SPRINGFIELD – The BLOCK Party is back Friday night for its fourth year, and for the first time, Main Street in downtown Springfield will be closed for pedestrians. It will feature music, food, prizes, family games, street art, cocktail lounges, and more.
“Springfield BLOCK Party is a celebration of Springfield where we invite everybody to come and join us in downtown to do what we do best: make everybody feel welcome,” said Benjamin Wilkinson, event organizer. “There’s food, and there’s beverage gardens, and there’s prizes and inflatables and games and music and all that stuff all happening downtown.”
The BLOCK Party is Friday, Sept. 8 from 5-9 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Springfield. There will be vendors and booths set up from a variety of businesses and entertainment for all ages.
“We just want to see everybody down there,” Wilkinson said.
This party has received support from Team Springfield, which includes the City, Springfield Utility Board (SUB), Willamalane Park and Recreation District (Willamalane), and the Springfield School District.
“Each Team Springfield organization values inclusive spaces and events for our community to gather,” wrote Kenny Weigandt, who is Willamalane’s community engagement director. “The Springfield BLOCK Party is an incredible opportunity to showcase what makes Springfield unique and welcoming to everyone who lives here. Willamalane will be there to play games, share information, and have a great time.”
One downtown Springfield business which will be opening its doors during The BLOCK Party is Pegasus Playhouse. Artistic director and founder Scott Frazier-Maskiell said Pegasus will have a booth outside its building and may feature balloon animals in addition to different performances throughout the night.
“The idea of community and the sense of community here is wonderful,” Frazier-Maskiell said. “We want to bring theater to the community – and that’s for everybody. Every person from every walk of life can come in and be involved or have a good time. It’s really great to be part of the community and celebrate it.”
The MotherShip Salon will also be open during The BLOCK Party. Although the salon is known for hair styling and color, it has hired Honeysuckle Bartending Service and will be turning its salon into a cocktail lounge for the evening, serving signature cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks as well. The MotherShip Salon, while it will not be dying or cutting anyone’s hair at the event, will have some products for sale, like rainbow extensions.
“We think that bringing the community together is a really smart idea, and just getting people down here so they know how much downtown has changed in the last few years is important,” said Allie Ruch, The MotherShip Salon founder and co-owner.
Wilkinson has been working to put on The BLOCK Party full-time for the last few months, and he is thrilled to see everyone who loves Springfield fill the streets and be together as a community.
“I want to thank everybody for supporting the party, and everybody that comes out and supports it helps to make sure we can do it again in the future, and our community really sees the value in coming together – especially these days.”
