Main Street in Moscow isn’t on the University of Idaho campus, but it’s always been a special place for Vandals. Homecoming parades, game day celebrations and Saturday mornings at the Farmers Market are woven into the U of I experience. The fall semester launched on Monday and our residence halls are bursting at the seams with students. Last weekend they enjoyed Palousafest, a rocking Craig Morgan concert and the iconic “I” photo and Vandal Walk, among dozens of other activities on campus. The incoming students are also beginning to uncover the joys and comforts of Moscow. The picturesque town is the perfect setting for our campus community, providing a great destination for our alumni to gather and celebrate. This weekend, for the first time since 2019, the city, Chamber of Commerce and University of Idaho are sponsoring the Block Party to welcome Vandals back to Moscow. “This is a great event to get people together and reinforce that we’re partners in this town,” said Moscow Mayor Art Bettge, who graduated from the U of I in 1976 and has lived in town since 1980. “Students are a big part of our community and downtown is here for them to gather and enjoy. We want to provide a better link between the university and the city.” The city hosts a series of celebrations to bring students and the rest of the community to the “event corridor” on Main Street. Later this semester, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual Moscowberfest, the latest in a series of downtown street parties that are growing in popularity. This weekend’s Block Party will feature food and drink vendors, a Hula-Hoop challenge versus Vandal student-athletes, drop-in karaoke, speed Jenga and more. The event is free and open to all. A popular year-round destination, downtown Moscow is especially bustling from May to October. On Saturdays, the Moscow Farmers Market on Main Street attracts thousands of shoppers. It’s been voted the No. 1 farmer’s market in the state and is ranked in the top 10 nationally. Moscow has topped Livability’s list of “Best Places to Raise a Family” numerous times and serves as a tremendous home base for Idaho’s land grant university. “The U of I is basically the entire southwest quadrant of Moscow and we’re getting closer geographically as real estate is developed,” Bettge said. “It’s important that we work together. There is a lot of overlap between the city and the university and we do depend on each other.” |