Williamson Street closes its borders to traffic for two days every September, leaving just enough space for stilt walkers, bubble cars and adults clad in purple sequins to take the streets.
In its 29th year, the Willy Street Fair draws the young and old from all walks of life to dress up and get down.
""I love the community feel and a lot more people were in costume this year"" said Williamson Street resident Andy Baker as he adjusted the frontier-style coyote skin crowning his head and body. ""I don't have many opportunities to wear this during the year.""
Sponsored by the Common Wealth Development and the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Association, this year's fair boasted six live stages, over 100 vendors and a parade straight out of a Pincheon novel. The procession featured a rainbow of masquerading characters dancing to the beat of hand drums as they spearheaded the flow of traffic that included dancing frog marionettes and a white Chevy convertible spewing bubbles in every direction.
""The parade is definitely a blast,"" said Marshall Mundt of Madison's west side.
A volunteer with the Sierra Club, who co-opted garbage clean up with the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Mundt gave an affirmative report on the weekend festivities.
""We had a lot more volunteers this year and the Wil Mar Neighborhood's involvement with our clean up activities has been a great help,"" Mundt added.
Arts and crafts booths for children and food tents lined both sides of Williamson Street as grassroots organizations like Fair Wisconsin and Progressive Dane doled out political literature. Girls huddled around tables of jewelry while clothing merchants peddled the likenesses of Jerry Garcia and Bob Marley. Local eateries provided a mix of ethnic foods.
""I really liked the bands and the Thai food,"" said ""Hoopin' Annie"" a resident New Yorker. ""And I thought the kids on stilts during the parade were great.""
This year's fair also featured a tent with a plasma screen, allowing partygoers to watch the Badgers on Saturday and the Packers on Sunday.
However, most visitors to the fair stayed out of the tent, instead enjoying one of the last warm days of 2006.
