Downtown Harrisonburg hosts block party
Renaissance committee intends to draw students to Court Square with free concerts, activities
By Jill Yaworski, a&e editor
Posted on August 31, 2006

Harrisonburg is throwing a block party, but not the kind most JMU students are used to. The Downtown Harrisonburg Renaissance has planned a day full of activities and free music for community members and students to come to at Court Square.

Bands like Red River Rollercoaster, Shapiro, Nathaniel Baker and Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels will perform free concerts. There will also be activities such as break dancing and martial arts demonstrations, food from local restaurants, tours of downtown, a blood drive and information from area non-profit organizations.

According to the public relations manager for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Jamie Marsh, the idea for the block party started about three years ago. Since the committee’s mission is to revitalize downtown by improving it for the people who live, work and visit the area, the members did survey work to determine what kind of things JMU students would like to see added to the area.

“We kept receiving surveys naming things already present downtown, like a bookstore and a theater,” said Marsh. “We began to realize that most students don’t make it downtown past Dave’s Taverna and most students don’t even come downtown until they’re juniors or seniors.”

The Renaissance committee teamed up with JMU’s University Program Board to organize the event. “UPB was the first group we got on board to assist us,” said Marsh. “They’ve been extremely instrumental because they’ve helped us realize what kind of things will draw the freshman to the event.”
           
Non-profit organizations will be present at the block party this year, including the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum, ASAP, Community Mediation Center and the Boys and Girls Club. They will be handing out information for their causes. Local merchants like James McHone Jewelry, Bank of America and University Outpost will be handing out free samples from their businesses for all the students and community members who attend.
           
The block party will be from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2 on Court Square. Marsh encourages students to venture downtown and enjoy some free food and music before the first JMU home football game.