AUBURN — The third annual Summer Block Party at Mac’s Grill was a big community success in its aim to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, according to event organizers. 

“It’s been crazy — it’s been pretty packed all day,” Auburn Parks Director Sabrina Best said. 

With a barbecue, fresh popcorn, a cash bar and live music all afternoon, it’s no surprise.

The party kicked off at 1 p.m. and wrapped up after the 9 p.m. fireworks. Between that, local bands The Veggies, The Depths, and Hello Newman, played live music, and there was a 95-foot inflatable obstacle course and a dunk tank.

Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte, Troy and Travis Barnies and state Sen. Eric Brakey all took a turn in the dunk tank. Attendees could pay $2 to try and sink them from their seat into the tank filled with cold water.

Best said it was very popular, especially for LaBonte.

Even Slugger the Sea Dog was on hand for a special appearance, as well as Mr. Drew and His Animals, Too.

Guests were even chauffeured from the parking lot to the party in golf carts.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Make-A-Wish Maine Executive Director Alex Gaeth. “Something as powerful as this, it really impacts the community.

“If we can do this and bring hope to the life of someone who is in a dark place, that’s a great thing,” Gaeth said.

Jim Marston, owner of Uncle Andy’s Digest, said the goal this year was to raise $50,000 to fund wishes for seven local kids through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Marston said the event started because he wanted to throw a party to celebrate 20 years in print. He said he wanted to find a local nonprofit organization to partner with, and met a young girl who survived the same type of cancer he had who had her wish granted, and decided to support Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Marston said he was confident they would reach their goal.

Last year, they raised $35,000, enough for five wishes to be granted.

He said a lot of the money is raised through the silent auction, which had over 100 items this year. The big auction item this year was a trip to Hawaii, which he said would bring in about $5,000.

There was also a Harley-Davidson motorcycle up for raffle — if you could win a game of cornhole, that is.

Marston said the party keeps evolving and getting better, and partnering with the city of Auburn this year helped.

He said they had 30 businesses sponsoring the event this year. The president of the event’s prime sponsor, Spectrum Healthcare Partners, came to speak.

“The first year, we did this it was just to celebrate 20 years, we weren’t thinking about doing it again, but it really made sense, and partnering with Make-A-Wish makes sense,” Marston said.

“We keep it fresh and keep it new, and that’s why people keep coming back,” he said.

Make-A-Wish Maine Event Director Samantha Elliott said she works with individuals and companies that want to raise money for Make-A-Wish, and it’s always amazing to see people volunteer because they find the mission to be so meaningful.

“The day has been really amazing so far,” she said.

She said if the event can raise enough to fund seven wishes, it would be their biggest external event.

“This event somehow feels like a marriage between Make-A-Wish and the community,” Elliott said. “When you have an event so public and so visible, it’s such a value to our organization.”

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