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Wandering downtown today, one could see the whole city gearing up for Lowell’s signature event this weekend. Some streets were already closed, the amount of sidewalk tables at the Mambo Grill seems to have doubled and the Dutton Street Dance Pavilion was ready for tonight’s festivities. Check out the website for maps and schedules. My personal top ten for the festival: getting the latest t-shirt (I caught a sneak peak in Barnes & Noble’s front window and this year’s logo is fantastic!), eating many Laotian spring rolls, dancing to the Cajun music (there’s always Cajun or Zydeco), getting a Gyro sandwich from the Hellenic Orthodox Church food booth (always at JFK Plaza), following the Parade to Boarding House Park, listening to local bands at some of the bars and restaurants that are joining in the fun, fresh-squeezed lemonade from that booth near Cobblestones, sitting in the shade at Market Mills, …..well, that’s only eight, but I’m sure I’ll discover new favorite activities this year. That’s the thing with the Folk Festival, some type of music, food or event that we weren’t expecting to like always surprises us. Well, enough said, I’m heading downtown!