In annual spring tradition, the Mifflin Street Block Party will be held this Saturday.
The block party was a Madison custom even before the annual party on West Mifflin Street, which began in 1969 according to former downtown alder Eugene Parks. Parks added that the first celebration, and the riot that ensued, was the sign of changing politics in Madison.
\It was a statement to some old-time political establishment leaders, who could not confront this kind of change,"" Parks said. ""[They] said you're not having a block party, were not giving you permission and you're not going to have a block party illegally either.""
""It helped to encourage people who went to it to begin to think about the political system,"" Parks said. ""Young people, particularly university students, were signaling an interest and involvement in politics.""
Through the '80s, the party was organized by the Mifflin Street Co-op. The parties restricted traffic to the Street and even included live bands. It continued to grow; about 15,000 to 20,000 partiers partook in the festivities in 1996, drawing people from outside of Wisconsin. The riotous crowd that year set multiple bonfires and continually prevented fire crews from extinguishing the fires, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
Since then, the block party has consisted of ""porch parties."" Recently, live music has been reintroduced, and this year residents will be able to use the street for recreation, although traffic will not be restricted. Alcohol consumption will be confined to private property.
Perhaps the overarching tradition of the party is that it remains a rite of spring, Verveer said.
""It really is a chance for students to kick back and have fun before they have to worry about finals,"" he said.
The party is a chance to beat the cabin fever, said Dave Wall, a Mifflin Street resident, adding that he believes the political traditions have been lost from the original parties.
""It doesn't exactly stand for as much as I think it used to,"" he said.
Everyone expects a good time to be had by all according to UW-Madison junior Dan Hudson, a Mifflin Street resident, who added that it is a good opportunity for Mifflin Street residents to get to know each other.
""It should be a good time for the residents; nothing bad will happen,"" he said.
