By Carlen Ruth Hultgren
The 2021 East Atlanta Strut again went neighborhood-wide, and thousands of people joined this year’s festivities.
For the 24th year in a row, the Strut once more celebrated the best in-town neighborhood and its creative residents, kicking off with a morning pet parade around Brownwood Park and continuing the fun, as the party moved throughout the Village and the neighborhood, really putting the “street” in street festival.
Over 100 host houses participated, spanning 12 square miles, including more than 100 vendors and nearly 50 bands showcased. Local churches generously lent their lots for park-and-ride use as attendees hopped on the big green Rockin’ Road Trip bus to get around the large festival footprint.
There were llamas pooping so people could win prizes and beautiful neighborhood gardens on view. Matt Weis won his second title in the Leaf Blower Madness Tournament, Jaye Liptak won the inaugural Strut Your Bake rum dessert bake-off, and Mark Davis’ classic pickup won in the Roll Through the Strut.
Members of the Big Mask Project and the Krewe of Optical Delusions traveled through the celebration, along with the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable, the Atlanta Freedom Bands, and the Mermaid Motor Lounge. Food and drink were available on many streets, in food trucks, and specials from our local restaurants and sponsors, including samples from two of the booths at the soon-to-open, Southern Feedstore food hall
With the help of hard-working volunteers and the many generous sponsors, beneficiaries of this year’s Strut, which is a 501c3 nonprofit and completely produced by volunteers, include Free99Fridge and Pet Buddies Atlanta, with more grant recipients to be decided in the next few weeks.
What was your favorite Strut activity this year? The 2022 version is only 11 months away…
