New and familiar faces will be gathering for the 13th annual Hampton Street Block Party in Elmira this Saturday for a community event aimed at welcoming newcomers and catching up with old friends.
![Barb and Randy Smith were busy fixing up their garden this week for the 13th annual Hampton Street Block Party on Sept. 6.[Whitney Neilson / The Observer]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/post_news_blockparty.jpg)
Randy Smith, one of the organizers, said it’ll be the same format as usual with neighbours on the street meeting at 32 and 34 Hampton St. for a backyard barbeque, movie, kids games, and campfire.
“We are as usual having people around the block who have been given invitations,” Smith said. “It’s not that we’re exclusive, it’s more that we can only hold so many folks in our two backyards.
They also do a 50/50 raffle each year with half of the money going to a local charity. In previous years it’s gone to the Woolwich Youth Centre and Kate’s Kause, but so far they haven’t decided on a recipient this time around. They’ll also be collecting food donations for the food bank.
“The purpose of it is of course is to get the neighbours to come, the new people, the youngsters, the seniors, so everyone gets to meet everybody that they haven’t met before.”
Depending on the date and the weather they get anywhere from 50 to 80 current and former neighbours attend. Last year’s party got rained out, so there will be even more new faces in the crowd, if they choose to attend.
People who used to live in the neighborhood and have since moved out West even plan their trips home around the party so they can attend.
“We have new people in the neighborhood that may have not acquainted themselves with anyone other than their next-door neighbours, so they get to meet more people in the surrounding block,” Smith said. “We invite people to come and stay for the afternoon and evening and if they do so they can bring their food of choice and we’ll barbecue it for them.”
The party committee makes desserts and popcorn for the guests, and everyone is encouraged to bring salads and food to barbecue. When it gets dark they throw a sheet over a clothesline and put on a movie in the backyard for the kids, while the adults can enjoy a campfire.
“We have some folks who’ve been here that are 78 years old,” Smith said. “We have senior folks, we have young families coming in that work in high-tech industries, we have Mennonite senior folks coming in. It’s a complete mix. The only common link is this hand-delivered thing saying come over to the house.”
While the party is open to just the immediate neighbourhood – two backyards can only hold so many people – Smith says he encourages other people in Elmira to start their own block parties.
He said he knows of four new families who have moved in since the last block party, and that’s just in the immediate area.
“We really encourage new people because we think once you’ve broken the ice. … It’s a really good time.”
Smith and his wife Barb moved to the area 28 years ago to start their family. He laughs and says they’re the “old people” now and it’s exciting to see new young families settling there.
“It has great value just in itself. Everything about it is positive. It causes the community to look at itself and say this is why we live here.”
The event is laidback and people are free to come and go as they please, but 5 p.m. is typically when the most neighbours show up.
“The night before we’re all meeting here to make up desserts, and we’re going to have a ball,” Smith said. “And I don’t know what’s better than that.”
Smith says there’s no real goal to the event other than meeting your neighbours and forging a community. Since he’s formerly from Toronto, Smith says having a connected community hits strong for him.
“After all’s said and done, you’re looking out at the backyard on Saturday night and you see these kids engrossed in a film and go ‘gee, this is a nice day.’”
