On Saturday morning I went to the clocktower area to check out the kids activities during the three-day Sounds & Sights Festival. But before we get to those photos, let’s talk about signs. Specifically, signs with very clear and very important messages. Signs like this:

The text on the sign doesn’t seem ambiguous:

STOP
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO
CROSS THE RR TRACKS
CROSS AT MAIN ST.
OR MCKINLEY ST. ONLY

As I’m sure you can see, there are two kids happily crossing the tracks in full view of that sign. Actually, they were in full view of at least two of the signs. They also weren’t the only people who crossed the tracks there in the ten minutes I was watching that spot.

Why the signs, you may ask? Well, it seems the Chelsea police have been advised by the railroad of problems with people crossing the tracks outside legal crossings, so they posted the signs in preparation for strict enforcement of existing laws. In other words, it’s going to cost you if you get caught on the tracks. Is it really so hard to walk a minute or two to the nearest crossing? No. No it isn’t. Please be sensible.

If you need further encouragement, here’s a hilariously instructive train safety video. It’s written for a larger city setting, but the idea works anywhere.

Okay, back to the pictures. New to the kids zone this year was an outdoor bowling lane courtesy of Chelsea Lanes.

Mad Science was doing a show nearby.

There was an ambulance for kids to explore, too.

It was all going so well…until the clouds opened up and drenched everything in sight.