This research aims to find out the community's understanding of pesta tapai and the construction of the meaning of “pesta tapai” as a strengthening of civic culture in Dahari Selebar Village, Talawi District, Batu Bara Regency, North Sumatra. The method used in this research is, the type of phenomenological research with Qualitative methods. The theories used in this research are symbolic interactionism theory and civic culture theory. The subjects of this research are the village head and the community in Dahari Selebar Village, The type of data in this study uses primary data and secondary data. Data collection techniques in this study were carried out by observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis techniques in this study used data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of this study indicate that people's understanding of the tapai party, Village includes the history of the existence of the tapai party, the experience of traders who sell at the tapai party, the main characteristics of the tapai party celebration, the purpose of the implementation of the tapai party, the benefits in the tapai party activities. While the construction of the meaning of “tapai party” as a strengthening of civic culture in Dahari Selebar Village they interpret the tapai party as an economic improvement, increasing the ties of silahturahmi, momentum to be able to worship by giving alms. so that this meaning shapes how the tapai party continues to exist, it requires the awareness of residents and the younger generation, with good interaction between buyers and traders. From the existing meaning, it has a very good impact on the community, because the community becomes active in having a role, the actions taken strengthen the civic culture, including active participation, solidarity, mutual trust, tolerance, norms of reciprocity and equality, social networking, and the tradition of association.