SPRINGFIELD – “You’re either on the bus or off the bus,” according to Ken Kesey, and The Block Party is just the kind of bus you’re going to want to take a ride on.
The heart of downtown Springfield is set to become a hub of activity and celebration of Springfield’s larger-than-life literary influence on Friday, Sept. 5, with the return of the 6th annual Springfield’s The Block Party, now presented by SELCO.
The Chronicle is a media partner for the third year.
The family-friendly event will feature live music, street performers, and a variety of food trucks and activities, rain or shine, from 4 p.m. to late evening, spanning Main Street from 3rd to 7th. The area will be closed off to vehicle traffic as businesses and organizations line the streets with booths, food, fun, and games.
This year’s Block Party will have a special focus on the 10th anniversary of the Kesey Mural, where he is seen towering over the street on the exterior of Plank Town Brewing Company at 346 Main St. The two-story mural on the east wall of the former Odd Fellows building was initially painted in 2015 by the Old City Artists.
It honors Kesey, a Class of 1953 Springfield High School graduate, celebrated author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Sometimes a Great Notion,” and a central figure in American literature and counterculture in the psychedelic era.
Near the mural, the City of Springfield will host a booth, offering commemorative swag like free prints, stickers, and t-shirts. The original artists of the mural will also be present, providing a live “refresh” of the iconic artwork, according to the City.
In addition to the mural celebration, attendees can explore a Mini-Transportation Hub near the Springfield History Museum, where the Springfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
and Cascadia Mobility will offer free valet bike parking. The hub will also feature free bike lights, swag, and “Learn-To-Ride” sessions for new cyclists from Safe Routes to School.
The event will also include a Public Safety and Preparedness Zone at the corner of 4th and Main. The Springfield Police Department’s Community Outreach Team will be on hand, and an Emergency Management Table will provide literature and guidance on creating a personal disaster kit, along with emergency giveaways.
The Springfield Public Library and Springfield History Museum will host activities and information tables, with a second station at the concurrently-running Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at City Hall Fountain Plaza.
The Block Party is a collaboration between Team Springfield — which includes The City, Springfield School District, Springfield Utility Board, and Willamalane Park & Recreation District — and is designed to celebrate community pride and connection, bringing a variety of local businesses, organizations, and residents together for a festive evening.
Spring Sprang Sprungfield LLC organizes this event, which includes Benjamin Wilkinson, organizer and executive director, and Trudy Bauchery, artistic director, in partnership with the Community Activation Network. They collaborate with Team Springfield, which includes The City, Springfield School District, Springfield Utility Board, and Willamalane Park & Recreation District.
The goal is to throw “a party for the benefit of the humans who live, work, and play in Springfield,” Wilkinson noted in the vendor packet. “The party is what you bring to it, and we hope you can deliver a canvas worthy of that masterpiece.”
