Old Town Block Party in Bloomingdale set for Saturday

A group of Bloomingdale's Old Town residents are hosting a block party at Old Town Estates on Saturday to lift the community's spirits.

Families from across the community have been invited by organizers to attend the block party, which will encompass Jackson Drive, Jefferson Lane, Independence Lane and Constitution Drive. It will cost $25 per household to participate.

Included in the cost is grilled burger and hot dogs for every person in each household.

The event will have entertainment, games and an inflatable bouncy house for children, as well as appearances by members of the Bloomingdale fire and police departments. Organizers are seeking a DJ for the event.

Raffles and prizes, such as free car washes, are up for grabs, and more prize donations are being sought.

Ed Smith, the chief organizer of the event, said the theme is about getting out to meet neighbors and giving families good memories during the summer, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don't think we've had anything like this since I've been here," Smith said. "We really took being close to one another for granted in our community. If we can get people to come out, it will be great."

Smith, 69, said he was inspired to host the block party in a similar way he had them growing up in northern Mississippi. The retired retail worker said he was told the last time Bloomingdale had a block party like this was in the 1990s.

For more information regarding the event, call (773) 330-1002 or Chad Sexton at (312) 505-3561.

To pay to attend, Sexton's number will also be used for Venmo payments or by sending a check to 212 Independence Drive.