Hundreds of mellow Tucsonans gathered Saturday to take part in Tucson's 26th Annual Peace Fair and Music Festival. Live music continuously played to the crowd as they lied on blankets in the grass of Reid Park's DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, all united in the common goal of non-violence.
The event, which was free and ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featured about 50 booths that lined the perimeter of the center. The booths housed different organizations, art, and projects, ranging from marijuana legalization groups to human and civil rights activists.
There were also plenty of home-made crafts to peruse and purchase, like colorful glass mosaics and intricate jewelery. Proceeds for many of the crafts benefited different causes, such as woven bracelets supporting the end of genocide for the Wayuu people of Northern Colombia and Northwest Venezuela.
The fair takes place every year and is sponsored by the Tucson Peace Center. The goal is to provide an event that is both educational and fun to provide information and activities about peace, social justice, labor and the environment.
Although the stands were an attraction for many who attended the fair, most just wanted to enjoy the sunny weather and great music. Some of the bands included Mitzi Cowell, Spirit Familia, and The Raging Grannies to name a few. Families gathered and children ran around barefoot, faces painted, as the sounds of various genres of music filled the air.
But my favorite part of the day was the entrance to the fair, where people were greeted by a group holding signs that read, "FREE HUGS." Because who doesn't need a hug every once in a while?
A frown was not to be found at the Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival, but plenty of tie-dye and charity was. Peace, Love and Harmony, man.
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