Photos: Block Party Tradition Continues

It starts the same way every year.

Excited children wait somewhat patiently to participate in the unofficial start of the block party festivities; setting up the two barricades to block vehicular traffic to their street.

With the road closed off, the kids let loose with bikes, skateboards and old fashioned running around.

Conceived 14 years ago by a close knit group of moms, this quiet street in Huntington Village started a tradition that has not yet faded.

Most of the original kids are teenagers now, some have gone off to college, some too old to 'hang out'.  But their parents still relish the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new neighbors.  

Each year different events and games are planned. Water was the unofficial theme this year.

A dunking machine was rented and set up on the side of the road. 'Targets’ waited their turn to be dropped into the tank of water.  

Water balloons materialized and the toss started out organized but quickly regressed into a fun, wet free-for-all.

At dusk, the entire block paused to congregate together as memorial candles were lit in remembrance of 9-11.

The evening did not end on this solemn note; the annual tag game of Manhunt was about to begin.