Elmhurst is having a free downtown party, inviting residents and visitors alike to come and help send summer off in style during the two-day Rock the Block event.
This year’s event, the second annual, will take place from 4 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, and from noon to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The event, sponsored by the Elmhurst City Centre organization, will feature 10 bands and food and beverage offerings from 14 local restaurants.
The city’s downtown plaza at the northeast corner of York and Schiller streets is ground zero for the festivities. Schiller will be closed from Palmer Drive to York, and York will be closed from First to Second streets.
The entertainment stage will be set up at Schiller and York. Beverage and food tents will be set up along York from Schiller south to First Street.
“The purpose is to showcase the downtown business district and our downtown restaurants,” said Christy Sopko, events coordinator for City Centre.
Sopko sounded remarkably calm as she acknowledged the outdoor event depends on good weather.
“With the right weather, we could have as many as 7,000 or 8,000 people in the downtown area over the two days,” Sopko said. “We hope they’ll be coming back to dine and shop downtown as well.”
Bands at Rock the Block include four of the largest festival bands in Chicago, according to Sopko, who said the headliners closing the show each night play a mix of covers of ’80s and ’90s pop music.
Hopeful young rockers from Elmhurst’s School of Rock will kick off Saturday’s music with a noon performance.
Saturday’s events also include free activities for families, organized by community partners the Elmhurst Historical Museum, Elmhurst Art Museum, Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts, Elmhurst Public Library and the Elmhurst Park District.
Restaurants in the event range from the established white tablecloth Café Amano to the Brewpoint Coffee Company, just celebrating its first anniversary.
“We decided we’d participate this year,” said co-owner Melissa Sepulveda. “We saw the event last year and it looked like fun.
Brewpoint will offer coffee, tea and specialty drinks along with baked goods.
Café Amano will be offering lobster rolls, jambalaya and Cajun rice.
Rock the Block will also feature a beer and wine tent.
For more information on the event, including a full schedule of bands and performance times, visit www.elmhurstcitycentre.com.
Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
