The Inside Scoop on the Block Party
So: another fabulous summer season is on the books! There are so many things to be thankful for: the departure of the houseguest who claimed that fourth vodka was “doctor’s orders!”, or the reduced number of tourists, or the long lines at, well, everywhere.
We can also be thankful for autumn and the fun it brings — including the CAMP Rehoboth Block Party on Sunday, October 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CAMP Rehoboth Board President Chris Beagle founded the event in 2015 as part of the organization’s 25th anniversary festivities. “The idea behind the Block Party was to create an outdoor event that embraces and celebrates the entire community, much the same way it has embraced all of us at CAMP Rehoboth, for so many years.”
With a primary focus on the arts, culinary, and entertainment, the Block Party also welcomes other non-profits, church and civic groups, and local and regional businesses. Beebe Healthcare has been a sponsor each year and is a valued partner with CAMP Rehoboth on various other events throughout the year.
Many Baltimore Avenue shops and restaurants bring their indoors out into the October sunshine offering food and merchandise, creating an outdoor mall populated by humans, dogs, cats, babies in strollers, and for sure, a plethora of local drag queens.
This year features another amazing lineup of entertainment including the Girlfriends, Family Jewels, the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus ensemble, Clear Space performers, the Purple Parrot Birdcage Badgirls, plus the Blue Moon’s Pamela Stanley and friends. The crowd invariably joins in with impromptu street dance-offs.
During the Block Party, people also have been known to run in and out of the bars to catch up on the football scores and do whatever else people tend to do in bars, re-emerging onto the street ready to continue their Block Party stroll.
Sue Pawlikowski will bring her huge outdoor pizza oven to the block, toasting up plant-based pies with her company, gettaPIZZAthis! Sue calls this event “as easy as it gets for vendors in Delaware,” in terms of cost, location, and volunteer assistance. “CAMP Rehoboth couldn’t make it easier to participate.”
Bryan Hecksher of Auto Gallery will display a car in the middle of the festivities, for his third year of tempting you into your next drive-on beach Jeep or sexy convertible. Bryan is “grateful to the Block Party for providing an environment that helps put faces to the local business owners, and familiarize locals with their products and services. All in an atmosphere of fun and celebration, rather than just commerce.”
Cathy “Skeet” Forthurber says, “I like that you can donate to CAMP Rehoboth at the entrance to the party, because we appreciate all that the organization does for the community. I love this event and I’m pretty sure we buy something from a local artist there every year.”
Be sure to visit the newly created Silent Auction tent, where most of the vendors have donated an item to help CAMP Rehoboth raise additional funds.
There are giveaways, souvenirs, raffles, and merchandise, but the real joy comes from seeing all your friends and neighbors celebrate the fall season at the beach. The CAMP Rehoboth Block Party is the gateway to the off-season, so come celebrate with us! ▼