Join us for an unforgettable day celebrating art, culture, and community. This free, family-friendly event features live performances, local food trucks, hands-on activities, and community partners from across the city.
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Block Party
Event Overview
Block Party 2025
September 13, 2025 | 3:00p.m.–8:30p.m. | TMA Campus
The Toledo Museum of Art invites the community to its annual Block Party on Saturday, September 13, 2025. This free, all-ages event celebrates art, culture, and connection with a lively day of outdoor festivities on the museum grounds.
Visitors can enjoy hands-on art making activities, live performances, local food vendors, music, and more throughout the afternoon. Designed to bring together neighbors, artists, and families, the Block Party reflects TMA’s commitment to accessibility, creativity, and community engagement.
Enjoy a variety of engaging activities and special guest appearances throughout the event:
Live Painting with Local Artists
Watch artists bring canvases to life in real time:
Bernadine Rais
Brenda Singletary
Carianna Carillio
Bird’s Eye View Circus
Stop by for balloon animals and lively entertainment
Dorian: The Amazing Mr. Strange
Delight in roaming magic and crowd-pleasing tricks.
Glass City Photo Booth
Snap a fun memory with themed photo ops.
Zot Artz: Art Tools for All Abilities
Inclusive art-making activities designed with accessibility in mind.
Toledo School of the Arts Face Painting
Creative, colorful designs for kids and families.
Caricature Artist
Take home a one-of-a-kind portrait with a playful twist.
Spike, the Toledo Walleye Mascot
Meet and greet with this crowd favorite!
Performance Schedule
Saturday, September 13, 2025
| 3:00–3:35p.m. | My5tery Music Drumline performance kicks off the party |
| 3:35–3:50p.m. | Welcome from TMA Leadership and introduction to our host, Kristian Brown |
| 3:50–5:00p.m. | DJ Tony Rios |
| 5:00–5:30p.m. | Aha Indian Dance Troupe |
| 5:30–5:45p.m. | "Key to the Museum" community honor |
| 5:45–7:00p.m. | Toledo native DJ Jalen Tol |
| 7:00–8:00p.m. | Headliner: "The Voice" finalist Jan Dan with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra |
| 8:00p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 8:15–8:30p.m. | Drone Light Show |
This year’s Block Party is packed with activities for guests of all ages. Create, play, and connect with hands-on art making, family-friendly games, face painting, and special appearances by local mascots. Community partners like the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Imagination Station, and Promedica will be on-site alongside local organizations, safety partners, and neighborhood resources.
Enjoy unique experiences like circus performances, a photo booth, henna, caricature art, giant board games, and more — all designed to celebrate our community’s creativity and culture.
Community Partners
The Digital Drop-In
This year’s Block Party includes an exciting spotlight on Infinite Images, TMA’s current ticketed exhibition (free to members) exploring digital creativity, code-driven design, and the ever-evolving world of image-making.
Special Screening: Generative
2:00 p.m. | Little Theater
Get a first look at an upcoming documentary project with a special film preview screening during the Block Party. Following the screening, join a thoughtful conversation with producer Amber Tordoff-Gibson and director Ben Spilling, moderated by Julia Kaganskiy, curator of Infinite Images: The Art of Algorithms.
This panel offers insight into the creative process, themes behind the work, and the evolving role of artists in shaping public narratives. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from the filmmakers and explore the ideas behind the scenes.
Beeple Exhibition Opening
Step into the bold and provocative world of Beeple, one of today’s most recognized digital artists. Be among the first to experience this new installation,Transient Bloom, opening during the Block Party, featuring his distinctive blend of satire, sci-fi, and social commentary — all created with cutting-edge digital tools.
AlgoRave at TMA
Experience sound and code in motion. Don’t miss the AlgoRave, a live music event where artists create and manipulate sound using code in real time. Part concert, part experiment, part dance party — it's an electrifying way to close out the night, right here at the museum.
From immersive art to algorithmic beats, this special program brings Infinite Images to life across sound, screen, and experience.
Photo Credit: Brooklynn Russell
Taste the Block
Bean Crazy
City Soda
Deets BBQ
Fat Boyz
Jikoni
K&K Funnel Cakes
The Loaded Chicken
Los Pollo Loco
Stacks Chicken
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