PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Many of Philadelphia’s semiquincentennial events are geared toward visitors, but organizers on Wednesday announced a feature just for residents. Hundreds of city block parties will get special games and prizes to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
Philadelphia Visitor Center President Kathryn Ott Lovell said she didn’t have to invent some new celebration to make sure the semiquincentennial touched every neighborhood and that everyday residents felt included.
“We thought, why not start with the block party and why not just try to amplify the block party experience,” she said.
So for the “Block Party Bonanza,” Philadelphia 250 is making available “Life, Liberty and Happiness” kits that include toys, misting fans, sports equipment, decorations and a $250 ShopRite gift card.
“I just love the idea of going around your block and trying to find out what everybody wants to order from ShopRite and then placing that order and having a big cookout on block party day,” she said.
Lovell remembers block parties as the best days of her childhood.
“All the cars were moved off the block and we could ride our bikes in the street and people would put out their card tables and the neighbors would all chip in and everybody would eat outside. It’s a core memory for me of growing up in the city.”
Also included in the party kits are water guns, an item hammered out in focus groups.
“The adults were like, ‘No, thank you,’ and the kids were like, ‘Include the water guns.’ So there are tens of thousands of Super Soakers on their way to Philadelphia.”
When blocks get their party permits, they’ll be told how to apply for the kits. There are 250 available, in addition to 25 reserved for the blocks that participated in the clean block party contest, and five extended-year schools that will get their own.
Groups can apply for party kits that include sports equipment, decorations and a $250 ShopRite gift card
