Neighbourhood Hippiefest

Last Saturday we held our annual street sale and party. We've been doing this every summer (except one) since 1992. I got the idea from an issue of Canadian Living Magazine promoting Canada's 125th birthday. Our country has aged another 16 years since then and so this would have marked our 15th year of blocking off the street and partying into the night. Each year we select a theme for our party. Past years' ideas included Summer Olympics, Hawaiian Luau and last summer's Mardi Gras. This year's theme was the 1960's



We always start the day with a street sale. Interested neighbours haul out their junk treasures, and inevitably, a few kidlets start up a lemonade stand. Children invade their piggy banks and promptly dash around from house to house, buying up the biggest, ugliest stuffed animals and other eye-sores which previous owners are all to happy to unload. The same items will be out there next year, on a table in their own driveway.

Over the years, we've been very lucky with weather. This year was no exception. The predicted rain showers held off until shortly after noon, when everyone was pretty much ready to pack it in anyway. And then it poured. It rained heavily for about fifteen minutes and it began to look as if the afternoon activities would be rained out. But the sun gods were with us. As suddenly as they rolled in, the clouds moved on to cleanse a different part of the city, and the strong afternoon sunshine quickly dried the streets in time for chalk drawings.



Sidewalk art kicks off the afternoon activities for the kids.



Face Painting was more simple than usual this year. We hid the books that offer complicated, time-consuming designs and stuck with symbols which represent the 60's such as peace signs, flowers and butterflies.



Most of the adults walked away sporting a bit of art too.

While some faces got decorated, others looked toward the craft table. In keeping with this year's theme, the kids tried their hands at tie-dye They had the option of traditional long head scarfs or triangular bandannas. Jo and Sandra did a great job of organizing this activity.



First they drew designs on the material of choice.



Then they tied them in several places.



After treating them with dye, the elastics and ties came off.



And the pieces were hung to dry.



See how well they turned out ?



Even my metal head son became a hippie that day.



Once everyone had completed the crafts, it was time for a treasure hunt. I had written up a series of clues, each of which led to the next, and had the kids running around to various houses on our street. The kids were to work as a team and help each other. There was enough treasure for everyone. The final clue was a poem which read like this:

This treasure isn't buried
You will not need to dig
It isn't very tiny
But it isn't really big

There's enough of it for sharing
There's some for everyone
Read this very carefully
Your work is almost done

First go to the green box
Where you found one of the clues
Everyone together
This is what you do

Starting very slowly
Count to thirty-three
Jump up and down and shout
"HOORAY!"
Then go and hug the tree

Move 3 homes towards the dead end
Then get down on the ground
Now do a somersault or two
While you make a squawking sound

Now put your shirts on backwards
For everyone to see
You really have to do these things
Or you will not get "The Key"

Cross the street together
Hopping like a bunny
All the while laughing LOUDLY
Like you just heard something funny

Wander up the sidewalk
Towards the corner of the block
This time moving backwards
Don't run now, just walk

When you get out to the corner
Here's what you must do
Sneeze your very loudest
let's hear it now...
"ACHOOOO!"

Make your way back carefully
Take a look around
Each one of you must find a stone
That's lying on the ground

When everyone has found a stone
Bring them all to me
You will see me waiting
With the treasure and the key

You wont have trouble finding me
I'll be out in plain view
Whoever gives a stone to me
The treasure goes to YOU!

The chest was filled with these goodies.



Jo collected the stones and handed out the goodie bags. Her son Tyler checked to make sure she didn't forget any.




Guessing games were next. Everyone who was interested took a guess at each one of the jars which were filled with various candies. I had pre-counted them all and knew what each jar contained. Toward the end of the evening we determined the winners.



Here's Mario making his guesses.



Ryan didn't want to participate at first but turned out to be the best estimator of the bunch. He walked away with two winning jars of candy.



Soon, our pot luck dinner was served and everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal.


Erin baked this incredible cake for dessert - perfect for the occasion.



It looked great and it was delicious!



Winston (who you might remember from this post) and Frank were the youngest and oldest dressed-up hippies present.



And what can we say about Lloyd? Far out, man!


Di organized a cash draw which yielded three prizes of $120, $60 and $30.



Her little helper called out the winning numbers.



One of those numbers belonged to Kevin!



And there was music. Riley joined Alex and his friend Dave to played guitar.



Frank and I were pretty much done by midnight. We turned in with a relaxing cup of tea. I hear that others partied on until 4 a.m. in true neighbourhood style. Perhaps we're just getting too old. After all, we were both born before the 60's!


You can see these and many more street party images in somewhat random order when you watch this slideshow.