Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

On the Block

It was an early and chilly start on Main Street, Camrose. The mid-September air bit against cold fingers as vendors crowded the streets to set up tents, tables, and inflatable structures, many having very early mornings to make sure everything went perfectly. It was the expected morning temperature at the end of an already cool summer, but still made for a morning appreciative of deep pockets and sweaters.

As quickly as the morning had come on, the entire 3 blocks was set up and ready for visitors, and by 10am people began crowding the street to see what this year’s Block Party had to offer.

Walking down the street, you would see dozens of tents all filled with vendors selling everything from fresh vegetables to hand crafted art. But the block party isn’t just about buying local. Games, activities, and inflatable structures also packed the streets offering something for everyone, kids and adults alike. And of course, among all this were food trucks offering everything from burgers to mini donuts and popcorn!

Before you knew it, the streets were packed and it seemed like everyone was busy talking and experiencing the culture of Camrose.

Our Camrose Buzz space was right in the middle of the madness, and as our first public event, we focused our efforts on meeting others in the community and making connections, as well as sharing information about our platform.

New Experiences

We had the opportunity to chat with Mike Hicks of Infinite Imagination Traveling Theater who spent the day on the street with a microphone in hand putting on his own improv performances for the community.

And I suppose that’s a huge part of a Block Party, bringing the community together to have new experiences and explore new things. It’s an opportunity for those to bring their passions out into the public, when maybe they never would have been discovered before.

Infinite Imagination puts on shows and performances to help support mental health and other organizations that need public funding. They do everything from improv, to murder mysteries, and even now audiobooks. You can find out more about what they do at infiniteimaginationtt.ca (opens in a new tab).

Power and Depth

We also had the opportunity to speak with Shirley Rostad and Rob Rolf of the Camrose Rotary Club, who shared information about several amazing programs and fundraisers that they host, including the Dolly Parton Library, Imagination Library, and the Days for Girls global nonprofit. Rob said it best that “the Rotary has been a real integral part of Camrose for a lot of years.” These are all programs that empower children, youth, and women across local and international communities.

Shirley confirmed that they had been able to grab a lot of attention from families with children, and that all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

After talking to Shirley and Rob, I felt excited about the opportunity of helping those around us. In a world where most programs like these typically live inside a pamphlet or on a webpage, experiencing it in real life and making a real connection gives it much more weight.

I suppose a Block Party is not just about bringing out new experiences, but also about giving them power and depth as well.

If you would like to learn more about the Rotary, their website is portal.clubrunner.ca/441 (opens in a new tab).

The Weird and Wonderful

As we drifted from morning to afternoon, we saw many come and go, but the streets stayed packed with fresh faces and even some interesting characters. There was a balloon animal artist who was one of the biggest MVPs of the day. I don’t think he took a break for even a minute with a steady line of children waiting for swords, snakes and pigs.

We also seen one gentleman walking his pet goat through the event, and of course we had to share a picture.

By 4pm, the Block Party had begun to die down slightly as the sun broke through the clouds for the final hour before everyone began packing up and heading home.

We talked with Cherilyn Sharkey from Wild Rose Co-op, one of the events sponsors, about how her day had gone. She had helped set up a Plinko game for their Co-op Kids Club, with prizes like Airheads, freezies, and even sunglasses. “Everyone seems happy. They seem to be liking it”

And maybe that’s the best reason for a Block Party, to have fun and just enjoy what’s happening.

A Party in Camrose Fashion

It was a true party in Camrose fashion. There was no target demographic. It was the entire city coming together to enjoy and celebrate each other. There were those in dress slacks right alongside families still in their pajamas, and children with sticky fingers right alongside a wedding party.

I guess that’s community, all walks of life coming together around the place they live, just to be present and have a great time. Who knows what we will see next year?

On behalf of Camrose Buzz, we would like to extend a huge thank you to Love Local for organizing the Block Party and having us, as well as to Walrus Bay Trading Company for sharing their space, and to Vulture Vintage and Fallen Feathers for being the best Block Party neighbors.