History of Street Parties

Street parties have a long history and are a British tradition. Street parties as we know them as popular residents' events in their own streets seem to have started in 1919. They were held in July as 'Peace Teas' as a genuine celebration of the signing earlier in June of the Versailles peace treaty after the First World War. They centred round a special treat for children in those times of hardship and were quite formal sit down affairs.

After then residents continued to organise them on all major national days of celebration as shown below.

Now street parties are becoming more common and held at any time for their own sake, for everyone in the street and with a more relaxed BBQ and food-to-share arrangement. Streets Alive believes that they can become widespread and regular throughout the country to promote neighbourliness.

Streets Alive would like to build a History of Street Parties here. So please contact us with any stories of old street parties, and if possible send us any photos or website links.

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