23 Forgotten American Holidays & Traditions

Back when neighbors knew each other, block parties turned quiet residential streets into vibrant community festivals during the summer. Families dragged grills and folding tables from their garages, kids played kickball on the closed-off street, and neighbors spent hours sharing stories and their favorite potluck dishes with one another. These summer celebrations emerged when suburban life blossomed in the 1950s and ‘60s and helped people form neighborly bonds that lasted decades.