The Raleigh Block Party
At the end of April for the past 13 years, the properties in the Raleigh market join together to host an annual event that has morphed into quite a tradition.
This year was no different as UV2505, Campus Edge, College Inn, and Live On Hillsborough successfully put on the annual Raleigh Block Party.
Highlighting the event each year is a live music performance by The Embers, a Carolina based beach music band that have been entertaining crowds across the country for six decades. The Embers have performed at each Block Party since its inception in 2007.
In addition to booking the Embers, other details are planned such as setting up the stage, lights, and sound, coordinating with local food vendors, and also arranging to have local law enforcement present at the event to help ensure a fun but safe environment.
We spoke to Jessica East, the Area Marketing Manager at UV2505, who was responsible for a large amount of organizing this year’s Block Party. We asked about the planning process and the efforts she made to make this year’s block party a success.
“The planning process planning is actually not too bad,” she said. “With this year being the 13th year, it runs it self for the most part. The morning of the party tends to be the most hectic because of the little details like clearing out cars from the parking lot so the stage can be set up.”
Once the event starts, staff members from each property set up a designated area in order to spend time engaging with current residents and potential prospects by handing out promotional items, including this year’s custom designed Block Party t-shirt.
“My favorite part is getting residents involved and seeing how excited they get for it,” Jessica said. “This year the DJ was one of our residents and a NC State football player, and the t-shirt was designed by another resident. So I really enjoyed working with both of them!”
Not only does the event provide each property an opportunity to engage with their residents, the event is something that the local community looks forward to each year as attendance usually exceeds 1,000 people. Corporate office employees also have made it a tradition to enjoy the festivities each year, providing a chance to spend time with each other outside of office hours.
Congratulations to all of the properties in the Raleigh market for pulling off wonderful tradition year after year!
“I did take a little moment that night to look out at all of the kids having fun and dancing around and it made me very happy to know that I did that and I really enjoy what I do and the company that I get to do it for. I went to school for this and this is what I’m good at —at least I think so— and seeing everyone enjoy it makes every step of planning it worth it 100 times over.”
