Street Fest Charlotte-Style

One of the things we miss most about Chicago are its summer street festivals - music, food, drink, friends, closed down streets, warm weather and great people watching. Well...it's a bit different in Charlotte, but we'll take what we can get. Our street shuts down once a year and hosts a block party w/ neighbors, food, drink, fire truck and police car, kids on bikes and warm weather (it did not rain for the 17th straight year on Labor Day). The evening ended w/ a shaving cream fight amongst the kids (apparently tradition). Cole spent the evening on his bike and then chasing and being chased by Barbasol cans. He had a blast...more so than at any of the Chicago festivals. We're supposed to host next year...any ideas on activities?