The first block party of the summer introduced a little bit of New Orleans to Innisfail.
Mardi Gras came to town on June 25 along 49th Street Close in the Madison Park neighbourhood.
It was the close-knit neighbourhood's fifth annual block party, running from 4 p.m. to midnight.
And thanks to some creativity from Dairy Queen, a Mardi Gras theme was chosen. The inspiration resulted in a festival atmosphere with music, ladies donning masks and kids wearing all kinds of funny and even outrageous hats.
“They (Dairy Queen) put a Mardi Gras picture on the ice cream cake they donated for us, and I thought, ‘What a cool idea' because last year it was Canada Day,” said 49th Street Close resident Charlotte Hagglund, an organizing committee member for the block party. “In the years before that we didn't have a theme. It was just put together, but now it's just fun to dress up.”
More importantly, the town's Neighbourhood Block Party program was designed to promote a sense of community and friendship, as well as to develop safe and crime-free neighbourhoods.
The June 25 event proved the town initiative is working beyond all expectations for neighbours living on 49th Street Close.
Businesses helped out. A&W donated burgers. Dairy Queen provided the ice cream cake. Co-op donated a food voucher, and nofrills pitched in with a $100 gift certificate.
Although it had rained hard in the morning and continued to threaten throughout the day and evening, it did not worry party-happy citizens along the block. Kids freely played safely on the streets. The barbecue for hotdogs and hamburgers was fired up. Neighbours mingled with neighours. There were smiles and happy faces everywhere.
“I just decided we are going to have it no matter what,” said committee member Lauranne Hemingway. “I knew we had a few people with a garage out towards the street so if it starts raining on us we will just tuck into someone's garage and go from there.”
The skies did spit out a little rain in the evening but the festival spirit prevailed. Everyone kept happy and busy. They even brought out a guitar and plastic-covered songbooks for a singalong. Mostly though, it was about nurturing the spirit of camaraderie between neighbours.
“No doubt about it. It is about looking after one another and being there for one another. This is a way we get to know one another,” said Hemingway. “Otherwise, in some communities you wouldn't even know who your next-door neighbour is.”
And the spirit of camaraderie included the RCMP. A Mountie dropped by the party after attending the Innisfail High School graduation.
“The kids rushed over to him, sat in his truck and he turned the siren on,” said Hemingway. ““He just had those kids mesmerized. It was wonderful.”
For more information on the town's Neighbourhood Block Party program call 403-227-3376 or visit the website at innisfail.ca
Lauranne Hemingway, block party resident
"It is about looking after one another and being there for one another. This is a way we get to know one another."
