Above, a scene from 2023 Dorchester Open Streets. Seth Daniel photo
A popular city-funded street festival program will go forward this season, but without an event on Dorchester Avenue, which has hosted an “Open Streets” since 2022.
The program has been scaled back from five to four events due to a $150,000 budget cut, according to testimony before the city council by Amy Yandle, the city’s director of special events.
The festivals, organized by outside consultant Shana Bryant of Manifested Entertainment, will continue in four sections of Boston starting on Aug. 2 in Jamaica Plain. Mattapan will be included for a second year on Sept. 12. Other events will be Oct. 4 in Allston-Brighton, and for the first time, Roslindale, on Oct. 18.
“To date, Manifested Events has successfully hosted 19 Open Streets Boston events across the city,” said Bryant in a press release. “We look forward to returning for a fourth year. We will continue our work alongside city partners, small businesses, vendors, and community members who help make these family-friendly cultural events so impactful each year.
“Open Streets Boston has become not only a celebration of culture and community, but also an important economic boost for local businesses.”
All events take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is prohibited along the route from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
