BUCKHANNON – The annual community block party at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church will return this Saturday after a hiatus due to COVID-19.
Risë Straight Hanifan, director of Christian education at Chapel Hill UMC, said the event will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the lower parking lot at Chapel Hill, located at 88 S. Kanawha St.
“We wanted to have an event that everybody in the community could come to, and they didn’t have to worry about whether they had the money to be able to afford to do it,” Hanifan said. “We want to let them know we care about them, and they could have one day where they didn’t have to worry about it.”
The 11th annual event will include a 100-cake cake walk, carnival games, a bounce house, music by DJ Bobby Stell and karaoke. Paint Misbehavin’ will be on hand for face painting, and artist JR Earls will also be offering up caricatures.
“We will have free snow cones, nachos, hot dogs and cotton candy; the only thing that costs any money is the coin toss and that’s because you can’t do a coin toss without money, so that money goes to the Parish House,” Hanifan said.
Chapel Hill UMC attempted to bring the event back last year, but their request to close the street was declined by the City of Buckhannon.
“We really wanted to bring it back because lots of people come out to it. The last one had over 500 people and everybody just has a lot of fun,” Hanifan said. “It’s really a day where they don’t have to worry about anything; they can just bring their kids and have fun and there are people who don’t have kids that come because they love cake walks, food and it’s just a fun time for everybody. It’s an opportunity for us to give something to the community and to let them know we’re there and we care about them.”
She said the event will be fairly similar to events of the past and she hopes the whole community will participate.
“It’s really open to everybody, and we encourage everybody to come out and have some fun,” Hanifan said. “They don’t have to worry about an awful lot because they’re not going to be caught owing for anything and they can just have a good time.”
Have questions? Call the church at 304-472-6904 or email chapelhillumchurch@gmail.com.
