Streetopia - ready, set, go!
By: Travis Lyle,Afrikaburn
Weeks ago, the leaflets were dropped into all 2 200 post boxes in our hood.
Now, the artworks are prepped, and await helping hands to place them. Volunteers have been painting signs and sewing bunting for weeks.
Artists are readying their studios for exhibitions, and musos have been tuning their instruments. Many of our residents have been preparing stock for their stalls, having taken trader's tables in the market.
Others have been primping a special outfit to parade in, down Lower Main. Kids from Liesbeek Parkway to Main Road have been waiting in eager anticipation for the day - this one great day when they can ride their bikes all the way down our high street.
Shop owners have been busy preparing treats and eats to give away, in the spirit of gifting and community that the big day represents. And over on Nansen Street, there's a busy work yard where packing and stacking has been going on for months, all in readiness for our annual community carnival: Streetopia!
It takes a village to make this, our annual Obs showcase, happen - and all involved (including AfrikaBurn, OBSID and the Obs Civic Association) are looking forward to seeing the residents of our suburb, and visitors, enjoy the free activities and highlights this weekend.
Residents whose homes border on the event area have been issued with access passes, and traffic marshals will be stationed at every intersection along the length of Lower Main where road closures are in effect, to ensure residents are not inconvenienced.
Traffic, medical, safety and security officials will also be in attendance, to make sure all goes off smoothly and with as little hassle to all concerned.
A small army are also waiting in the wings to clean up as soon as the event ends at 6pm, to make 100% sure that this Leave No Trace event, hosted by AfrikaBurn and Obs, leaves our streets in a better state than they were found.
And at the end of it all, you may just notice some new art in places you'd never seen it before.
That's the aim of the event: to bring the streets alive for one day, but leave a legacy that lasts all year.
If you're reading this, and you haven't got any plans for Saturday, 25th November, here's the news: dust off your best outfit, don your best hat, and get ready to enjoy a day filled with music, art, laughter and colour - something's happening in your hood, and it's called Streetopia.