With performers, pedlars, couples and families all milling around, the waterfront has a carnival-like atmosphere.
The mostly white, male marchers dress in unusual costumes and put on skits for the parade, which has a carnival-like atmosphere.
"You don't have to have alcohol to have a carnival," Ms. Alexander said.
"We are not going to have a carnival," concedes Mohammed Ali Vakil, a leading reformist candidate.
Some of the songs have a music-hall quality, some have a carnival atmosphere, and some, such as "City," are joyful and astute and thrilling.
It had a carnival feel, underscored by three big Mylar balloons, spelling out "HUO," that were tethered to a tent where the speakers gathered.
Mr. Khan's campaign, in particular, had a carnival atmosphere because it drew so many young urban residents into politics, many of them first-time voters.
Rui Moreira's "Trama" had a carnival spirit, and its 14 dancers were constantly swaying and throbbing to a collage of Brazilian music.
Just five minutes after the speech ended, the party lines were drawn, and the Capitol hallways had a carnival flavor as various constituencies promoted their positions.
"Most of the time when you look at images of people protesting they are quite serious," he said, "but these kids were optimistic, it had a carnival feeling.
