Courtesy of Meredith Mashburn
Block Street Block Party organizers expect about 12,000 or more attendees throughout the day Sunday, May 17, this year.
Attention all lovers of all things that constitute Funky Fayetteville: Block Street Block Party is a’comin’ this Sunday, May 17, and it’s known as one of the best single day festivals in town.
Started by Block Street business owners for Fayetteville locals in 2012 to celebrate Block Street’s renovations, the festival serves as a microcosm of everything Fayetteville’s about: local businesses, great food, live music, craft beer, local organizations and — you guessed it —fun.
“It’s just the most looked forward to event for everyone all year,” said Erika Wilhite, Executive Director of Artist’s Laboratory Theater. “It’s like the one day you can hug the community all at once. The street is so packed it just feels like you can hug everyone. The Block Party is my favorite thing, personally.”
The event starts at noon and will keep on going until 9 p.m. Even if it rains this weekend, rest assured the event will still be a go, with rain covers over the beer gardens and stages. The event is free to the public, and all of the five beer gardens throughout Block Street have free entry, just no free beer. Along with each beer garden is a live music stage that will feature 30 local acts in total.
The stages this year include the Arkansas Brewer’s Guild craft beer garden and stage at the corner of Spring Street and Block, Maxine’s Tap Room Stage, Budweiser’s Stage at Tables and Ale, Hugo’s Stage at JR’s Lightbulb Club, and the brand new Good Folk stage at the Fayetteville Underground which will bookend the Block Party on the square.
Click here for a map of activities and the official music schedule!
“The Block Party is about celebrating our own businesses, and reminding people we’re here as a local independent culture within downtown Fayetteville,” said Hannah Withers, co-founder of Little Bread Company. “It’s about celebrating all that’s local and independent in Fayetteville.”
Along with the live music will be a plethora of local vendor and organization booths. There’s also dozens of attractions and activities such as Community Creative Center pottery lessons, a Cox Communications bubble booth, a Yoga Yard from 1 to 6 p.m., belly dancers, and a make your own tye dye booth among several others.
Bring the whole family, and your pets, too. At the Dickson Street side of Block will be where you’ll find all the kids’ attractions, like a bouncy castle, bungee cord races, pony rides, and the Shoptology photo booth. If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry friend into your life, be sure to stop by the Dog Adoption Center pen to meet your new friend.
As part of tradition, this year will again feature the Waiter Races outside of Little Bread Company at 3 p.m. Anyone who currently works in a restaurant, worked in a restaurant, or thinks they have the skills, are encouraged to compete bracket-style in the races. Each server will have to run a tray of water-filled plastic wine glasses through an obstacle course without dropping them. The winner supreme gets to take home $100.
This year will feature tons of mobile food options from Wicked Wood Fire Pizza, Pie-Hole (from Little Rock), Nomad’s Natural Plate, Great Dang Pies and Tamales, Shakedown Streat, Kona Coast Tacos, Kind Kitchen, Pedal Pops, and Baller Food Truck. Hugos and Little Bread Company will be open, too. Chunky Dunk, a milk and cookies specialty cart, will be debuting at Block Party, too.
Courtesy of Meredith Mashburn
Fayetteville band Witchsister plays the Lightbulb Club stage at last year’s Block Street Block Party.
If you get thirsty and could use some hydrating, there will be free water stations throughout the street that will be selling official Block Party merchandise, such as their $1 reusable water bottles.
As a tip, Withers said parking can get packed pretty quickly, so she encourages everyone to use the trail system to either walk or bike to the party. New kids on the Block (I know, I crack myself up sometimes) The Handlebar will be running a bicycle valet service, too.
“I love to hear people saying things like this is the best day ever in Fayetteville,” Withers said. “People really come out of the woodwork for it and really make a point to come out to it. I’m always looking for a big bang attraction, but I’ve found we don’t need one. It’s enough fun as is.”
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
