Party in the park in Boardwalk

The Boardwalk Neighbourhood Association has hosted a Party in the Park for four years running. For the last three years it’s been hosted as a part of Kitchener’s Neighbours Day celebrations – making it among the longest running Neighbours Day events in the city.

Organizer and neighbourhood association President Sara Clark shares that they try to add a few new attractions each year to keep the event fresh and lively.

“People are getting used to coming to this event,” says Sara. Neighbours are making a habit of attending, and the mix of new activities and old favourites keeps people coming back.

The Party is held in Resurrection Park and often features games, a skills contest, face painting, balloon animals, and a bouncy castle.

One year, the Kitchener Fire Department joined the festivities – bringing a fire truck and demonstrating how to use a fire extinguisher, much to the delight of the kids in attendance. 

A vendor area has also been added, featuring local businesses displaying their products and services. This provides another activity for some of the adult attendees.

The latest big hit? A video game trailer. It was really popular when first introduced and may end up a mainstay of the event.

Of course, all these different activities take extra work and organization to make them happen. Start small, and add one or two new things each year, just like they’ve done in the Boardwalk neighbourhood.

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