Block party

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A block party on Jane Street west of Eighth Avenue in Manhattan in October 2008. Block party (Manhattan, October 4 2008).jpg
A block party on Jane Street west of Eighth Avenue in Manhattan in October 2008.

A block party or street party is a party in which many members of a single community congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual solidarity and enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic or just a single street. Many times, there will be a celebration in the form of playing music, games, dance and activities with food such as popcorn machines and barbecues.

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As a form of activism street parties are festive and/or artistic efforts to reclaim roadways as public space by large groups of people. They were made known in Western Europe and North America by the actions of Reclaim the Streets,[ citation needed ] a widespread "dis-organization" dedicated to reclaiming public space from automobiles and consumerism.

Countries

Poland

Poland Orange Alternative staged festive protests to break the Communist government's monopoly on public life.[ citation needed ]

United Kingdom

A street party in London for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal wedding street parties main 480 29april2011.jpg
A street party in London for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

In the UK street parties are mainly known as private residents' events without wider neighbourhood publicity and have a festive cultural meaning, especially in England and southern Wales. They have historically been held in the summer to commemorate major national events, such as VE Day or for royal events such as jubilees, with bunting dressing the street, and children having fun in the street. An estimated 10 million people took part in street parties in 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

The tradition seems to have begun in the United Kingdom after World War I as residents' organised "peace teas" to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. [1]

The tradition was boosted for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011 with about 1 million people joining in street parties. [2] For the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 about 2 million took part. [3]

Some street parties are held annually or at any time for residents to meet their neighbours in a traffic-free street in a private street party. Some "street parties" are wider public events taking many forms with any social or cultural activity.

United States

People and police officers at the Mifflin Street Block Party in Madison, Wisconsin in 2007 Mifflin Street Block Party.png
People and police officers at the Mifflin Street Block Party in Madison, Wisconsin in 2007
Musicians performing at a block party on Oak Street in New Orleans in 2009. OakFoodAndDrums.JPG
Musicians performing at a block party on Oak Street in New Orleans in 2009.

Block parties are reported as a World War I innovation originating from the East Side of New York City, where an entire block was insulated and patriotic songs sung, and a parade held to honor the members of that block who had gone off to war. [4] [5] Traditionally, many inner city block parties were actually held illegally, because they did not file for an event permit from the local authorities. However, police turned a blind eye to them.

In the United States, block parties usually occur on holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day. Some towns may also have an annual block party.

Block parties gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s, particularly within the hip hop community. Block parties were often held outdoors and power for the DJ's sound system was taken illegally from streetlights, as referenced in the song "South Bronx" by KRS-One.

Sometimes, the occasion may be a theme, such as a recent popular film or "welcome to our town" for a new family. Often block parties involve barbecues and lawn games such as Simon Says, karaoke, and group dancing such as the Electric Slide, the Macarena or line dancing. In many small towns, the local fire department may also participate in the party, bringing out trucks that they display for show.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Party</span> Gathering of invited guests

A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature food and beverages, and often conversation, music, dancing, or other forms of entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reclaim the Streets</span> Advocacy group for community ownership of public spaces

Reclaim the Streets also known as RTS, are a collective with a shared ideal of community ownership of public spaces. Participants characterise the collective as a resistance movement opposed to the dominance of corporate forces in globalisation, and to the car as the dominant mode of transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street</span> Public thoroughfare in a built environment

A street is a public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable surface such as tarmac, concrete, cobblestone or brick. Portions may also be smoothed with asphalt, embedded with rails, or otherwise prepared to accommodate non-pedestrian traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free party</span> Party "free" from the restrictions of the legal club scene

A free party is a party "free" from the restrictions of the legal club scene, similar to the free festival movement. It typically involves a sound system playing electronic dance music from late at night until the time when the organisers decide to go home. A free party can be composed of just one system or of many and if the party becomes a festival, it becomes a teknival. This typically means that drugs are readily available. The word free in this context is used both to describe the entry fee and the lack of restrictions and law enforcement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street reclamation</span> Changing streets to focus on non-car use

Street reclaiming is the process of converting, or otherwise returning streets to a stronger focus on non-car use — such as walking, cycling and active street life. It is advocated by many urban planners and urban economists, of widely varying political points of view. Its primary benefits are thought to be:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Asaph</span> City and community in Wales

St Asaph is a city and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 3,355, making it the second-smallest city in the United Kingdom in terms of population and urban area. It is in the historic county of Flintshire.

In the United Kingdom, public holidays are days on which most businesses and non-essential services are closed. Many retail businesses do open on some of the public holidays. There are restrictions on trading on Sundays, Easter Day and Christmas Day in England and Wales and on New Year's Day and Christmas Day in Scotland. Public holidays defined by statute are called bank holidays, but this term can also be used to include common law holidays, which are held by convention. The term "public holidays" can refer exclusively to common law holidays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heath Town</span> Human settlement in England

Heath Town is a district of the City of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, located east of the city centre. It is also a ward of City of Wolverhampton Council. The ward forms part of the Wolverhampton North East constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street racing</span> Form of auto racing that occurs on a public road

Street racing is typically an unsanctioned and illegal form of auto racing that occurs on a public road. Racing in the streets is considered an ancient hazard, as horse racing occurred on streets for centuries, and street racing in automobiles is likely as old as the automobile itself. It became especially prevalent during the heyday of hot rodding (1960s), muscle cars, Japanese imports (1990s) and sports cars (2000s). Since then, it continues to be both popular and hazardous, with deaths of bystanders, passengers, and drivers occurring every year. In the United States, modern street racing traces its roots back to Woodward Avenue, Michigan, in the 1960s when the three main Detroit-based American car companies were producing high-powered performance cars. Since a private racing venue was not always available, street races would be held illegally on public roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II

The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. It was celebrated with large-scale parties and parades throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth throughout 1977, culminating in June with the official "Jubilee Days", held to coincide with the Queen's Official Birthday. The anniversary date itself was commemorated in church services across the land on 6 February 1977, and continued to be for the rest of that month. In March, preparations started for large parties in every major city of the United Kingdom, as well as for smaller ones for countless individual streets throughout the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II

The Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II was the international celebration held in 2002 marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. It was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50 years as monarch and an opportunity for her to officially and personally thank her people for their loyalty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Party at the Palace</span> Pop/rock concert commemorating the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

The Party at the Palace was a British pop/rock music concert held at Buckingham Palace Garden in London on 3 June 2002. The event was in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II held over the Golden Jubilee Weekend. It was the pop/rock equivalent of the Prom at the Palace, that showcased classical music. 10 years later the Diamond Jubilee Concert for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee was held in 2012, followed by the Platinum Party at the Palace for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria</span> Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Queen Victorias accession

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was officially celebrated on 22 June 1897 to mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession on 20 June 1837. Queen Victoria was the first British monarch ever to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II

The year 2012 marked the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II being the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. The only diamond jubilee celebration for any of Elizabeth's predecessors was in 1897, for Queen Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Jubilee Concert</span> 2012 British music concert commemorating Queen Elizabeth IIs diamond jubilee

The Diamond Jubilee Concert was a British music concert and celebration held outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall in London on 4 June 2012. The concert was organised by Take That singer-songwriter Gary Barlow and was part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Parade and Muster</span>

The Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Parade and Muster was a military parade held at Windsor Castle and Home Park in Windsor, Berkshire, England, organised as part of the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Performed as a tribute to the Queen on behalf of all three branches of the British Armed Forces, it featured a review of members of all three services by the monarch, a military parade through the town, and flypasts by current and historic military aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II

The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II was the international celebration in 2022 marking the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. It was the first time that any monarch in British history celebrated a platinum jubilee, as is the case in the histories of the other Commonwealth realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum Party at the Palace</span> Music concert held outside Buckingham Palace, commemorating Queen Elizabeth IIs platinum jubilee

The Platinum Party at the Palace was a British music concert, held outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall in London on 4 June 2022, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The concert began at 20:00 (BST). Comedian Lee Mack served as host for the event while the Queen appeared with Paddington Bear in a pre-recorded comedy segment, which showed her offering tea to Paddington, pulling a marmalade sandwich from her handbag and tapping her tea cup to the beat of "We Will Rock You". Prince William spoke about the state of the natural world and pointed out his family's involvement with tackling environmental issues, while the Prince of Wales gave the closing speech and paid tribute to his mother's "lifetime of selfless service". Pre-taped messages of tribute from Sir Paul McCartney and former US First Lady Michelle Obama were also played during the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum Jubilee Pageant</span> June 2022 Event

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant was held on Sunday, 5 June 2022 near Buckingham Palace, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Conceived and directed by David Zolkwer with Pageant Master, Adrian Evans, it featured over 10,000 people from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and combined street arts, music, puppets, carnival and costume to celebrate the Queen's reign, as well as honouring the collective service of people and communities across the United Kingdom.

References

  1. "History of Street Parties". Streets Alive Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. "Street Parties for the Royal Wedding 2011". Streetparty.org.uk. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  3. "Street Parties for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012". Streetparty.org.uk. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. "Block Parties", The Outlook, 16 October 1918; reviewed 2008-09-20.
  5. Fiocco v. Carver, 234 NY 219 (1922)