TERRE HAUTE —
Easy footsteps shuffled about downtown to swirling music, as thousands rocked around the block.
The Second Annual Downtown Block Party seemed to start earlier than the 1 p.m. kick off Saturday, as hundreds of volunteers filled Wabash Avenue throughout the morning. Visitors to the morning Downtown Farmers Market filled the lots near Ninth Street, spreading west throughout the day. Visitors continued to pour into the free event through midnight.
Ariane Marie King, operations coordinator for Downtown Terre Haute, Inc., had her yellow Downtown Block Party T-shirt blazing in the 90 degrees of sunshine that afternoon. Five stages worth of live music had listeners bobbing along from Fourth to Ninth street, and food seemed to fill every table from one end of the party to the other.
“I got here at 6:30 this morning and I’ll be probably be here until 3 a.m.,” King laughed, adding all reports seemed positive by the afternoon. “I would say it’s going amazing.”
With 120 vendors, as well as bands, clubs and organizations, the volunteers and workers alone numbered more than 1,000. Meanwhile King’s “Happiness Patrol” was out in force, a group of volunteers picking up trash and asking for suggestions for next year’s party.
And last year’s party was what first attracted Bart Smith to participate this year. The president of the Swinging Mates Square Dance Club had two dozen of the organization’s 75 members out in front of Commerce Plaza, decked out in their western-wear, boots, buckles and twirlable skirts. Visiting the event as a spectator last year gave him the idea of bringing his club to the event.
The local square dancers are “the oldest club in the state of Indiana, continuously running,” with roots dating back to 1956, he said. Several of his members have been participating more than 20 years, and Smith said the group travels regularly to Illinois and Kentucky. “We have a lot of fun with this.”
The club offered a demonstration of their dancing as callers sang out instructions. Dancers twirled about in circles, switching partners and moving one to the other.
Meanwhile, Melissa Trout, an organizer for the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, worked a booth providing information about donating organs for transfer.
“We’ve had a lot of people come by and show interest,” she said, remarking that the volume of passersby makes the event good for raising awareness.
Attendance numbers at a free event are always tough to figure, King said that afternoon. Crowds grew throughout the day, ebbing into the night as bands played along the street. Last year’s participation was estimated to be nearly 10,000, and King figured they’d reach or exceed that by midnight.
Lynn Hughes, executive director of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, said 399 people had entered that facility by 5:15 p.m. Most of the group’s activities were outside in their Kids Zone, which featured face-painting, animals balloons and the Indianapolis Colts tent. But with temperatures above 90, many visitors welcomed the chance to hop into the air-conditioned museum for a break, she explained.
“It’s been a really good day,” she said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Top Story
Related Videos
Related Photos
-
Packed: Hundreds of spectators watch the Lemon Brothers Band perform at 7th and Wabash Saturday afternoon.
-
Too much: Five-year-old Hayden James sits on his father's shoulders and reads as they walk along Wabash Avenue Saturday afternoon.
-
Get down: The Swingin' Mates Square Dancers perform during Saturday's Block Party.
-
Eye Q : Four-year-old Abraham Drake gets his face painted at the Block Party Saturday afternoon.
-
Picture: Peggy Deckard photographs eight-year-old Jaylee Shelby and three-year-old Hayley Richard as they sit in the shade along Wabash Avenue during the Block Party.
-
Solo: Erin Wilson performs as a solo act during Saturday's annual Block Party.
-
Happy Clap: Steven and Monica Richards clap with their one-year-old son Jeremy as they watch the Swingin' Mates Square Dancers perform Saturday along Wabash Avenue.
Discussion
VIDEO: Thousands jam downtown for the annual Block Party
- Top Story
-
-
10 Things to Know for Friday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Morning update: I-5 bridge collapse caused by truck hitting span
The Washington State Patrol chief says the Interstate 5 bridge collapse into the Skagit (SKA'-jiht) River at Mount Vernon was caused by an oversize truck.
-
10 Things to Know for Thursday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
AAA: 31.2M drivers to take Memorial Day road trip
It's going to be another busy Memorial Day weekend on the nation's highways. From Thursday through Monday, 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more to a beach, campground or other getaway, according to car lobbying group AAA.
-
UK PM: Brutal London attack appears to be terror
LONDON — A brutal attack in broad daylight near a military barracks in London left one man dead and two suspects hospitalized Wednesday after a shootout with police. British Prime Minister David Cameron said the attack appeared to be terror related.
-
VIDEO: Orlando shootout tied to Boston bomb suspect
The FBI says it was involved in a fatal shooting near Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports that the victim was a friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older brother suspected in the Boston Marathon bombing.
-
10 Things to Know for Wednesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
10 Things to Know for Tuesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Afternoon Update: Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma
The storm killed at least 24 people, including at least nine children.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Update: Oklahoma, other tornado-hit states brace for more
SHAWNEE, Okla. — When Lindsay Carter heard on the radio that a violent storm was approaching her rural Oklahoma neighborhood, she gathered her belongings and fled. When she returned, there was little left.
-
Taylor Swift wins 8 trophies at Billboard Awards
LAS VEGAS — Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards.
-
10 Things to Know for Monday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday, May 20:
-
$590M-plus Powerball: 1 winning ticket sold in Florida
DES MOINES, Iowa — It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials said Sunday.
-
Powerball jackpot closing in on another record
DES MOINES, Iowa — Less than 10 months after three tickets split a world-record lottery prize, the jackpot for Saturday's Powerball drawing was nearing historic territory once again.
-
N.Y. Giants honor Weatherford as ‘Man of the Year’
Dan Tanoos, superintendent of Vigo County schools, remembers the first time he saw Steve Weatherford as a freshman at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
-
UPDATE: Fire damages buildings in downtown Greencastle
GREENCASTLE, Ind. — Fire badly damaged several buildings today near the courthouse square in Greencastle, with flames shooting through the roofs as firefighters from several communities were called in to the central Indiana city to help.
-
10 tornadoes whip through North Texas; 6 dead
Ten tornadoes touched down in several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens injured and hundreds homeless. Emergency responders were still searching for missing people Thursday afternoon.
-
MARK BENNETT: Local summer music series idea remains a good one
One-of-a-kind ideas happen rarely.
As the biblical adage goes, there is nothing new under the sun. We humans succeed occasionally, inventing electricity, automobiles, telephones and the Internet. Invariably, though, someone else insists, “Hey, my grandpa thought of that years before Edison.” -
Jolie: 'I do not feel any less of a woman'
Angelina Jolie says that she has had a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene that made it extremely likely she would get breast cancer.
-
10 Things to Know for Tuesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Abortion doctor guilty in 3 babies' deaths
An abortion doctor was convicted Monday of first-degree murder and could face execution in the deaths of three babies who were born alive and then killed with scissors at his grimy, "house of horrors" clinic.
-
IHS announces lineup for Concerts on the Canal, reprise of 'Museum Nights on the Canal'
INDIANAPOLIS —There are plenty of ways to enjoy downtown Indianapolis in the summer, and the Indiana Historical Society is offering two — both time-honored favorite Concerts on the Canal and its Museum Nights on the Canal program.
-
Small tornado causes minor damage in southern Vigo County
Riley firefighters had just heard on the emergency scanner Thursday night that a tornado was nearby when they looked west of their firehouse on Indiana 159 and saw one traveling northwest across a field.
-
Update: Cleveland man arraigned on rape, kidnap charges
A Cleveland man was arraigned Thursday on charges of rape and kidnapping after three women missing for about a decade and one of their young daughters were found alive at his home earlier in the week.
-
Arias says in interview that she wants death
The jury has rendered its verdict — Jodi Arias is guilty of first-degree murder — but the trial is far from finished.
-
UPDATE: Mistrial declared in second Boswell murder trial
A second mistrial was declared this morning for a Riley man accused of the 1979 slaying of 20-year-old Kathy Jo Baker. Richard L. Boswell Jr., 55, was released today from the Vigo County Jail, where he had been held since his October 2010 arrest on charges of murder and attempted murder.
-
Deming Elementary second-grader receives new heart
The long wait for Katelyn Newell has finally ended. Wednesday evening, she successfully underwent heart transplant surgery at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
-
Levee fails, Wabash River floodwaters inundate Prairieton farmland
A Vigo County official says a levee has failed near the flooded Wabash River, allowing floodwaters to inundate farmland near the town of Prairieton and isolating about two dozen homes.
- More Top Story Headlines
-
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Today in History May 24
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
