(Credit: City of Cambridge)
Marie Antoinette said to let them eat cake. And the kind folks who run the City of Cambridge said to let them dance—in the smack middle of Central Square, while DJs festooned on high blast music and put on a light show that's akin to an Ibiza beach party. The event, aptly named Annual Dance Party, runs tonight from 7 to 11 PM, and is worth the trek (by subway—the streets surrounding city hall literally do shut down, and navigation will be limited except to those on foot). Oh, and it's free.
What to bring: Your friends, natch, and patience—lots of it. The event has grown in popularity over the past several years, and bodies will be crammed tightly, so play nice. There's also lots of covert imbibing, which you can do at your own risk (I recommend starting or taking a break at any number of nearby bars to satisfy your thirst to avoid getting kicked out), plus people of all ages, and from all backgrounds. If you're not one for crowds, or have the tendency to throw a temper tantrum when strangers on the subway attempt to squeeze by as you cling to the pole closest to the door—you know who you are—this probably isn't the place for you. But, if the idea of dancing in a huge, open-air space with thousands of other people who also enjoy dancing in huge, open-air spaces excites you, and you don't mind potentially getting wet (the event is rain or shine), then shimmy on down to Central Square, and enjoy what's become one of my favorite events of the year to attend.
