The event, created in 2021, has grown each year — it started with 18 booths in its first iteration, and boasted 54 on Saturday. It is a fundraiser for the St. Armand Youth Task Force, a non-profit organization that supports youth sports and other children’s programs in the town of St. Armand.

St. Armand Town Supervisor Davina Thurston, president of the St. Armand Youth Task Force was working the welcome booth and estimated that 600 to 700 people came out. She said it’s been “amazing” to watch it grow.

“It’s just an incredible thing so see so many people coming out in our community,” Thurston said.

For her, it was a mix of old and new faces. She said the event drew people in from all over — Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Keeseville, AuSable Forks, Jay and Keene — not to mention the tourists who made the block party part of their Tri-Lakes trip.

Ebyn Kriplin shreds a rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The Bloomingdale Youth Field behind the fire department building was filled with tents, vendors, games, stiltwalkers and walking balloons, lots of walking balloons. So many balloons, Thurston said that they couldn’t keep up with filling them.

“We sold every single dragon (balloon), every dinosaur, “Thurston said. “We were down to dogs and chickens.”

Youth task force projects include their recent donation of $10,000 to the town of St. Armand to purchase a playground pirate ship for the Bloomingdale Youth Field, contributing to a performance stage being built on the youth field and plans for expanding the Bloomingdale Youth Building.

The pirate ship was crawling with kids on Saturday. The stage hosted two open mics, as well as local band Frankie and the Moonlighters.

Thurston said the event could not have happened without all of its volunteers, including Doug Snickles, Christopher Willette, Robert Stevenson, Devon Snickles, Russell Ferrell, Dean Montroy and Jonathan Nielson. She thanked Eric Wilson with Good Guy Productions for bringing in the bounce houses at the “midnight hour.”

JJ Moody, 8, jumps to dunk a ball in a hoop held by stiltwalker Sammy Yelle at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Thurston said there are many others to thank; she thanked them all on the behalf of the Youth Task Force.

The block party was created as a replacement for the large community Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department Field Days, which the department does not have a volunteer base to run anymore. It is funded by Essex County, with local businesses and organizations sponsoring portions of the event.

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CORRECTION: A former version of this article included a cutline with an incorrect name for Ebyn Kriplin. The Enterprise regrets the error.

Jessica Kemp of Frankie and The Moonlighters sings while holding a rubber chicken at the Bloomingdale Block Party. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Rowan Law, 3, slides down an inflatable slide at the Bloomingdale Block Party. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Natalie Hough, 4, throws dice to win Paw Patrol bubbles at the Bloomingdale Block Party. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Benjamin Coulibaly, 13, left, battles it out with his cousin Daniel Coulibaly, 10, with foam staffs at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Dominic D’Errico pitches a ball at a dunk tank lever to sink his niece, Kaylee Corris in the cool water on a hot day. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Olina Hirshblond, 4, gets a temporary shark tattoo from Amy Nelson at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Hailey Fisk, 2, chews on a rubber duck while playing a game run by Tom and Diane Burman at the Bloomingdale Block Party. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Joey Gordan, left, and Daniel Coulibaly battle it out with foam staffs at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Travis Rabideau throws a cornhole bag while playing a tournament at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday while Jonah Trembley looks on. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Jake Wood, 12, pitches at the Bloomingdale Block Party on Saturday. He plays on a local baseball league. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)