CHESHIRE, Mass.— The former Cheshire Block Party returns on July 22 with a new name and a new vibe. 

 

"Our message and motivation with regard to our projects and events has not changed," Cheshire Community Association (CCA) President John Tremblay said. "We measure our success by smiles on faces, and based on the number witnessed, the connections created and reinforced are priceless."

 

The festival starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. It is free.

 

Since July 2015, the CCA, and all volunteer nonprofit, group has held two block parties each summer in the town's downtown area around Town Hall. But this year will be different and the event has been rebranded as the The Cheshire Summer Festival and it will now be held at the former Cheshire Elementary School grounds.

 

"With our event venue changing and some reinvention happening we felt it appropriate to freshen up the name as well," Tremblay said. "It's good for us to continue evolving."

 

He said this year there will be two performing acts.

 

"In the interest of cultural diversity, we've gone full spectrum with a very popular Polka Band - the Eddie Forman Orchestra - on one end, and an incredible Breakdancing troupe from the Funk Box Dance Studio in Pittsfield - on the other," he said. "Sure this model may be a little unusual, but we know one thing for sure, there's going to be a lot of dancing going on."

 

For food Ozzie's Food Truck will be on site providing some traditional Polish food in addition to his standard American fare.

 

There will also be a ceremony marking the school building's centennial and Cheshire Corn Hole Cup. There will also be a painting, balloon tying, and a raffle.

 

The rain location is the former school's cafeteria.

 

The CCA  grew from a group of residents opposed to the construction of a Dollar General in town. They were able to impact the design of the building and its location but more importantly, instilled a sense of community in Cheshire. 

 

"One thing we've definitely learned is that Margaret Meade was right. Groups of thoughtful, committed citizens is how things get done," he said. "We're fortunate to have multiple groups like that in Cheshire, of which the CCA  is one."

 

He listed the town's efforts to become an Appalachian Trail Community, creating a hiker campsite, art along the Rail Trail, the mural on Route 8, and town clean-up days.

 

"We've been able to bring folks together for a common cause which I like to call the ‘Cheshire Experience,'" he said. "Collectively these endeavors move the needle with respect to community building but also from an economic development standpoint.  If visiting and living in Cheshire is desirable, that pays dividends for our town and the residents across the board."