9/12 Block Parties

Plan a Block or Neighborhood Party! – Keep it SIMPLE, SIMPLE, SIMPLE! The demographics of the “block” and the level of participation determine the size and scope. The PURPOSE is building relationships NOT winning an entrainment award or converting everyone to your way of thinking. .

Although putting a Block Party together doesn't need to be difficult, it will definitely be more successful with a little planning.


• Pick a location. If only a few families are interested, you can hold the party in yours or someone’s backyard, but if a majority of the neighborhood wants to attend, you may be able to officially close the street and have a bonafide block party in the public space. Contact your local police department for requirements on road closures, as the laws vary widely from city to city. Most city ordinances require a signed petition from a majority of the neighbors. Another option is to use a nearby park facility.


• Limiting your event to a 2 to 4 hours time span insures that you will have a more concentrated group of attendees.


• Plan a menu. You can not go wrong with the standard burgers and hot dogs and they are always a big hit. But you may also consider serving up a more unique fare, such as barbecued ribs, pulled pork, or kabobs.
- You can easily ask everyone to bring a side dish, or you can request monetary donations to be used for a food budget. This is not out of the ordinary and you will most likely find your neighbors wanting to chip in or help by bringing or buying food.
- You may also solicit local businesses to contribute food, drinks and supplies.
- Other creative options include holding a chili or barbeque cook-off, and having kids award prizes to their favorites.
- Solicit volunteers to bring grills. Ask the people who volunteer their grills to help cook as well.
- Don't forget items like drinks and condiments.
- Make arrangements to purchase plates, napkins, cups and plastic ware. This can be assigned to neighbors or you can have each family be in charge of their own dinnerware.


• Send invitations to everyone on the block.
- Get the kids involved and have them stuff the invites in everyone's mailbox or newspaper boxes
- You can make it more personal and go door-to door, or send a more personal invitation in the mail.
- Put a flyer up at through-ways much like you were advertising for a garage sale.
- Keep the invitation simple, and remember to include contact names and phone numbers for R.S.V.P.'s and for signing up to bring food or coordinate activities. Let people know if they need to bring their own cooler of beverages, or their own chairs.


• Organize a few activities.
- Plan family-friendly activities. Depending on the size or demographics of your block party, you might consider kid events such as hanging candy-filled piñatas for the children to swing at, or set up tables for face-painting, coloring contests, relay races, chalk drawing on the sidewalks, finger painting, kite flying, etc.
- Plan fun events for the adults, too. Some popular summer party favorites include cornhole, horseshoes, ring toss, volleyball, badminton, or lawn darts.
- Don’t over-plan. Use games to get people involved in the early stages of the Block Party and during down times to encourage people to stay. Give folks the opportunity to relax and talk as well.

• Don’t forget the music. Depending on the size of your block party, musical entertainment could be as simple as setting out a stereo in someone’s driveway or I-Pod in a docking station.

• Don’t be afraid to enlist help. If you live on a smaller street, you can go door-to-door and ask neighbors what food or items they can bring. For larger areas, consider distributing fliers with lists of needed items, such as chairs, tables, utensils, or sports equipment. If you already have everything you need, give them the option of signing up for services, such as helping with setup or cleaning up after the party.


Remember, it doesn’t take a hundred people or even fifty to have a successful event. If your neighbors meet a few new families and get to know each other a little better, you’re already beginning to enhance and Restore Your Community.