‘Hey, Bud, let’s party.”

It’s fair to say those words – uttered by Sean Penn’s immortal character, Jeff Spicoli, in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” – weren’t exactly what Nashua officials had in mind when they staged a series of block parties at four locations around the city on Saturday.

But party people did.

In fact, hundreds of people turned out to Kirkpatrick Park in south Nashua, Ash Street in the Tree Streets, Atherton Park in French Hill and Nashua High School North.

They came for the music, free food, face painting, an assortment of contests, martial arts demonstrations and other activities.

Andrew Thibault was drawn to the French Hill gathering by a rumor that there might be a pie-eating throwdown.

“I heard about the contest,” he told The Telegraph’s Livia Gershon. “I said, ‘I got this. I eat a lot.’?”

Oh, yes he does. In fact, he topped three other equally-messy contestants – none were allowed to use their hands, of course – to claim the top prize.

Block parties used to be a thing in Nashua during the 1970s and ’80s, and some of the people who turned out had fond memories of attending those.

Joshua Hansen remembered going to block parties with his parents when he was young.

“I was like, ‘Wow, I can bring my kids – food, games, live band,’?” he said.

That’s a nice example of history repeating itself, and chances are his kids might remember the event fondly enough so that, when they get to be his age, maybe they’ll take their kids.

It’s events like this – and the sense of community they represent – that help explain another item that was in the news this weekend: An increase in the number of homes sold in the city last month, and a surge in the prices people paid to buy them.

A report issued by Re/Max of New England found 99 homes and condos were sold in Nashua in August of this year, compared with 84 that changed hands in August 2012. They sold for a median price of $231,750, a lofty 18 percent higher than the 2012 median price of $196,250.

The report – which included all home sales, not just those sold by Re/Max – also found a decline in the length of time a home stayed on the market, from 77 days a year ago to just 45 days this year.

Nashua has its shortcomings, sure, just like any other place. The crime can be a bit unsettling and the political bickering can grow tiresome, but it’s clear that Nashua still functions a lot like a much smaller town and is a desirable place to live.

Events like the block parties only reinforce that notion and the one expressed by resident Darcie Grafton at the French Hill block party on Saturday: “Everybody knows somebody that knows somebody else, so everybody pretty much knows everybody.”

The people who organized the parties put in a lot of work and they deserve to take a bow. We hope they do it again.

Because, between the nostalgia component, the fun, the involvement of children and the way the parties provided yet another avenue for people to connect with their neighbors, it brought to mind another movie.

“Back to the Future.”

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