SPRING FEST
Crowd turns out for block party in downtown
COHOES, N.Y. » The warm spring weather brought people to the downtown area on Saturday afternoon as they enjoyed the 4th annual Spring Fest on Remsen Street.
Four years ago, District 2 city Councilman Don Russell decided to start Spring Fest, as well as Harvest Fest and Winter Fest, as a way for people to get out and explore the downtown area.
The block party was from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday along Remsen Street between Columbia and Howard streets.
“The weather couldn’t be better for an outdoor festival. The people that have arrived so far seem excited about the thought of being able to get out and about after a long winter,” Russell said on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the block party started.
Russell said organizers decided to move the fest up two weeks, so that people can have more of an opportunity to buy things like Mother’s Day gifts from the over two dozen vendors at the festival, along with the storefronts in the downtown area.
“We’ve got a couple of different food vendors and other vendors where people can buy stuff for their mothers for Mother’s Day,” said Russell.
Besides enjoying the downtown storefronts, restaurants and vendors, visitors were also able to enjoy live music by Diva & the Dirty Boys along with Spancil Hill.
Russell said with the addition of several new restaurants and businesses in the downtown area over the past year, people will be able to enjoy visiting those spots during and af- ter the festival.
Russell also said he believes the annual festival gives the community an opportunity to see their neighbors, have a good time together and to stay and shop locally downtown.
Organizers said these seasonal festival’s and other outdoor activities hosted by the city helps to highlight what the downtown area now has to offer.
People in attendance ranged from local residents of the Spindle City to outside communities, such as Stephentown, and they all said that the festival is a positive thing for the city to continue to host.
“I think it’s a lovely idea. I look forward to these festivals every year and if I can’t make one I get upset,” said Cohoes resident Mat Eisler.
“It’s a gorgeous day for this and the music is great, and this is in a nice location that’s easy to get to,” added Stephentown resident Vince Teachout.