Banda Roncati performs outside the Science Center

Sick and tired of midterms and papers already?  Looking for something fun to do this weekend?  Something new and completely different?  Yesterday, Banda Roncati helped students escape their worries with a performance in front of the Science Center.  Banda Roncati, a activist street band from Italy, performed their unique music to students and many others.  It was all part of HONK! Fest, an annual activist street band festival focused at Davis Square in Somerville.  Missed the action yesterday?  Don’t fear.  Most of HONK! Fest is coming to Harvard Square tomorrow, Sunday, to combine with the Harvard Square Oktoberfest and create a whole day of fun.  More info on Oktoberfest and HONK! Fest including schedules of the day follow after the break:
Tomorrow, the HONK! Parade will march from Davis Square to Harvard Square along Mass Ave. from Noon to 2 pm. The parade will reflect this year’s theme to “Reclaim the Streets for Horns, Bikes and Feet.” You don’t want to miss this. Among the other socially active groups marching, the world-famous (see this and this) Bread and Puppet Theater from Vermont will be marching to the square.

From Noon to 6 pm, the Square plays host to the 30th Annual Oktoberfest. The festival features hot-air balloons, train rides, artist booths, sidewalk vendors, over 50 international food vendors, and of course lots of Oktoberfest beer.

There will be multiple music stages featuring both HONK! Fest street music bands and other bands. This blogger thinks you should definitely stop by the Club Passim folk music stage for at least part of the day, but don’t miss returning to the main stage right in the Square at 5:00 pm for the What Cheer? Brigade.

Schedules (include links to band websites or MySpace pages):

Main Stage (directly in Harvard Square)
12:00p – That Old Feelin’
1:00p – Honk! Parade
2:00p – Richard Saunders
3:00p – Cassavettes
4:00p – Televandals
5:00p – What Cheer? Brigade

HONK! Fest Brattle Street Stage (near Bertucci’s)
2:00p – Loyd Family Players
3:00p – Pink Puffers
4:00p – Pinettes
5:00p – Orkestar Zirkonium

HONK! Fest Mass Ave and Church Street Stage (in front of First Parish Church)
2:00p – Yellow Hat Band
3:00p – Minor Mishap Marching Band
4:00p – Hungry March Band
5:00p – Banda Roncati

HONK! Fest Palmer Street Alley (between COOP locations)
4:00p – Environmental Encroachment
5:00p – Rude Mechanical

Club Passim Stage (at Church St. & Brattle St)
12:00p – Rose Polenzani
1:00p – Rebecca Wudarski & Mia Friedman
2:00p – Lake Street Dive
3:00p – Emily Elbert
4:00p – Margaret Glaspy
5:00p – Broken Blossoms

Church Street Stage
12:00p – Starr Faithfull
1:00p – Harvard Ballet Company
2:00p – Dreadrocks
3:00p – Rebel Red
4:00p – Dreadrocks
5:00p – Thirteen Yards to Victory

You too can dance to the music of the street.