MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Spartan Dance and Fit Center hosted Meridian Township’s first Rock the Block! event all day Aug. 12 at the Carriage Hills Shopping Center.

Rock the Block! was one of the family-friendly festivities Meridian Township is putting on this year to celebrate the Township’s 175th Anniversary.

Some of the activities included stage performances by students of the Spartan Dance and Fit Center and the MSU Spartan Dance Team.

There was also a bounce house, a dunk tank, balloon art, face painting and a beer tent at Buddies Pub and Grill for families to enjoy.

“Bring your family, spend some time with your kids and have fun,” Spartan Dance and Fit Center owner Tiffany Burton said. “It’s a great end of the year activity.”

Rock the Block! also featured over 20 business vendors, including PKSA Karate, whose students also gave a stage demonstration of different karate forms.

“It’s really fun to see everyone out here,” PKSA owner Tim Karasek said. “This is the first event where we had the opportunity to get involved with, where we actually have come out of the dojo and presented ourselves to the public.”

At night, the band Starfarm gave a live performance.

This Rock the Block! event is first of three that Meridian Township will be hosting this year.

“I would be happy to do it again,” Burton said. “I think the public’s definite outreach and support behind it has been fabulous.”