Batavians Live It Up at Downtown Block Party

Hundreds of people flocked to downtown Batavia on Sunday to welcome back an old friend who was on a short hiatus.

That friend is the , which returned to Batavia this year in full force. Residents at the event enjoyed ideal weather with temps in the low 70s, plenty of sunshine and a blue sky.

They also enjoyed music, dancing, a bags tournament, face painting and the Taste of Batavia, which featured $2 tastings and drink specials from eleven downtown restaurants.

Rachel Powers, who lives within earshot of the party, gathered up her three kids, twins Blake and Heath, 7, and Tess, 5, and headed out for an afternoon of fun.

“We just moved here, so this is our first time coming,” Powers said. “This is just great. We’ve tasted samples from all the local restaurants and the food is really good. It’s also fun to get out and see our neighbors. The people here are all really friendly.”

“It’s the best place I’ve ever been,” said Blake, one of Powers' twins.

Fun With A Focus

The Block Party is meant to highlight the restaurants and businesses in downtown Batavia, said Joi Cuartero, executive director of Batavia MainStreet.

"One way to get the word out is to have a big party and invite everyone to come by and enjoy the music, food and drinks and all that downtown Batavia has to offer," Cuartero said.

New to the Block Party this year was the selling of wrist bands and cups so patrons over 21 years old can enjoy their drinks outside on the street.

“In years past, people were only able to enjoy their drinks on the patios or inside,” Cuartero said. “People had to crane their necks to see the stage and couldn’t get out and enjoy the whole party. Several people asked us to look into this to make the experience more enjoyable and so we made it happen.”

At the far north end of the Party, Chris and Lori Virelli and their children Nick, 7, and Lola, 6, enjoyed some of the tasty offerings while Chris contemplated the upcoming bags tournament.

“This party makes for really nice family times,” Virelli said. “They have the face painting for the kids and bags for the adults.”

“Plus we keep seeing all our friends,” Virelli’s wife added. “It’s just a beautiful, fun night.”

Just north of the stage, Block Party first-timers David and Margaret Zibble watched as their son danced barefoot in the middle of River Street.

“Our neighbor, Meredith Hannah (of) Batavia, encouraged us to come and I’m glad we did,” Margaret Zibble said. “The food and the music have been really good and we’ve had a really good time. The kids are also having a really great time.”

As the evening came to a close and a chill set in the air, partygoers set off on their way home, undoubtedly looking forward to seeing their old friend again next year.