Fair, race, parade draw thousands

Thousands of people filled the streets of Allston on Sunday, taking advantage of a cloudless sky to take in the annual Brian Honan 5K race, Allston Brighton parade and the Allston Village Street Fair.

The race kicked off at noon, with 700 registrants crossing the finish line.

“It was a great day for people to get out and run for a good cause,” state Rep. Kevin Honan said. “We were thrilled that people came out.”

An Achilles tendon injury kept Honan from participating this year, but he vowed to return next year. Nicolas Forichon of Brookline won the race in 16:41, but not every participant was in the race for a time.

“I’m a born-and-bred Brighton boy, so it’s fun to see the local characters,” Neil Duffy said on his reason for running. “It’s a fun day, a day for the neighborhood.”

“I don’t know until I see a list,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “I finished.”

After the race ended, the Brighton-Allston parade began its way down Brighton Avenue and towards Oak Square. Mayor Thomas Menino, state Sen. Steven Tolman, state Rep. Michael Moran and A-B City Councilor Jerry McDermott led the way for the requisite community groups, politicians and City Council hopefuls. Both the Boston College and Boston University marching bands tried their hand at the Dropkick Murphys’ “Shipping Up to Boston” and children charged into the streets to grab candy.

“I like the bagpipes,” 8-year-old Liam Marden of Allston said as the Colonial Pipes Bagpipe band passed by where he was watching on Cambridge Street.

In Union Square, Chris Harrell and Lauren Thamos of Allston were sitting beside a case of beer, eating Dum Dum lollipops.

“They have the family stuff for Brighton, but they need more rock ’n’ roll for Allston,” Harrell said. Thamos quickly added, “It’s still a lot of fun.”

As the parade was making its way down Cambridge and Washington streets to Oak Square, the Allston Village Street Fair was in full effect. Celebrating Allston’s and Brighton’s bicentennial year, the fair filled Harvard Avenue with people from Brighton Avenue to Cambridge Street.

“Happy birthday, Allston Rock City,” Del, the lead singer of local funk band Delhill, sang from the main stage near Brighton Avenue as people in the audience danced along.

“It’s great to see this happening,” Fran Berger said. “I’ve always felt a kinship with Boston and Allston-Brighton.” A longtime A-B resident who now lives in Brookline, Berger said she was encouraged by what she saw. “It’s small, but it has to start somewhere.”

The crowd varied from families pushing strollers to students with tight jeans and skateboards, but they were treated to free music that poured out from adjacent clubs and martial arts demonstrations in the street. Some, like Berger, planned on coming out, but several people were just out for a walk on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

“There’s good weather, so I’m checking out what’s here,” said Mike Boston of Brookline, whose favorite part was the free samples. “I think it’s pretty good. I was hoping for more art.”

Alex, an Allston resident who declined to give his last name, was happy to find a way to kill an afternoon.

“I’m just hanging out on a Sunday,” he said. “I’m enjoying it; there’s loads of free stuff.”

In addition to corporate giveaways such as sample-size iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, there were free street fair T-shirts and bands handed out CDs of their music.

“All of the events are bringing people out. With the parade and the race, it brings more excitement,” Allston Village Main Streets director Katie Reed said.

“It was altogether a great day for the neighborhood,” he said.