Looking for some great neighborhood block party ideas? What about all the steps leading up to it that require all the planning and execution? Throwing a block party in your neighborhood doesn’t have to be stressful!
Spring is here…well, kinda. Depends on which Missouri day it is… Technically, by the calendar, spring has sprung! I don’t know about you, but I am CRAVING to be outdoors one on one with Mother Nature. Hiking, biking, exploring? Oh my, yes! The walls in my house seem to start closing in a little bit each year around the end of February. Ever heard of “seasonal” depression? I think it’s a thing, for sure. The lack of sunlight, shorter days during winter months…it all starts to wear on you over time.
Spring in my mind means outdoor activities, playing at the park, planting the garden and more neighborhood outings. One thing that I LOVE to plan is neighborhood block parties! These are, seriously, the best. Some view them as old school, a thing of the past. I couldn’t disagree more.
If you’re looking for ways to think up some awesome neighborhood block party ideas, I’m so happy that our paths have crossed!
How to Plan an Awesome Block Party using these Neighborhood Block Party Ideas
During the past few years that we have lived in our neighborhood, we have planned 3 different block parties. I can say with certainty that each and every time, we have met new neighbors and had some great conversations. Another bonus? We are aware of people that live in our neighborhood where our children play and where we walk on a daily basis. By getting to know one another, we all take pride in that and it’s created an “unspoken” bond between all of us that we all respect and trust one another, too. It’s helped to create that “Neighborhood Watch” vibe, without having a true neighborhood watch program. Priceless, right?
How much does it cost to have a neighborhood block party?
Another aspect that I love about block parties is that it is a very cost-conscious way to socialize with others without breaking the bank. Besides making a dish or two, there are minimal costs involved with hosting a block party!
Planning and executing a Block Party can be a lot of work, but I’ll give you a few neighborhood block party ideas that I have learned from my past planning of how to get it done effectively and quickly.
How do block parties work?
While all block parties can be different, here are some of the planning tips that I can offer from my own personal experience.
Pick a location, date and time
If you are the one planning it, pick a date that works for you and your family. Don’t poll around and ask neighbors. Too many opinions will cause it to become stressful. Make a choice, and move forward. The location can be anywhere in your neighborhood. A park? A backyard? An alley? We always have it outdoors so the kids can run around and play.
Decide the radius of the neighborhood that you will be inviting
Will it include 1 block? 5 streets? An entire zip code? The choice is yours on how many you want to invite and how big you want it to be. Remember, less can be more during times like that as well to really be able to get to know those neighbors that show.
Word of Mouth
While you are out and about in the neighborhood, verbally tell your neighbors the date and time. If they have an email address, grab it from them and send them a follow-up email with the info.
Potluck it all the way!
Have everyone bring a dish to share! This is another one of my favorite aspects of the block party. There is so much good food, so many unique and diverse homemade dishes. Seriously, it’s amazing and allows talents to be showcased, recipes to be shared and taste buds to be happy.
Create a flyer
I do this every time. A simple Word document flyer with the pertinent info. Date/time/location is first and foremost. Then, I state to bring a dish to share, chairs to sit, and ask that all coming bring their own plates, utensils, and beverages to drink. By providing all the information upfront and ahead of time, people feel informed, empowered and inclined to join.
Distribution of the Block Party Invitation
I walk the neighborhood and distribute the flyers. Not in the mailbox though! (Apparently, that’s a federal crime…who knew) I will fold and put in their door handles, under the newspapers in their driveway or on their car windshields for them to view. I haven’t received any complaints the past times of doing this, so I think with it being a neighborhood event, people don’t mind being informed this way. It also lets me be out in the spring weather more enjoying a stroll!
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Always have a plan B. If it rains, will you reschedule or will you cancel completely? Provide your email on the flyer so people can reach out if they have questions the day of pertaining to weather, etc.
How to Plan a Neighborhood Block Party
The day of the block party, it’s set up time! But…guess what? This takes little time and effort because everyone attending is bringing their own dish, their own chairs, their own utensils, plates, and beverages!
All I ever really do is plan on providing trash bags and arriving about 15 minutes before the set start time.
Another great tip that I can pass on is that the first time you host a block party, have a piece of paper where all the neighbors can provide an email address. This will be a huge help for the next block party as you will have an easier and quicker way to communicate with them!
An even better idea? Create a FB page/event page for your neighborhood that you can post on frequently for things going on. Lost dog? Free items? Options are endless, and also a lot of fun.
Last but not least, have fun!
Enjoy that fact that you live in a neighborhood where you get to socialize and meet new people. So often, people don’t even know who their neighbors are and never get the chance to even meet them.
Our family has loved setting up and hosting these block parties. It has created such a bond with some of our neighbors, and we have made some good friends and met a lot of really great people. Oh, and did I mention the yummy food?!
Give it a try. Trust me, it’s worth it to know your neighbors. I may be a little bias, but our neighborhood is one of the best ever and I’m so fortunate that we live where we do. The block parties are just the “icing on the cake” to get to talk to them and see them all more frequently.
Do you have any other fun neighborhood get together ideas?
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