Music from marimbas reverberated over the chatter of artisans and the sizzle of outdoor grilling. A mile from Syracuse University’s Quad, people and performers, alike, clogged downtown’s Westcott Street for the sounds and smells of the Westcott Street Cultural Fair.

The event is a favorite for locals and families. But while SU students make up the majority of volunteers at the fair, they’re in the minority of attendees.

‘We couldn’t do it without (the volunteers)’ said Grace Flusche, who started the fair in 1992 with three of her neighbors. ‘But I do wish we could bring more students down here to see what’s going on.’

At least 129 SU and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students signed up to help at the event. They manned the volunteer table, floated around answering questions and helped promote recycling and composting at trash can sites. But student turnout was low.

Darcy Cherlin, a freshman biochemistry major, heard about the fair from her sister, who is a senior at SU.

‘They’ve got great corn,’ she said, munching on her grilled snack. ‘And it was nice to get off campus and enjoy the community for a day.’

The cheap books at the Petit Branch Library used book sale — seven for $7 — impressed Brandon Stevens, a fifth-year architecture student. But he was disappointed he didn’t learn about it sooner. This was only his first year in attendance.

‘They should do more to promote it on campus,’ he said.

For those who missed the daylong event because they still aren’t quite sure where Westcott Street is or found themselves too bogged down with homework, here are the highlights of the 2010 fair and some tips on how to play catch-up.

Best beat: Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble

Members of Kambuyu, a seven-piece marimba band, performed on the Multicultural Stage to the bopping and clapping of a 40-person crowd. Most members had no musical background before joining five years ago and now rotate between four different types of marimbas, which the group members made themselves.

‘It calls to you. There’s something primal about it,’ said retired school teacher Diana Green of Syracuse. ‘The beating rhythm, it just makes you want to dance, you can’t stand still.’

Green has been involved since the group’s founding five years ago. One of the group’s founding members, Martha Jenks, died suddenly last April. Her son and sister currently play in the band.

‘It was really tough,’ Green said. ‘We think of her when we play.’

The group’s name, which translates to ‘insect’ in Shona, the primary language of Zimbabwe, came from goofing off during practice early on.

‘We’d hold the mallets up like insect antennae,’ Green said. ‘We didn’t take ourselves too seriously.’

See them again: October 3, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Amberations Fall Festival in Marietta, N.Y.

Best boogie: Syracuse Area Bellydancers Association

Members of the Syracuse Area Bellydancers Association (SABA) came out in full force and kept a large crowd throughout the day with performances from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Also in the dance program was a tribute to Michael Jackson and a performance by Parents Promoting Dance.

See them again: SABA performs its fall show at King David’s Restaurant on Marshall Street Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

Best buy: Recyclables for Relay

Corinne Young started making frames and jewelry out of magazines and fabric a year ago. Her grandmother, aunt and two uncles have all been diagnosed and beaten cancer. It’s taken a toll on her family, and she said she wanted to do something to help.

‘I was always into art and also conscious of the importance of the environment and recycling, and this just kind of benefited both,’ said Corinne, 28, who teaches special education at Chittenango Middle School. Her jewelry, headbands, frames and dried flower coasters have brought in $1,000 for the American Cancer Society to date.

The most creative material Young used was an old bridesmaid dress.

‘What else was I going to use it for? I definitely wasn’t going to wear it again,’ she said.

See it again: recycleforrelay.blogspot.com

Best bite: Empanadas and grilled corn. At a dollar each, they’re the most different and delectable dish at the fair.

Eat it again: Las Delicias Restaurant, 552 Westcott Street.

Biggest bummer: SU turnout

Out of the 50-plus acts and vendors, not one was a current SU student, Flusche said. The Westcott Street Cultural Fair committee finalizes selections on the entertainment in the summer, when most college students aren’t around. But Flusche encourages any bands, crafters, community organizers or other interested organizations to fill out an application in April if they’re interested in being showcased at the fair.

‘Our hope is that lots of students will come,’ Flusche said. ‘Our goal is to bring all the diverse members of the neighborhood together for a day.’

jmterrus@syr.edu

Published on September 19, 2010 at 12:00 pm