There’s going to be a party in the ‘hood next Saturday (Sept. 10) as the Hampton Street Block Party celebrates its 10th year.
What started as a simple way for area residents to meet some more neighbours in their own community has blossomed into an annual party which sees upwards of 80 people attend, including some last year who made the trek all the way from western Canada back to Elmira just to be involved.
Event organizer Randy Smith said that over the past decade the party has helped those living on the block to not only meet their existing neighbours, but to welcome new residents into the community as well.
“We are a neighbourhood who really knows each other,” he said. “We can walk down the street and wave as we pass our neighbours sitting on their porch. And for young people of course when they see an old fart like me they can say ‘Hello Mr. Smith’ or ‘Hello Randy’ instead of me being a stranger who walks down the street every day.”
Residents of the block bring food and lawn chairs to the backyards of 32 and 34 Hampton St., which share a large, unfenced backyard for a barbecue and a chance to have some laughs and catch up after a long summer, as well as a campfire, movie, and a 50/50 draw with the money going to a local group or charity.
This year they decided to give the money to the Youth Centre in Elmira.
“It’s not a lot of money,” admits Smith, “but it’s the point of recognizing how fortunate we are and hoping to be a role model for the kids, and it gives us a sense of well-being.”
Smith moved to the block from Toronto about 24 years ago with his wife to start a family, and said that they were looking for a small-town environment to raise their children. He said Elmira fit the bill perfectly, and has a much different feel than the Toronto-area neighbourhood he was born and raised in.
“We feel like we’ve been a part of this community for a long time, and we’ve had a ball doing this every year. This is our big day.”
Over the years organizers have had residents from other neighbourhoods throughout town ask if they could come and join them for the evening, and while Smith said he wants to keep the Block Party just for Hampton Street residents, he does suggest they come and speak with him about how they can get a similar event running in their own neighbourhood.
“We’re not trying to be exclusive,” he said, “[but] I don’t want it to be misconstrued as an Elmira party because it doesn’t work well. In this case I prefer to keep it for the block, but to use it as a model for other people.”
Smith, who works in addiction therapy and other issues, also said that the more we can engage a sense of community around us and get to know the people living just down the street from us, the better off we’ll all be.
“People say ‘I don’t spend enough time at home’, which we are all guilty of, and this is a real simple way to spend more time in our community.”
The party starts at 4:30 p.m. and will run rain or shine.
