Blaine's Spring Block Party, set for Saturday, May 16, celebrates a new theme this year — Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 is hosting the event, which includes hula performances and a vendors fair, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the intersection of Peace Portal Drive and H Street. Entrance is free.
Event coordinator Olea Mills said the parks district wanted to celebrate the diverse backgrounds that make up Blaine and saw May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a fitting occasion.
“It was such a wonderful opportunity to highlight the different types of cultures we have here,” Mills said.
About 3% of Blaine residents are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, about 4% of residents are Asian, and over 13% of residents identify as being two or more races, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Aloha Cafe co-owner Drisana Horton, who is Filipino and Pacific Islander, helped the parks district with planning this year’s theme.
“For us, it’s about sharing culture through food, music and connection,” Horton wrote in a statement. “And creating an experience where people can come together, learn something new, and feel a sense of belonging.”
Hula and other cultural performances serve as the festival’s main entertainment, sharing traditional dance and storytelling. Hula Mokinoe, a hula school traveling from B.C., performs from 11 a.m. to noon on stage in front of H Street Plaza. Kanaka, a ukulele and dance trio, later takes the stage from 2 to 3 p.m.
The festival has over 50 vendors signed up to sell everything from arts and crafts to woodworking, facepainting and authentic Hawaiian shave ice.
A kid zone is planned to provide family friendly entertainment, including a candy lei-making station, coconut toss, fishing game and other yard activities.
Aloha Cafe is setting up a tiki bar outside, and across the street, Border Town Pizza will have a beer garden serving brews and pizza slices in its parking lot. Festival fare is also expected, with vendors selling hot dogs, churros and snacks.
Road closures will cut vehicle access to one block of Peace Portal Drive, from Martin to H streets, and one block of H Street at the intersection of Peace Portal Drive. The road closures will start just before the event and run until it ends.
The festival started as Blaine Oyster Fest in 2023 and became the Spring Block Party in 2024, when the oyster festival moved to the fall. As the celebration evolves, Mills said the parks district is interested in showcasing a new culture each year.
“A traditional PolyFest is all about community and coming together,” Mills said. “If we can get families out to celebrate the community here, then that’s a success.”
For any schedule updates or changes, visit the parks website at bit.ly/3OZwQDS.
