Have a Neighborhood Block Party
Planning the Best Annual Get-Together for Your Neighbors
Jun 13, 2007 Diane Laney Fitzpatrick
A neighborhood block party is a great way to meet new neighbors, reconnect with old ones, and create an ongoing bond on your street.
If your neighborhood doesn’t already hold an annual block party, all it takes is one volunteer to step forward with the suggestion. Why not you? Your neighbors will love the idea and are sure to offer help.
Block parties can be small, intimate get-togethers between a short string of houses, large parties, or anything between.
Start planning early, get the whole neighborhood involved, and remember to make your block party a fun event for all ages.
Planning
- Check with your town administration for any permits required and how to block traffic on the street on party day.
- Hold a planning committee meeting three months in advance, to allow plenty of time to rent equipment and get the word out to save the date.
- Choose a location around which traffic can be easily rerouted, and convenient for all homeowners.
- Choose a date that will provide good weather, but won’t interfere with vacations and other obligations. Summer block parties are popular, but September is a time that few people are away on vacation.
- Whatever houses are in the immediate area of the party should not be put through any more stress than they have to. Set some ground rules, based on the homeowners’ wishes. (Post signs to keep off lawns, rent a Port-a-John so party-goers won’t be overusing the bathrooms in nearby houses, and make arrangements to compensate the homeowners who provide electrical outlets and water for equipment and activities.)
Food
- Collect a few dollars per household for some main-dish foods – buckets of chicken or barbecue meats and grill rental – as well as paper products, plastic utensils, drinks and ice.
- Have homeowners of odd-numbered houses bring salads and side dishes, and even-numbered houses bring desserts.
- Have planning committee members bring appetizers and fixings for a pre-party happy hour to get things rolling.
Decorations
Let the world know your neighborhood is having a block party today! Attach balloons to signposts and mailboxes. Have each family make a banner and post it in their front yard.
Activities
- Consider having a theme for your block party. One year have a Hawaiian luau, another year have a patriotic theme, or an international festival, The Olympics, or a 1960s theme.
- A block party can be awkward for new neighbors. Plan lots of activities, so guests will have something to do.
- Kick off the party with a kids’ parade of bikes, wagons and riding toys, decorated for the theme. Award prizes for the best decorated vehicles.
- Hire a DJ or have all nearby houses put radios set to the same station, aimed out the windows.
- Inflatable moon bounces, rocket spins and other low-key rides are available for rental.
- The local fire department often will provide a truck to show and allow kids to climb around in.
- Face painting or temporary tattoos can be done by volunteer parents.
Games and contests
- Good old-fashioned games never go out of. Have three-legged races, a water balloon toss or a piñata.
- Have a no-hands pudding-eating contest for the kids.
- Have families compete in a treasure hunt or a scavenger hunt.
- Hold a dance contest and award prizes for age group winners.
- Put on an impromptu talent show.
Clean up
Organize a clean-up committee and make it worth their while to come out early the next morning to pick up litter in the light of day. Bring out thermoses of coffee and a box of doughnuts as a treat for the cleaners.
Block Party
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