Valleywood community comes together for second annual block party

Event doubled in size for 2023

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A sunny Saturday was the perfect time for neighbours to socialize and have fun.

On August 26, the second annual Valleywood Block Party was held at Lina Marino Park. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the park was packed with residents, entertainers, community groups, local vendors and more.

Sonia D'Alimonte, one of the volunteer planners that put together this year's block party, said she was so happy the sun came out for the event as the weather was a bit unnerving when volunteers were setting up for it.

“It's been a fantastic day,” said D'Alimonte in an interview at the party. “Our dunk tank has been going non-stop.”

The Valleywood Block Party acted as a fundraiser for Cassie's Place, a local non-profit that provides programming and a home away from home for individuals with disabilities. Residents could purchase three tries at the dunk tank to throw a ball at a target and try to dunk one of the many volunteers.

Joe Sassine, a volunteer with Cassie's Place, said support from the Valleywood community at the dunk tank was amazing. He said so many people were participating, and some people were even just donating extra money once they learned about the cause.

Other activities at the block party included dance performances, comic character visits, soccer games, a dog show, a magic show, a massive vendor market, and local food vendors. The Caledon OPP and Caledon Fire and Emergency Services also came out with vehicles for kids to see.

D'Alimonte said she started laying the groundwork for this year's event last October and said it was amazing to see everything come together.

Seeing Valleywood residents unite and have a good time makes everything worth it for D'Alimonte.

“It's so nice to see everyone connecting,” she said. “A big reason why we started (in 2022) after COVID was we needed a reason to get out and mingle again. We're really happy to be able to bring this back again.”

D'Alimonte said the volunteers and sponsors involved with the Valleywood Block Party are all trying to breathe new life into the community.