Residents of the Merriam Park, Mac-Groveland and Desnoyer Park neighborhoods are invited to NeighborFest at the University of St. Thomas from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, on the university’s St. Paul campus at Summit and Cretin avenues.
“Come Together. Celebrate. Come Back!” is the annual event’s theme. “NeighborFest is a chance to introduce neighbors to one another as well as to the many ways they can take part in campus life,” said Amy Gage, neighborhood liaison at St. Thomas.
The 35th annual event will feature bluegrass music, free drinks and snacks, dinner baskets for purchase and family-focused entertainment, including the Tommie mascot, a bubble artist and face painters.
“NeighborFest is our celebration of community and a thank you to campus neighbors who work with us throughout the year,” Gage said.
City Council President Russ Stark and Western District Commander Ed Lemon are among the invited speakers to this year’s event, which will take place on John P. Monahan Plaza, just south of the football stadium.
In addition, Vice President for Government Relations Doug Hennes, Vice President for Student Affairs Karen Lange and other senior leaders will welcome neighbors to campus. The St. Paul Mounted Police Unit also will have an officer and a horse on hand.
Neighbors are encouraged to walk or bicycle to the event. Free parking will be available at Anderson Parking Facility at Cretin and Grand avenues.
A variety of campus and community resources will have tables at the event. Vendors include:
- Union Park District Council
- Macalester-Groveland Community Council
- O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library (which allows neighbors who live within the Student Housing Overlay District to check out books)
- The Selim Center for Learning in Later Years
- Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour (which starts and ends on the south campus of St. Thomas; this year on Sunday, Sept. 11)
- The St. Thomas Alumni Association (where alumni neighbors are invited to complete a survey about neighborhood relations)
- Natural Ways Chiropractic in Merriam Park.
For more information, visit the Neighborhood Relations website, call (651) 962-6123, or send an email to agage@stthomas.edu.
