‘Stars aligned’ to raise $9K at retro street party in Bradford

Community event attended by about 1,200 people and collected money for Helping Hand Food Bank

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1 / 1 The Cara Lea band keeps the crowd dancing and partying until close with an amazing collection of songs from rock to rap and everything in between during the Summerlyn Retro Street Party in Bradford on Aug. 24.Supplied

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Editor's note: This story was amended on Aug. 30, 2024 to update the list of sponsors.

About 1,200 people converged on Bradford’s Blue Dasher Boulevard to party and dance away their cares over the weekend.

Chairman of the Street Party Collective and Ward 4 Coun. Joseph Giordano estimated the third-annual all-ages Summerlyn Retro Street Party on Saturday, Aug. 24 had the biggest crowd yet, helping to raise $7,500 from net ticket sales, which is set to join other contributions and provide about $9,000 worth of food to the Helping Hand Food Bank.

The organizing group are once again hoping to work with Reali’s No Frills, who last year helped them maximize their donation of more than $15,000.

Even several days after the event, Giordano said he’s still receiving emails from people saying it was one of the most fun events of the summer.

“The stars aligned on this one,” he said. “The way it came together, it could not have been any better.”

A packed line up of performers included magician Scott Dietrich, singer Kayla, DJ Klever, classic rock from Feedback, the return of Canadian club artist Joée, local favourites The Cara Lea Band, plus a few late additions including a Shania Twain cover band and a Taylor Swift tribute, All About The Swifties.

That last one was a big hit according to Giordano, who recalled that after just one song, she left the stage and joined her fellow swifties in the crowd as they screamed, sang and danced for joy.

“It was a little emotional,” Giordano said, noting many fans can’t afford to see the real Taylor Swift live. “To give everybody an amazing experience — it was special.”

While people generally filter in and out throughout the afternoon and evening of the eight-hour event, this year, Giordano recalled it was consistently packed with people jumping and dancing. Even as his band, Feedback, took the stage close to 8 p.m., he could still see the crowd filling the closed section of street.

He credits much of the success to the many volunteers and others who helped make the event a reality, including about 17 student volunteers, collective director Josh Vriend and absoLive production.

Even after ticket sales closed, Giordano said people were still providing donations, including Diana and Mark Sheeler, owners of Bradford’s Canadian Tire, who provided a cheque worth $1,000.

The owners of Decano Meats helped keep everyone’s energy up by selling barbecued foods at discounted “family-friendly” prices for almost the entirety of the event, and even donated some boxes of meat as prizes for ticket holders.

Of course, the event couldn’t happen without the support of sponsors, who really “stepped it up” this year according to Giordano, with each contributing not just funds but something to enhance the experience as well.

By the end of the night Giordano said he had verbal commitments from about 80 per cent of the sponsors for next year and already has dates reserved.

“It warms my heart,” he said.

Overall, he said the best moment of the event was seeing so many people with smiles on their faces having a good time, while his personal highlight was being on stage with smoke, lights and displays rocking out with his band playing 1980s hairspray metal, dedicating to his wife the song ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ by Def Leppard.

After three years of organizing the event, Giordano said he has a road map he’s happy to share with others who want to create their own street parties in their own wards, and is happy to answer questions if they need.

“This is too positive to be just for me and my residents,” he said.

When asked if there are plans to expand the annual Summerlyn event beyond Ward 4, he said it’s too early to say, but “I’m looking at solutions for everyone in town.”

The list of sponsors includes: