Block party returns to North Riverdale

The North Riverdale Block Festival is coming back to Riverdale Avenue on May 7 for its fourth year celebrating life and pride in upper Riverdale.

The event, sponsored by the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corp., takes place Sunday between 1 and 5 p.m., on Riverdale Avenue between West 258th and 259th streets.

This year’s main stage lineup includes a performance from The Riverdale Y’s Riverdale Rising Stars group, a demonstration of Masala Bhangra — a Bollywood-inspired workout routine — a performance from the 718 jazz trio, and live reggae from the group Rocky and the Pressers.

Throughout the afternoon, the festival also will include face painting, street performances, food, and special deals from local businesses.

Linda Manning, KRVC’s festival cultural director, is responsible for choosing the performances, sharing her secret is to not be picky about the music genre. Instead, it’s about finding and supporting professional artists who live in Riverdale.

“When you come out on a day like this and involve yourself in the community and what’s going on, it grows your own sense of quality of life in your own life,” she said. “We need to have a sense of home and place. And I think (this event offers) that.”

The festival also is a way to get to know the people you see on a daily basis, Manning said. She hopes people who come to the festival will take pride in Riverdale and support local businesses.

“To be out in your community meeting and interacting with neighbors, friends, acquaintances, business owners, it really enriches the life of the community,” she said. “Even though they’re small connections, they’re kind of the glue that holds the community together.”

Admission is free.

For more information, visit KRVCDC.org.