Adams Street Block Party draws a crowd to UpTown Toledo

Vendors and families took to Adams Street in UpTown Toledo Saturday to play games, celebrate the summer weather, and support local businesses and artists during the 10th annual Adams Street Block Party.

“We just happened to stumble in to it,” Edie Munoz, 43, who lives in downtown, said as she rummaged through House of Dow with a drink and friend.

House of Dow offered a discount on its goods, an incentive to take a break from the heat outside and peruse wares, but outside, kiddie pools full of water balloons awaited their fabled battle, Village on Adams members taxied attendees up and down the street in golf carts, and $5 could buy you three chances at sinking Mac Driscoll, a Toledo City Council member, into a vat of water.

While not there in his “official” capacity Mr. Driscoll said he was invited by the the event’s organizer, the Village on Adams, and was happy to aid in convincing many there to pay the entrance fee to take a few throws at him.

After a few challengers, Jurry Taalib-Deen, 55, of Toledo, was able to connect his pass with the dunk tank, sinking Mr. Driscoll.

“I thought the water balloon fight was for adults,” Mr. Taalib-Deen said. “That's for kids,” he said making the best of the misunderstanding by putting the Toledo councilman underwater.

For 10 years the Village on Adams, a group of business owners dedicated to upkeep and beautification of Adams Street, has put together the block party to serve the community while raising funds for public art and maintenance of the social hub in Toledo.

As it says on the Village on Adams website, “We want to make Adams Street safe, beautiful, prosperous, and weird.”

Cara Risher, president of the Village on Adams and owner of Wesley’s Bar, was the core organizer of the event along with Treasurer Zach Lahey, the owner of Manhattan’s Pub.

Ms. Risher said the event was important to help sponsor “family-friendly community” and “raise a little money to keep the street clean and beautiful.”

And those beautiful streets were a keen source of joy for 8-year-old Akeem Morris, who steered his scooter up and down the street as people searched through the mini mart put on by Handmade Toledo in collaboration with the block party.

Twenty artists set up shop at the party, and Jessica Crossfield, the owner of Handmade Toledo, said she was pleased with the variety of kinds of art for sale.

From jewelry to macrame to ink prints, “Every artist has a hand in making their products,” Ms. Crossfield said.

“I think it's a great way of bringing the community together in this family-style event,” Ms. Crossfield said. And “it's free.”