Join us at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) campus for this year's ninth annual Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 3 to 7 p.m, a vibrant celebration of art, culture, and community! This free event is open to all ages and will feature live performances, local food vendors, artistic demonstrations and interactive art-making activities.
The Block Party will take place across the museum’s 37-acre campus including part of Monroe Street, which will be closed to traffic between Parkwood and Scottwood avenues. Activities will extend into the beaux-arts Edward Green Building where visitors can view the new exhibition, Ethiopia at the Crossroads, and into the Glass Pavilion where visitors who preregistered will experience an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony performed by Yatreda : ያጥሬዳ, an Ethiopian digital artist collective.
In addition, Adam Levine, Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey President, Director and CEO, TMA, will present the Key to the Museum. For the third year, the key will be awarded to a community leader who exemplifies diversity, community, innovation and trust—the museum’s core values.
Admission and parking are free, and outside lawn chairs are allowed. Food trucks will be located on Monroe Street where visitors can purchase refreshments. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information about the block party, call 419-255-8000 or visit toledomuseum.org.
The entertainment for the day will feature:
| 3:00–3:30p.m. | Glass City Steel Drums (TSA) |
| 3:45–4:30p.m. | DJ Marc Folk |
| 4:00–6:00p.m. | Birds Eye View Circus Performance |
| 4:30–4:45p.m. | Key to the Museum |
| 4:45–5:45p.m. | The Island Guys |
| 6:00–7:00p.m. | Ethio Dankira Traditional Group |
Other activities to include:
11:00a.m.–3:00p.m.
Volunteer Build of Art Installation with Gerard Nadeau | Glass Pavilion Lawn
Anyone welcome to participate
11:00a.m.–7:00p.m.
Digital Artwork Drop by Jordan Buschur, Community Digital Artist in Residence | Libbey Court
Community Gallery, Brenda Singletary – Reflections of Spirit
1:00–2:00p.m. & 3:30–4:30p.m.
House of Yatreda: Coffee Ceremony
Pre-Registration Required
1:00–7:00p.m.
Ethiopia at the Crossroads Exhibition Ask Me Docents | Levis Gallery
Drawing in the Galleries | Classic Court, Great Gallery, Wolfe Gallery
3:00–4:00p.m. & 5:00–6:00p.m.
Balloon Twister provided by Birds Eye View Circus
3:00–6:00p.m.
Glass Demonstrations outside with Ellie the Baby Dragon
3:00–6:30p.m.
Face Painting provided by Toledo School for the Arts
3:00–7:00p.m.
Paramount Health Screenings
Art Installation with Gerard Nadeau
Outreach Team Bookmaking Activity with the Teaching Artists
Family Center on the Move
4:00–7:00p.m.
Birds Eye View Circus performance (Stilt Walkers & Flow Artists)
Block Party Accessibility: Know Before You Go
Lot 5 will be the designated accessible parking area for Block Party; please note that this is the lot closest to many of the block party activities, but accessible parking spaces are available in all Toledo Museum of Art parking lots.
Noise canceling headphones will be made available to borrow in the Sensory-Friendly Area, located in the Glass Pavilion Courtyard. Noise canceling headphones will also be available at the Glass Pavilion Visitor Services desk, as well as the Libbey Court Visitor Services desk.
Earplugs are also free to take from the sensory-friendly area on a first come, first serve basis.
The Sensory-Friendly Area in the Glass Pavilion Courtyard will serve as a designated spot throughout block party where guests off all ages can come to take a break from the sights and sounds of block party! There will be coloring activities, as well as a basket-making activity related to the Ethiopia at the Crossroads exhibition. Guests can also pick up a sensory kit in the Glass Pavilion Courtyard, free of charge, with some fidgets to help with overstimulation and focus. Sensory kits are available one per individual on a first come, first serve basis.
There are accessible restrooms throughout the museum’s buildings, as well as a wheelchair accessible portable toilet.
Visitors who need to use a family restroom can find one off of Herrick Lobby in the Green Building.
This family restroom has a universal changing table for those who need it.
There will be a blocked off accessible seating area near the performance stage to allow for those with limited mobility to sit and be able to view the performances.
Live captioning will be available. Scan a QR code near the performance stage to access captioning on your phone!