Willow Grove 300 Prepares for an All-Out Block Party

Willow Grove is planning a block party that’s been 300 years in the making – and, everyone’s invited.

The event is called the “Davisville Block Party,” as it will take place along Davisville Road in Willow Grove, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. today.

It's being held to celebrate the , and will feature nearly 50 community organizations and local businesses.

“I hope that everybody comes out and enjoys their neighbors,” Renee Bates, event organizer, said.

Bates, the operations captain of Second Alarmers Rescue Squad, which operates a station along Davisville Road in Upper Moreland - as well as a - is also a member of the Willow Grove 300 steering committee.

Two Themes

Bates said that the celebration is so big that two event themes were needed.

“So it’s like a combined theme; it’s underlining safety, with a State Fair theme,” Bates said.

“Safety is an important theme,” Bates said. “We would much rather meet with someone in our stations, talking about safety, instead of showing up to your house in an emergency situation."

Both main stations for Second Alarmers and the Willow Grove Volunteer Fire Company are located along Davisville Road and will open their doors to the public during the event.

According to Bates, the fire house will offer several family safety activities, including a matted section for children to practice “Stop, Drop and Rolling,” and draw home escape plans in times of emergency.

“And, of course, everyone’s going to want to see the big, red fire trucks,” Bates said.

Among other safety activities at the event, Kiwanis of Old York Road will have child identification kits available and Abington Memorial Hospital will present injury prevention workshops, as well as spin art for the children.

Music

As for the State Fair theme, musical acts are booked for the day, starting at 12:45 p.m. with a performance by Settlement Music School students and ending at 4:30 p.m. with a performance by Millville Road.

In between, participants will hear the musical styling of St. David’s  Music Department, Susan Piper, and the Mummer’s All Stars.

Food/Attractions

Food will also be in abundance, as several local restaurants will be participating.

Educational and entertainment venues will also have stands set up throughout the event, and include:

• A SEPTA train exhibit
• Horsham's "Wings of Freedom" aviation museum
• Upper Moreland Historical Commission
• Upper Moreland/ Hatboro-Horsham High School Robotics
• Pennypack Ecological Trust
• Tiger Schulman’s Karate
• Kisses For Kyle
• A moon bounce
• And much more …

Other open houses include Kremp Florist, where visitors can place a flower in a giant arch that spells “Willow Grove;” and the Willow Grove Moose Lodge, as well as a tour of Willow Grove’s first schoolhouse, located next to the Second Alarmers.

Davisville Block Party Passport

Since there are so many things to do at the Davisville Block Party, Bates has come up with a way in helping folks pay a visit to as many activities and attractions they can.

The Davisville Block Party Passport is exactly how it sounds: a small booklet for participants to use when visiting the different attractions.

Around 25 attractions will have their own rubber stamp, which is used inside the blank pages of the passport. The free passports may be picked up at the SARS station.

“This is a keepsake of the tri-centennial,” Bates said. “I know my kids will want to go out and get as many stamps as they can.”

For updated information on this or any other Willow Grove 300 event, visitwww.willowgrove300.com.