the website of

Party Consultant Michelle Hylton

   Block Party Guide

Party Plan by Party Consultant Michelle Hylton       

www.PartyShelf.com

1. Poll your neighbors to gauge their interest in having a Summer block party.  

2. Usually for the first one, two or three neighbors take on the responsibility to

    plan it.  Discuss and determine the best date and time for the party.  Also decide

    if you want to carry a theme for your Summer Block Party. 

3. Determine how the menu will be.  Some block parties have each family bring their own

    meats and one dish.  If you do this, pre-assign a dessert or side dish to have a variety of

    dishes.  Another ideas is to ask all families with odd addresses to bring desserts and

    those with even addresses to bring a side dish.  Sign-up sheets are usually harder to

    coordinate but they are an option.  Finally, you can ask all families to donate a certain

    dollar amount and purchase the food to be served (or have it catered).

4. Personally deliver invitations.  This is a great opportunity to meet new neighbors, recruit

    volunteers and exchange ideas.

5. For paper goods, plastic utensils, cups, and napkins you can have each neighbor

    donate a few dollars or require each family to bring their own.  It's much nicer

    if there is a coordinated theme.  How about a Hoe-down (Western) or Luau

    theme. 

6. Choose a convenient location, such as a private cul-de-sac, neighborhood park, or a

    blocked-off street.  You will need permission from the city to block a street.  If blocking

    the street put up wooden horses to stop traffic.

7. Sign-up neighbors to set up their portable grills, if needed. 

8. Plan some fun events like volleyball, relay races, watermelon eating contest, hula hoop

    contest balloon toss or limbo.

9. Have someone bring a portable stereo for music and maybe dancing later in the day. 

10. Provide activities for kids.  Have plenty of bubbles, sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, Frisbees

     and other summer toys.  If it's real hot, have a wading pool for little ones and water

     balloons for older kids.  You can plan for child entertainment like a clown or face

     painter. 

11. At one block party, we invited the local fire department.  They came with their engine

     and let the kids tour it.  It was really hot and they even showed everyone how the hoses

     worked.  It was a lot of wet fun!   

12. Invite an area business to join in the fun by donating attendance prizes, like discount

      coupons, free passes or a block party door prize.  

13. If your block parties are like the ones I have been too, we usually run into the night. So

     make sure you have outdoor candles (citronella) and flashlights ready.  

14. Enjoy the party and before it ends appoint next year's organizers or committee. 

     Discuss new ideas for next year. 

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