If you were anywhere near down- town Moscow Sunday you probably caught the strains of music wafting from Main Street. If you ventured down to Main Street you may have caught a glimpse of a stage, complete with a light show blocking off the eastern end of the street.
Your weekend entertainment was brought to you by the Nuart Block Party, an event that has been put on for the last eight of years by the Nuart Theater in Downtown Moscow.
Just when you thought Moscow had settled down for the school year somebody throws another party.
Between Palousafest, the Block Party, all of the assorted relatives weekends and Finals Fest, some students might be wondering if Moscow ever takes a weekend off.
The answer of course is no.
Moscow consistently seizes the weekend as a chance to have a good time before jumping back into another Monday, and the Nuart Block Party is no exception. With several thousand people listening to seven hours of rock music on Main Street, the Block Party is a singular event put on by a unique organization.
Eric Engerbretson, who has been organizing the Block Party since its inception in 2007, said the goal of the event is to just throw a big party to welcome back all the students. This year the Block Party featured nine Christian bands in one of the biggest rock shows in the area.
Although the Block Party is put on by Christians and features Christian music, Engerbretson says the goal is not to target any specific religious audience. Instead the party aims to provide a great music experience for an audience of all ages.
The Nuart Theater, which puts on the party operates under similar principals. Engerbretson said the Block Party serves as an introduction to the theater for students who may not have known about the services it offers. In addition to offering a quiet place downtown to study the Nuart also serves espresso and puts on open mic nights and free Friday movies with free popcorn.
It’s hard to go wrong with an event that features loud music, a bouncy castle, hot dogs and cotton candy, and the Block Party never fails to deliver on all of those fronts. If you have ever attended the Block Party before, you know that this is probably the only time you will get to watch an eclectic group, ranging from toddlers to students to senior citizens try to dance on Main Street.
The Block Party is simply an extension of the Nuart’s work to help students and open conversations with those interested in spirituality. The Nuart offers books on a range of spiritual topics and counseling available to anyone.
“The Nuart is about being a hangout spot where, if people want to talk about spiritual things, they’re welcome but there is no pressure to do so,” Engerbretson said.
The Nuart Theater is a historical landmark in Moscow that continues to live up to its legacy. Its downtown location, open mic nights and free Friday movies put it on the shortlist to check out, regardless of your spirituality or lack thereof.
Cy Whitling can be reached at [email protected]