TRiiBE music correspondent Rome J will MC the hour-long show from 4:45 PM to 5:45 PM.
“The TRiiBE’s mission is to show the multifaceted essence of Black Chicago. That’s what The Silver Room Block Party is to me,” says Morgan Johnson, co-founder and creative director of The TRiiBE. “It’s, like, the biggest love fest for Black culture. So, I mean, it’s everything that The TRiiBE gets to represent peaceful and family vibes.”
The Block Party is Williams’s love letter to the community. It first started back in 2002 near The Silver Room’s first location in Wicker Park. When Williams moved the jewelry and apparel shop to 1506 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park, the block party moved with it.
Since its start, the block party has grown from a few hundred people to an estimated 40,000. With this year’s theme being “the Greater Good,” Williams strives to elevate the platforms of various community organizations in the city. So there’s a bunch of new activities added to the fun-filled day: including a pop-up skating rink by The Rink, along with yoga, reggae dancehall and burlesque classes at The Promontory.
In May, Williams spoke at pre-festival season event co-hosted with the Chosen Few DJs, where he shared his favorite time of the day at the Block Party.
“One is the 2 PM to 3 PM,” Williams said. “People are jumping rope. The kids are there. It’s not so crowded.”
Williams’ second favorite part of the day is around 8 PM when his friend and house producer Ron Trent jumps on stage for his dj set.
“I can stand on stage and watch everybody else have a good time,” Williams said.
To see a full list of events and transportation options, visit The Silver Room Block Party’s website.