It isn't hard to notice something different when you make your way down Harrisburg Boulevard on the East End of Houston as the extension of the Metro light rail serves as a catalyst to promote revitalization of the area.

The first annual East End Street Festival was in full swing Saturday along Harrisburg and its goal was to bring awareness to celebrate and reintroduce the improved area. To kick off the weekend of Cinco de Mayo parties, the fun-filled and family-friendly outing featured local performing artists, artwork, vendors, and activities.

While the festival is meant as a celebration, officials said the effort launches new plans for the East End. By 2014, the district is going to be restored and everything has been carefully thought out, says Diane Schenke, president of the Great East End District.

"She's somewhat of an artist and takes green iniatives. The proposed living centers are going to promote a pedestrian-friendly environment with sidewalks already redone and the light rail as the main form of transportation," festival organizer Jose Monterrosa told CultureMap.

Lamps and benches are being specially designed by hand-picked artists to highlight the culture of the East End. The project, designed by the PageSoutherlandPage (PSP), has some similarities to San Antonio's Riverwalk but with a Houston-centric stamp, since the architecture firm collaborated on another popular Houston site, Discovery Green.

There was lots of information on the plans in the district's booth, but there were also other actitivites that kept festivalgoers occupied throughout the afternoon. Along with food truck competitions and traditional dancing, local high schools got in on the action. Nearby Milby High School had a "Milby Village" to help raise funds. Milby's Gay-Straight Alliance came to promote equality as well as the diversity and culture of the East End.

"We have meetings every Monday and just want to get the message out at a festival like this because our generation's changing," student Evelin Martinez told CultureMap.

Headliner and East End native Norma Zenteno was the most anticipated performer of the day. She got everyone dancing to her Cumbia hits just as the evening breeze picked up and attendees lucked-out with the cooler weather.

The festival also sparked interest in the upcoming developments. "I didn't know much about this area but I'm excited about the plans because I just love this city," said festival volunteer Anne Walzel.

It's a work in progress but if the transformation can be pulled-off in the next two years, the East End could be Houston's next hotspot.