Luzerne Block Party

Luzerne/Glenridge Labor Day Block Party

/ Anna White


All are welcome to the Luzerne/Glenridge Labor Day Block Party! 

We will have a superstar lineup of live music from talented neighborhood musicians; a moon bounce; snow cones; and potluck food & drink. And it looks like Mother Nature is on our side: high 70s and sunny! 🤞🏻

When: Monday, September 1, 2025 3-7 pm (kids’ bike race at 3:30ish pm)

Where: 2000 block of Luzerne Ave & 9100 block Glenridge Road

*Many thanks* to the neighbors who’ve signed up to help set up/clean up, monitor the moon bounce, and bring food/drink. If you plan to come, please bring a dish or snack or beverages to share.

Important: If your child is bouncing in the bounce house, please note that the moon bounce vendor prohibits shoes, belt buckles, dangling jewelry, and eyeglasses. We ask that you keep an eye on your child and make sure they’re being a good citizen when jumping. 

Looking forward to a fun afternoon with great neighbors! See you there!

Luzerne Labor Day Block Party 2024

/ Anna White

The Luzerne’s Labor Day Block Party is a go!

Road closes at 2 pm; we will kick off at 3 pm with a bike/scooter race down the hill and also have live music, food and drink, yard games, and — mercifully — much cooler temps than last year.

Bring a folding chair or a frisbee or a dish to share, but most importantly, bring yourself!

Luzerne Labor Day Block Party 2023

/ Anna White

Keeping up our more than thirty-year tradition, the 2000 block of Luzerne Avenue will be closed from 2-8 on Monday, September 3 for Labor Day.

Wander on by–it’s pretty low-key, but it’s a fun opportunity for kids to play in the street and grownups to get to know our neighbors. 

Libby Sander is coordinating a potluck, so let her know if you can bring food to share or a table and chairs.

And if you have some ideas for fun things to do, now’s the time to organize them.

During the years the block party has changed a lot–some years there are lots of activities. Some years it’s just been a chill time to relax. The folks who used to organize it are stepping back to allow a new generation of leaders to come forward and make it their own. So think of it as a blank canvas that you can fill up with sidewalk chalk (which will be in plentiful supply).

Labor Day Block Party 2021

/ Anna White

For 30-odd years Luzerne Avenue has had a Labor Day Block Party to which the rest of the neighborhood was invited. 

Some years not much happened; some years there was a bouncy house, baking contests, face painting, fire truck tours, and lots more.

This year, due to various reasons (including the pandemic), the block party has been scaled down to a street closure between 2-8pm on Monday, September 6, 2021.

It will give neighbors on Luzerne Avenue a day of rest from traffic, and everyone in the neighborhood is welcome to wander over and take a stroll on the street.

There will be sidewalk chalk out (want to contribute to a block-long art project to greet the school buses on Tuesday?)

At very least it will turn Luzerne Ave. into a day-long pedestrian walkway. Neighbors welcome to expand the festivities.

Anyone up for organizing water balloons? If so, email the neighborhood listserv for neighbors willing to provide a hose. And if any musicians want to give an impromptu concert, go for it!

UPDATE: The Luzerne Avenue Block Party PARADE has been resurrected!!🎉 At 3pm on Monday all kids (on or off bikes, scooters, wagons etc) interested in parading should line up at Luzerne and 2nd just before 3pm (Don’t be late!). Leashed dogs are also invited and we love to see decorations on both bikes and dogs!

After the parade stay and play in the closed street. And if you’re not interested in parading, come on over to Luzerne to spectate, meet some neighbors, and get your bike tuned.

Block Parties

/ Anna White
  • Lining up for jello battle. Luzerne Block Party 2019
  • Serving up baking competition treats
  • Baking competition entries
  • Watching the talent show
  • End of the parade, with longtime residents watching

In September 2019, Luzerne Avenue hosted its Annual Labor Day Block party with a parade and festivities—a beloved North Woodside tradition for thirty years that always has a great turnout of kids and families. This year several residents of the 2000 block of Luzerne organized the event, including Genevieve McDowell Owen, Cheryl Copeland and Susanna Drayne.

The annual parade of kids riding their bikes and scooters down the street started the afternoon. The popular baking competition followed, with a line stretching almost to the street full of people eagerly awaiting to try the sweet treats. Eileen O’Connor’s gooey chocolate bars won the popular vote in the adult division, and Bridget Drayne won first place in the kid division for her chocolate cake.

After the bake-off, the day continued with the sticky fun jell-o fight, which is always a big hit with the younger kids. Then the talent show commenced with many little children singing their hearts out. The day ended with the potluck cookout hosted by the Dirksens on the corner of Glen Ridge and Luzerne. Overall the day was a rousing success, creating many fun and happy memories, and ended summer 2019 well.

— Ellie Owen