How To Throw a Block Party
If you have ever seen the movie, “The Sandlot”, you may recognize one of my favorite movie scenes of all time…
It’s the 4th of July and all the kids are getting ready to go play baseball under the Fireworks. As they run out of their houses, there is the cutest Block Party setup in their cul-de-sac: mis-matched tables and chairs with red and blue tables cloths, tiki torches at the end of driveways, festive flags and banners lining the street… The kids run up to different pot-luck tables and grab hotdogs, and then skip off into the night.
That scene always gives me all the feels. You don’t see things like that too often anymore, and I think it’s for a number of reasons – we’ve become disconnected from community, everyone is always too busy, and we’re afraid of people who we don’t know. Be that change in your community and bring people together. It’s now more important than ever.
Block Party 101
Places to Throw a Block Party:
In a cul-de-sac
At the end of a neighborhood street
In someone’s driveway or multiple driveways
Front yard(s)
Community park or parking lot
Quick Overview:
Potluck: everyone supplies something to eat.
BYOB: everyone brings a cooler of drinks.
Everyone brings chairs and a table (if they have one).
As the Organizer You Can:
Create a flyer with all the party info and pass out in your neighborhood.
Supply one of the main foods, like grilled hotdogs and hamburgers.
Supply and setup as many tables and chairs as you have.
Decorate with whatever you want! Tiki torches, banners, string lights, centerpieces, tablecloths, etc. You can be as fancy or as laid back as you would like.
Supply some type of game or activity for kids: a sprinkler can do wonders here.
Talk with your neighbors and line up some fun surprises: does someone play an instrument and can jam out at the party?
Supply and setup the buffet tables for potluck.
Supply basic paper supplies like plates, utensils, and napkins.
Communities are now more amazing than ever with all sorts of people and cultures. I grew up in a very diverse community, playing with kids who all looked different than me. I learned such valuable morals and culture at a young age because of this. We were all just kids, running around being silly together. As a mom, I want this to be second nature to my kids too.
Beyond bringing neighbors together, the great thing about a block party is that it is outside. So, despite a global pandemic, you can feel comfortable organizing this within your neighborhood. You can even situate tables 6 feet apart and hand out masks if you would like.
I have a free party planning worksheet that you can grab to help you plan your very own Block Party. Sign up for my newsletter here to receive the worksheet. It is my go-to for organizing all my thoughts when planning a celebration.