Reply to comment

Long evenings, warm river breeze, and Hawaiian shirts -- it must be the beginning of summer in Highland Park. The Main Street H.P. organization is once again producing a series of downtown block parties under the Random Acts of Fun banner.

The festivities move from block to block on alternating Thursdays in June and July, running from 5 PM to 8 PM. Live music and street entertainment, as well as in-store giveaways are the icing on this party cake.The first Random Act is scheduled for next week, Thursday June 25th. "Highland Park Idol," the community's open-call talent show, will be one anchor activity along with the popular Pasta-rama spaghetti eating contest. Sign up for the talent show by Tuesday the 23rd -- amaze your friends and annoy your enemies! Roberts Florals will set up the swankest possible storefront tiki lounge, complete with DJ and garish leis made from sustainably harvested plastics.

Face painting booths brings together the generations of Yellow Brick Road alumni. [Thales Nazario / The Mirror]

Everyone is encouraged to visit the stores in the block party area and fill up a punch card recording their visits. The sponsors will hold a, you guessed it, Random Drawing for door prizes from among the completed punch cards.

The first Random Act is also a recognition event for Main Street Highland Park volunteers. If you’ve earned a Main Street t-shirt this year (as a 5K runner, crew on Planting Day, or in any other MSHP event), wear your shirt to the event and take part in a separate bonus raffle. You may even be honored as Volunteer of the Year!

Title sponsor St. Peter's University Hospital will bring their mobile health unit to all three Random Acts evenings. This is a community outreach station on wheels, where the hospital staff gives health screenings, distributes information, and provides interactive wellness games. In the Teddy Bear's Clinic children can bring their favorite stuffed animal for a check-up, helping kids to become familiar and lessen fears about visiting the doctor or receiving treatment.

Last year's Raritan Avenue fashion show is due for a repeat on July 23rd. [Thales Nazario / The Mirror]

At the July 9th event, the wellness theme of "Better, For Life" will be played out in the Stop & Shop parking lot. This night will feature the mobile health unit with a larger staff, and also local professionals manning an "Ask the Pharmacist" and "Ask the Doctor" booths.

For more information on the block parties, contact Main Street H.P. at 732.828-8444, or email to: jmccrone@mainstreethp.org.