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To celebrate their homecoming, the University of Idaho joins the city of Moscow to throw a Vandals block party.

This year will be the third year of the Downtown Moscow Block Party, a celebration for the students as they return to school.

“This gives them the chance to … have the community embrace the students and show off what is fun and exciting about our hometown,” executive director of Moscow Chamber of Commerce Gina Taruscio said.

The block party is usually held after school starts so the students can get settled in during the first month, Taruscio said. The party began after the election of Moscow’s current mayor as a way for students to see the community.

The block party comes together through the collaboration with UI, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Moscow and local businesses. This includes vendors from the farmer’s market and bands from UI.

“It is the businesses in Moscow, it’s the university, all the departments and the students and our city,” Taruscio said. “It is everybody that gets involved.”

Starting at second street and going all the way down to seventh, the block party features food, beer gardens and music, including the bands “Ease Up” and “Tunnel Vision,” Taruscio said.

Normally, the block party is on a different weekend than UI’s homecoming week. It is a coincidence that the two weekends match up this year, Taruscio said. She hopes this will work out and possibly arrange for the block party to always line up with homecoming.

“This is now an entire weekend devoted to the Vandals,” Taruscio said, “Vandal students, homecoming, (and) celebrating Moscow.”

Homecoming alone makes Moscow crazy busy, Taruscio said. UI has a strong alumni base that enjoys coming home to celebrate with the team. Adding in the block party, it becomes a happily crazy weekend, she said.

The first year of the block party, 350 people attended. This increased to 500 last year, and Taruscio said she hopes to get three times as many this year.

Taruscio said she enjoys seeing the people who come to the party, as many are surprised by what they see. Wide-eyed students blend with long-time Vandals fans with Joe Vandal stickers on their faces.

“I enjoy the people part of it,” Taruscio said. “I like to watch the crowd and watch them have that moment.”

The block party will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in downtown Moscow.