Street Feast: Calling All Neighbours

The 2016 Centenary Street Feast National Day of Street Parties and Community Celebrations Sunday, 12^th June 2016

Street Feast are delighted to confirm that registrations are OPEN for the 7th Annual Street Feast day, which is to be held on Sunday, 12th June 2016.   Street Feast is an Irish local community initiative and this year is part of the State’s 1916 / 2016 Centenary Celebrations.  In partnership with the Centenary Programme, we are calling on people nationwide to come together at 12.00 noon on Sunday, 12th June to enjoy a bite to eat with their neighbours for a simple and fun way of reconnecting with those that live near them.

The initiative invites an individual or a group of neighbours to host a lunch on their street, in a local park or in their front gardens – inviting other neighbours to come along and join them.  Everyone is encouraged to bring something along.  Street Feast will support these individuals and community groups to host their own celebration, which is repeated on streets and in gardens all across Ireland.  Everyone who registers will receive a free Street Feast party pack. The Street Feast website – www.streetfeast.ie outlines how to go about organising your own Street Feast and provides the templates for posters, flyers to hand out and invites to drop through your neighbour’s door.  

Street Feast was conceived and developed by a small group of volunteers in 2010, who were passionate about bringing people together through food, and to rediscover neighbourliness as the launch pad for lasting improvements within communities.  Street Feast is a not-for-profit, all-for-fun, do-it-yourself celebration.  Almost 40,000 people have taken to the streets across the country to date and this year Street Feast are planning to substantially increase the number of events and participants on Sunday, 12th June.

This year, we are delighted that so many organisations have come on board to promote the community initiative – the local authorities, An Post, Dublin City Council, Scouting Ireland, Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Irish Countrywoman’s Association, GIY Ireland, Volunteer Ireland, Foroige, The Tidy Towns and many more.

Speaking today, Sam Bishop, one of the founders of Street Feast said:

“Over 50% of us do not know our neighbours – these are the results of a survey carried out by ‘Brand Army’.  In years gone by, it was likely you knew all your neighbours, not just your next door neighbours. You knew their names, not just their house numbers.  These were people you spoke to regularly, they helped you and looked out for you when you needed support and likewise, you lent a hand in times of need.  Knowing your neighbours was a sign of healthier and happier communities.

“Today that seems to have all changed, but there is no time like the present to change this – we want Street Feast to act as a spark to help rejuvenate communities, welcoming old and new faces, bringing generations together, sharing stories and skills, and making our streets safer places to be, whilst still celebrating the incredible food that we have here in Ireland.  We hope in some small way, a Street Feast will reduce isolation within our communities and encourage participation”.

How to register and what is involved?

Hosting a Street feast couldn’t be easier. People can register their Street Feast online at www.streetfeast.ie where you will receive a free Party Pack, which will be posted direct to your home. This pack provides a handy guide to help make your feast a success, as well as posters, invitations, balloons, party hats and bunting to get the party started!