McCarter Theatre Center will celebrate the start of its 2017-18 season with its 7^th annual community-wide Block Party, taking place on Wednesday, August 23 from 5-8 p.m. on the front lawn of McCarter’s Matthews Theatre.

College Road between Alexander Road and University Place will be closed for the event, which is free and open to the public. The rain date is August 24.

The afternoon will feature live music from the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra, as well as the opportunity to win prizes, backstage tours, spin art, a photo booth, a beer garden, and crafts with Art Sparks. Attendees will also have access to exclusive ticket offers for season programming, including such family-friendly artists and productions as the Yamato Drummers of Japan, Cirque Éloize, State Ballet Theatre of Russia’s Sleeping Beauty and McCarter’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Food and drinks can be purchased from local eateries including The Chilly Banana, The Feed Truck, Gil & Bert’s Ice Cream, Jammin’ Crepes, Maddalena’s Cheesecake & Catering, Mediterra Restaurant and Taverna, Mobile Mardi Gras Food Truck, My Four Suns, Nomad Pizza, Oink & Moo BBQ, Surf and Turf Food Truck, Tico’s Eatery/Juice Bar, and Tower Dogs Food Truck.

For more information, visit mccarter.org or call (609) 258.2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place.