Create a holiday to celebrate the community

Create a holiday to celebrate the community

On a semi-sunny Saturday afternoon in May, a gritty city block in downtown Portland, Ore. stirred with a giddy sense of anticipation. It’s been a rough few post-Covid years for this part of the city, but today was different — tents arose, a stage emerged, grinning locals wandered curiously as a block party came to life in the middle of the city. It was the first annual 503 Day Block Party — a holiday and event conceived by City Cast Portland, th…