What it takes to keep a neighborhood tradition alive

For many neighbors, summer in Maple Leaf isn’t just about the weather. It’s about showing up. It’s about seeing familiar faces, meeting someone new, and feeling that shared sense of place that makes this neighborhood feel like home.

The Summer Social has been part of Maple Leaf since the 1990s. Organized by the Maple Leaf Community Council, it has long been one of the most consistent ways we bring neighbors together. In our recent community survey, it ranked as the most loved event we host.

Like so many neighborhood traditions, it fell off during COVID. Despite a strong effort to bring it back in 2021, the council wasn’t able to make it happen in 2022. That moment mattered. It forced the board to step back and rethink how the work was structured. From that experience, the Maple Leaf Community Council reorganized around committees, giving volunteers clearer ownership and the freedom to focus on the work they cared most about.

In 2023, former board member Kim stepped up and led the effort to bring the Summer Social back. Through tireless work, she assembled a team, found a city grant, and helped deliver the biggest version of the event Maple Leaf had ever seen. When Kim later stepped away, the Maple Leaf Community Council didn’t lose momentum. The team she built stayed engaged, and Stefan and Michelle worked alongside them to create a sustainable plan so the event could continue year after year.

The details evolved too. Each year brought its own t-shirt. Mingle Bingo gave neighbors an easy way to connect. Supplies were built up so future teams could run the event more efficiently. Nonprofit organizations were invited to participate for free. And Ace Hardware continued its tradition of supplying ice cream for everyone, something many neighbors now expect as part of the day.

This past year brought our largest crowd yet. Even as temperatures climbed close to 90 degrees, neighbors showed up in force. That turnout reflected more than good weather. It showed how much this event matters and how much work the Maple Leaf Community Council and its volunteers put into making it happen.

At its heart, the Summer Social is about our mission as a council. We exist to create spaces that connect neighbors with the people and places they value most. This event is one of the clearest expressions of that mission, and it only works because neighbors step forward to help.

Right now, the Maple Leaf Community Council is looking for volunteers who want to be part of making the Summer Social happen. We’re especially looking for people who can help coordinate planning and support the day-of logistics. The team already has a well-documented plan in place. What we need now are neighbors who want to help execute it and bring their own ideas into the mix.

If you don’t have time to commit, we understand. Memberships are a big part of what keeps this event running. Between permits, insurance, bands, face painting, and more, the Summer Social is one of our larger investments. Membership dues go directly toward making this event and others possible, and they help us do it in a more sustainable way each year.

Learn how you can support or help organize the Summer Social at our neighborhood kickoff on January 11 at Eagles Nest.

‍

--

‍

Did you know?
Our events are attended by more than 4,500 neighbors. Yet only 200 of our neighbors actively support the Maple Leaf Community Council financially. For just $3 a month, you can help ensure the Summer Social keeps happening and that we can continue bringing neighbors together.

Become a member today and help keep the Summer Social alive for years to come!

‍