Block Party Basics

By: Vanessa Greaves

If you only see the neighbors when you're hauling out the trash, it's time to rock the block and turn a collection of addresses into a close-knit community.

Where's the Party?

Want to block off the street? You'll need a permit from local officials, so get on that right away.

Another option is to rent a large hall or a big picnic site. Apartments and condos often have party spaces you can reserve.

What to Plan For

Food: Pre-assigned potluck, random dishes, or a combination? Maybe you can collect funds and purchase burgers and hot dogs, while side dishes, desserts, and beverages come from sign-up sheets.

Decorations: Keep it easy with balloons, streamers, flags, banners, paper tablecloths, strings of lights, tiki torches, etc.

Equipment: Plan for tables, chairs, grills, tableware, coolers, and street barricades. Figure out how to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold: disposable foil roasting pans filled with ice can hold bowls of salads, while slow cookers work great for baked beans and corn on the cob.

Cooking: Man the grills on a rotating schedule so one person doesn't get stuck in front of the fire for the entire party.

Ice: You'll need lots of it and coolers to keep it in. Keep ice for cooling food and drinks separate from ice that goes into the drinks.

Alcohol: Check with local officials to see if you can serve it and if you need a permit. Designate one area where alcohol can be served, and make sure no underage drinking is allowed.

Other Details

Theme party: Optional but fun. Salsa Night, Hawaiian Luau, Summer Carnival, etc. Or build your party around planting trees, digging a community garden, or collecting donations for a worthy cause.

Entertainment: Hook up a sound system, organize a house band, or hire a band. Have a talent show, hula-hoop contest, face painting, bike and trike parade, water balloon toss, etc. For prizes, go green and award seed packets, books, gift certificates, etc. Set up a display of crafts or hobbies--you might discover a knitting buddy or prize-winning gardener.

Who's who: Ask neighbors to make family-themed name tags so you can group them at a glance: Oh, so you're Joey's dad!

Everybody's here: Invite elderly neighbors, shut-ins, and people with limited mobility because block parties are meant to be all-inclusive. Find a way to help everyone participate.

Dish Delish: Have each family identify its potluck contribution with a little table sign saying, "From the kitchen of…"

Restrooms: Everyone uses the ones in their own homes.

Washout: Have an alternate date ready if it rains.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A block party is worth the effort even if your "block" is an apartment complex or high-rise condo. The people you only nod to now can become your go-to community.

Main Dishes

Crowd-pleasing and easy to make.

Salads

Wow them with gorgeous salads.

Side Dishes

Everyone likes a little something on the side.

Desserts

A sweet finish to a fabulous meal.

Beverages

Having fun is thirsty business!

Building Blocks

If you know one or two other folks on your block, get together and brainstorm how to involve more people in the planning and doing:

Decide what makes up your "block." Is it just your street, apartment building, or condo association? How large a crowd can you handle?
Sketch out the party date, location, and time: late afternoon to early evening usually works well.
Make up a flyer inviting everyone to a general planning meeting. Deliver this flyer to each household in the designated block--don't leave anyone out.
Give yourselves at least eight weeks to put together the event--permits and reservations might require lots of lead time.

The Next Big Thing

About a week after the party, get feedback and suggestions. Find out what worked, what fell flat, and how it can be done better the next time around--because a great block party can turn into a fun-filled, community-building annual event.