This Friday marks the 24th annual Hayes Valley Holiday Block Party, a long-running event that celebrates the neighborhood's local businesses.
“It’s like a large art opening,” said Russell Pritchard, co-founder of the event, who recently celebrated his 24th year as shop owner of Zonal on Hayes Street.
Decorations inside Zonal
The event isn’t like your average street fair but rather serves as an "open house for the shops,” says Madeline Behrens-Brigham, co-founder of the event, who is currently running the new Hayes Valley Artists pop-up at Proxy.
From 6pm to 9pm tomorrow, shop owners between Franklin to Laguna streets encourage residents and visitors to check in on their favorite local boutiques, catch up with friends, and see the changes the past year has brought.
The annual block party doesn’t outsource vendors or shut down the street, but rather celebrates the camaraderie of the neighborhood with evening hours, refreshments, and entertainment.
Plans for the night include music from flamenco guitarist Ryan Garcia at Zonal, spiked cider and art at Reliquary, milk and chocolate chip cookies at Propeller, extended store hours and pre-wrapped gifts at Maker & Moss, a trunk show and refreshments at Azil Boutique, wine and a free gift for purchases of $20+ at gather, refreshments as Bulo Shoes celebrates its 20th anniversary, and more.
Madeline and Russell were some of the first artists to celebrate Hayes Valley, even after the Chronicle named it one of the “nation’s hot art spots” in 1992. “The main reason [we started the block party] was to encourage people to come to our neighborhood,” said Madeline.
24 years later, their plan certainly seems to have worked.
