Dartmouth neighbours plan fall social (with dog parade!) to gather community, support charities

Residents in a South Dartmouth neighbourhood are getting ready to take over part of their street for an afternoon of food, activities and a chance to reconnect before winter.

The neighbourhood fall social is scheduled for Oct. 18 (weather permitting), with a section of Boundary Street, between Pleasant Street and Esdaile Avenue set to close for the gathering.

One of the organizers, Terri McCulloch, said the idea grew out of previous Canada Day gatherings in the neighborhood, including a larger annual celebration that stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Before winter sets in and everybody hibernates, it would be nice to have the opportunity to get together in the neighbourhood and just sort of enjoy each other’s company,” McCulloch told the Post.

Five households have been involved in organizing the event and received permission from the municipality to close a small section of the street. McCulloch said the closure will give residents more room for activities and allow organizers to bring barbeques onto the street.

The event runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and features face painting for children and a hot dog barbecue. The afternoon includes a dog parade at 2:30 p.m., a live brass band at 3 p.m., and pumpkin bowling at 4 p.m.

The free event will also serve as an opportunity to support two local organizations. Residents are encouraged to bring non-perishable food for the Parker Street Food Bank or pet food for Bide Awhile animal shelter.

McCulloch said opportunities to gather in person have become particularly important since the pandemic, as people spend more time at home.

“I think since COVID especially, we’ve all become more aware of the need to create these opportunities for folks to gather face-to-face, in person, get to know each other,” she said.

Organizers hope the fall social will become an annual event, alongside a return of the neighbourhood’s Canada Day gathering. While the group may consider organizing a larger gathering for the broader neighbourhood in the future, the Oct. 18 social has been planned for people in the immediate streets around Boundary Street, McCulloch explained.

McCulloch hopes the event will give neighbours a chance to “slow things down a little bit and have a chance to chat with each other.”