THINKING ABOUT A BLOCK PARTY?Block parties are a great way to get to know your neighbors, increase the sense of belonging in a community, and have fun! Here are some basic planning tips for organizing your own Point Breeze block party.
Planning Tips: Who/What/Where/When/Why Who? Planning an event can be more fun when you work on it with others, and many hands make light work. Consider inviting a few neighbors to help with the organizing. Or keep it simple and do it yourself. When deciding who to invite to the block party, use natural neighborhood boundaries whenever possible. Consider asking attendees to RSVP via email so you can alert them if there are any changes due to weather or other unexpected issues. Give your neighbors plenty of notice. Here's a flyer template, created by PBO volunteer Amelia Williams, for you to personalize, print, and distribute, or create one of your own! (Black & white version here.) What? Your block party can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Some common set-ups include:
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Use a fun flyer like this one to distribute to your neighbors! Customizable Word doc here (black & white file here).
Don't forget to post pictures on the PBO Facebook page! #pbblockparties |
You’ll likely want to encourage attendees to bring chairs and tables and, in case of rain, pop-up tents.
A block party can also be coupled with a street or neighborhood project, such as a litter clean-up, neighborhood garden planting, food drive, garden harvest exchange, or bake sale to benefit a local charity. It’s up to you and your planning committee to decide if you'd like to incorporate such an activity.
To keep a potluck eco-friendly, encourage neighbors to bring their own reusable plates and utensils. Otherwise, have disposables and garbage bags on hand. You can ask a few volunteers to bring these in lieu of a potluck dish.
It's great to have party activities for children, such as bubble-blowing equipment or sidewalk chalk, and something like neighborhood trivia for adults. Bring nametags for everyone! And look for ways to welcome new residents to the neighborhood.
Where? Look for a portion of the street that will be convenient and accessible. Sometimes a side/connecting street or alley is more convenient. To close off the street, request a block party permit at least six weeks ahead of time via the Office of Film and Event Management. The permit will allow the street to be blocked and will provide barricades. We recommend asking neighbors to throw a few dollars into a collection, before or at the party itself, to pay for the obstruction fee and other general expenses.
A block party can also be coupled with a street or neighborhood project, such as a litter clean-up, neighborhood garden planting, food drive, garden harvest exchange, or bake sale to benefit a local charity. It’s up to you and your planning committee to decide if you'd like to incorporate such an activity.
To keep a potluck eco-friendly, encourage neighbors to bring their own reusable plates and utensils. Otherwise, have disposables and garbage bags on hand. You can ask a few volunteers to bring these in lieu of a potluck dish.
It's great to have party activities for children, such as bubble-blowing equipment or sidewalk chalk, and something like neighborhood trivia for adults. Bring nametags for everyone! And look for ways to welcome new residents to the neighborhood.
Where? Look for a portion of the street that will be convenient and accessible. Sometimes a side/connecting street or alley is more convenient. To close off the street, request a block party permit at least six weeks ahead of time via the Office of Film and Event Management. The permit will allow the street to be blocked and will provide barricades. We recommend asking neighbors to throw a few dollars into a collection, before or at the party itself, to pay for the obstruction fee and other general expenses.
When? No matter what date is chosen, not everyone will be able to attend, so choose a time that’s best for you and your planning committee. Block parties are often summer events, but some Point Breeze residents hold winter or holiday block parties as well! You may wish to avoid dates when there are other large events happening in the neighborhood or in the city.
Why? Bringing neighbors together is where community building begins. Today, fewer than half of American adults know most or all of their neighbors, and about a third of Americans report that they’ve never interacted with their neighbors. Studies have shown that people who know and trust their neighbors are more likely to report higher rates of health and well-being than those who don’t. So you can skip your kale salad for dinner and plan yourself a block party (or even better, bring that kale salad along to the gathering).
In summary, planning a block party can be easy! Just:
The Point Breeze Organization is here to help you! If you have questions about planning your block party, contact us!
Why? Bringing neighbors together is where community building begins. Today, fewer than half of American adults know most or all of their neighbors, and about a third of Americans report that they’ve never interacted with their neighbors. Studies have shown that people who know and trust their neighbors are more likely to report higher rates of health and well-being than those who don’t. So you can skip your kale salad for dinner and plan yourself a block party (or even better, bring that kale salad along to the gathering).
In summary, planning a block party can be easy! Just:
- Choose your date.
- Request your permit.
- Make a food plan.
- Distribute a flyer to your neighbors.
- Show up, make new friends, and have a good time.
- Make sure everything is clean at the end of the day, and street barricades have been moved to the sides of the road (if applicable).
The Point Breeze Organization is here to help you! If you have questions about planning your block party, contact us!