On October 11, the Cottage Home neighborhood will host its 41st annual block party. It’s a decades-old tradition, a time when neighbors fill the streets decked out with pumpkins and mums. There’s food, music, a magic show and a fire-throwing hula hoop performance.
“The whole neighborhood gets together, and the day before, hang paper lanterns and little paper ghosts the kids make,” said Bri Jones, Cottage Home Neighborhood Association’s president. A block party committee, led by Amy Lapka and Kacy Ray, plans the fundraiser and festival.
It started in 1984 as a cookout for the near eastside neighborhood. This year, the party goes from 5-11 p.m. It’s free and open to the public, and you don’t need to show a ticket. The group is asking for $5 donations. You can bring cash, donate through Eventbrite or send a payment to venmo @Cottage-Home-1 or PayPal @cottagehome1.
The event happens rain or shine. It’s at the Cottage Home Community Space, 714 N Highland Ave. If you have any questions, send them to cottagehomeblockparty@gmail.com.
The neighborhood group is still looking for help cleaning up, starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 12. Anyone who helps clean up will get free brunch.
A correction was made on Sept. 11, 2025: An earlier version of this article misstated the reason Cottage Home needs volunteers for the block party. The neighborhood organization needs volunteers who will help with clean up after the party.
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