Block Party Basics

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.

Food: pre-assigned potluck, random potluck, or a combination. Perhaps burgers and hot dogs could be purchased with collected funds, while side dishes, desserts, and beverages come from sign-up sheets.

Decorations: balloons, streamers, butcher paper tablecloths and banners, strings of lights, tiki torches, etc.

Equipment: tables, chairs, grills, tableware, coolers, and street barricades. Plan how to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold: disposable foil roasting pans filled with ice can hold salads, while slow cookers work 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. Separate ice for cooling food and drinks from the ice that will go into 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.

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: elderly neighbors, shut-ins, people with limited mobility: block parties are meant to be all-inclusive, so 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.