Don’t be a stranger: get to know your neighborhood! By helping host a block party, you can meet your neighbors, create community, and have a blast doing it!
First, create a committee to plan the party: this is not a one-person job! Deliver flyers to neighborhood homes announcing the party, and asking for volunteers for the committee. Let the members of the committee create firm plans for the party, and make sure at least one person is assigned to each major task.
Get family name, address, contact info, and number of people likely attending from each house. See if people have equipment (chairs, tables, etc) that they could offer for use during the event. Make sure everything that is loaned is clearly marked with the owner’s name and contact information, and that it is promptly returned after the event.
Be sure to check all legal requirements and get any permits necessary. Arrange for parking, if people are driving to the location. Check with your city government to see what permits are needed, and what guidelines need to be followed. Allow enough time for any and all paperwork to clear before the event.
Make it a potluck: this provides a wide range of food, and isn’t burdensome on any single family. Consider asking families to commit to a certain type of dish (salad, entree, bread, etc) to ensure that there is a good variety.
Have fun events for the whole family; some guests may prefer active games, while others prefer to sit and chat quietly. There should be enough chairs for those who want to relax, and enough games to keep the active folks moving. Set up a board game table with a selection of games, and an area for the use of things like Frisbees, water guns, etc.
Decide ahead of time what bathroom facilities will be available: will people be near enough to use their own, or will other arrangements need to be made?
Make sure to have designated people in charge of setting up and cleaning up. This ensures that you are not racing to set up a hundred chairs an hour before the event, or staying hours late cleaning up trash. When everyone pitches in, the work will go quickly.
I hope you found the article useful. Give me a call if you have any questions.
