Get ready to party

Community block party set for June 22 downtown

Andrew Heiserman
Posted 5/18/19

Residents of Rochelle may want to mark June 22 on their calendars this summer, for the first ever Downtown Block Party.

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Get ready to party

Community block party set for June 22 downtown

Posted

ROCHELLE – Residents of Rochelle may want to mark June 22 on their calendars this summer, for the first ever Downtown Block Party.
The event is being put together by the We Care Rochelle organization and is partnering with local business and organizations to provide an entertaining day for residents. The main goal of the event is to earn enough through vendor fees and a 50/50 raffle to help support the community.
“Every client we donate to, and this year we have four,” said Ryan Greifenkamp, co-creator of We Care Rochelle. “The Rochelle Fire Department, Rochelle Police Department, Hub City Senior Center and the Rochelle Rescue Mission will be recipients.
The block party will take place on Lincoln Highway in downtown Rochelle and will include a variety of food vendors and attractions. Some of these include a cookout, local BBQ and pizza, Sunshine Bakery and more to be named.
“The downtown owners are super excited,” said Greifenkamp. “All of the people being downtown will increase the chances of people stopping in their store.”

Other than food, some of the activities at the block party will include face painting, a touch a truck display courtesy of the fire department, a Rochelle Police Department K9 demonstration and closing the event will be a two-hour performance from country music group Love & Thunder.
“There is lots going into the sound quality of the stage,” said Greifenkamp. “I want the community to see that its more than just a band playing on a small stage.”
The downtown block party aims to attract people of all ages to come out to the event. There are food and activities for the whole family to enjoy, and based on the response so far, the city is expecting a good turnout.
“I have gotten lots of calls to get involved,” said Greifenkamp. “That is why we believe we will have a good turnout.”
The block party is hoping to get as many people out to the event as possible, and if they hit 1,000 attendees then they will reach their ultimate goal. If the first year is a hit and the word gets out, that number could get much larger in years to come.
“If surrounding communities hear about our event and all the attractions, they will still want to come out to our block party,” said Greifenkamp.
The block party will be held from 1-9 p.m on Friday, June 22.