Rock the Block to transform Bank Street

By Deborah Rose

It’s a matter one day until Bank Street in New Milford is bustling with music, dancing, and smiles.

The annual Rock the Block series, hosted by the Bank Street Group, will open Friday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. for the season.

It had been planned for Thursday, May 23, but was pushed to its rain date due to inclement weather.

The popular free event will feature live music, sidewalk sales, and street games on Bank Street, which will be closed to traffic.

“It’s a great event for downtown and our community that we look forward to hosting every year,” said Kylie Costello, of the Bank Street Group. “They’ve grown bigger and bigger, and we love to see the support.”

The band Struggle Monkey will kick off the series Friday performing rock music at the entrance to the gated parking lot on the north side of Bank Street.

Some of restaurants on the street will have tables set up outside their establishments so patrons can have a livelier experience, and many of the downtown businesses will be open late and offer sidewalk sales or other specials.

While the Bank Street Group hosts the event, Berkshire Broadcasting airs publicity about the event on 98Q; and Yardscapes Landscape Professionals is the radio sponsor.

Bakewell & Mulhare is also a sponsor of the May Rock the Block.

“It’s nice to have in town,” said Erin Maguire, owner of the Natural Marketplace on Bank Street. “It brings people to the town center.”

After Friday, the season will continue with a Rock the Block event June 20 (rain date June 21) with Anchor Management, which will perform yacht rock and 1970-80s music; July 18 (rain date July 19) with Nashville Drive, which will perform modern country music; Aug. 22 (rain date Aug. 23) with Pop Rocks, an ’80s cover band; and Sept. 19 (rain date Sept. 20) with Mighty Ploughboys, which will play Irish rock music.

All concerts will start at 6:30 p.m.

Costello related a few special treats are in the works this year, too, citing the specialty addition of a 9-hold mini golf course for August.

Rock the Block attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs to set up along the street for any of the offerings.

The event has grown popular since they began around 2014 as a Third Thursday event, solely with music offered on the Green.

In 2018, the event was moved from the Green to Bank Street. 

Then, in 2021, the event was rebranded as Rock the Block.

“We wanted to revamp it … to be a little different and inviting [more] than just music on the Green,” Costello said. 

Street games, sidewalk sales, pop-up vendors and all the local restaurants were included, she noted.

Photos courtesy of Bank Street Group