SomerStreets, the city and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.

Thos past Sunday, attendees enjoyed the best of the East Broadway Business District and the East Somerville community including food, music, and culture from around the world.

Programming extended along East Broadway from the intersection of Broadway and McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Ave. The festival kicked off with a Motion Parade at noon beginning at the Cross St. Senior Center.

A variety of interactive activities were offered including hola hooping, stilting, parkour and relay races. The Arts Council’s MUSCRAT bus was there for giant bubbles & gadget making.

Musical acts included Samba Viva with Grupo Camarote, Opposite People, Grupo Los Nitidos, Bloco AfroBrazil, Mariachi los Viajeros de Mexico, and The Gravel Project.

The community performance area featured Onstage Dance Company, El Sistema Somerville, and Pete ‘Afro D’ Shungu. Tunes were spun by local DJ Soto.