In Photos: Cambridge Comes Together For Annual Dance Party
By Amelia J. Borawski and Ollie F. Ginnis, Contributing WritersThousands of Cambridge residents gathered on Massachusetts Avenue near City Hall on June 27 for a night of dancing and celebration.
This year’s iteration of Cambridge’s annual dance party was dubbed “Revolutionary Reunion 250,” commemorating two and a half centuries of American independence.
Cambridge citizens crowded Massachusetts Avenue to enjoy the event, with DJs beginning the music at 6 p.m.
More people poured into the street as the night continued. Dancers costumed in LED light suits stationed atop raised platforms in the middle of Central Square mingled in the avenue, stopping for pictures with dancing Cambridge citizens
Many onlookers enjoyed the dance party from the City Hall lawn, watching the festivities unfold below them.
A large screen atop City Hall displayed futuristic graphics matching the music, serving as a jumbotron of sorts throughout the night.
Cantabridgians came prepped for the party, many of them sporting colorful fans, outfits, and glow sticks. The event was a multigenerational affair, with many families and children in attendance.
Dancing under an illuminated American flag for the duration of the event, the party’s patriotic theme was not lost upon the attendees, many of whom were wearing U.S. Army adjacent regalia of their own.
Bright neon lights lit up the crowd as the night got darker, with many attendees opting for colorful accessories to stand out in the crowd.
Massachusetts Avenue remained congested for most of the evening as people moved to and from Central Square. Traffic was directed away from the festivities for the duration of the party.
Messages urging Cambridge residents to resist Constitutional infringements and to remain true to the nation’s founding ideals were projected on the walls of buildings in Central Square. These messages seemed indicative of citywide uncertainty stemming from divisive Trump administration policies; they also encouraged Cambridge residents to foster feelings of community and cooperation.
Cambridge City Hall was illuminated with red, white, and blue lights, symbolic of the city’s deep ties to the American Revolution and the country’s upcoming 250th birthday.
The party — which has been a citywide tradition since 1996 — was organized by the City Manager’s Office in collaboration with the Central Square BID, and the Cambridge Arts Department.