Block Party Advise

Oh my!

I would CERTAINLY recommend getting a permit!
Nothing shuts a party down quicker than NOT having one.

And, You may find, (when investigating a party permit) that you may in fact be able to HAVE a dj..or a band.

Years ago, I helped with block parties. And found that getting a permit, and finding what needed to be done to get one...vis a vis what you wanted to do...(like BLOCK a street... have games/music...even have alcohol, should you choose)...was the route to go!

Just MY opinion/experience.

Have Fun!

**ETA***

And do NOT put flyers etc IN a mailbox. (without a stamp and through post office). Mailboxes are in fact government property, and they take a dim view of flyers in them.

ETA: our HOA has a big party every fall. They bring in multiple bounce houses, climbing walls, face painting, funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn, food trucks and music. This is done on one of the large park areas that our neighborhood us apart of. It's free to all.

Original: We've done several. At our old neighborhood, we had the block party on our back yard for 2 years and up to 200 people were in and out. We provided crawfish boil, burgers and hot dogs. Everyone else brought a dish to share. We did have a DJ and he had appropriate games for children, a bounce house, and other fun things to do.

At my current neighborhood, we contacted the city to get the ok to block off the street. We had a bounce house, DJ and loads of food. Most people were gathered around the front of our place with chairs . We all pitched in with food and drink.

Along with the bounce house, sidewalk chalk, piñata, games.

Enjoy!

We had block things quite often and the kids loved it. We happen to have lived on a cul-de-sac type of street and we'd just park one of our big pickups or cars across the street to block off vehicles from coming down the street.

Everyone came outside and had a blast. We had so many kids and parents outside with babies and teens and all in between. The kids would play basketball and ride bikes and rollerskate and run amok. Organizing stuff would have been useless. They just wanted to run and play.

One year we got a bounce house. Kids loved it. But, it was expensive so last year we had a bike/scooter parade. Kids decorated their bikes and scooters, had the parade through the neighborhood, then ended at the party and got prizes (dollar store bouncey balls, etc).

We also asked parents to bring outdoor games. People brought sidewalk chalk, a wiffle ball set, a plastic horseshoe set, etc. The kids had a blast at very little cost.

ETA: Oh, I was thinking just kid stuff. But more general advice: We've done it both a more hands-on way, where we asked every family to chip in $20 and bought pulled pork for the main dish plus a keg of beer and all the paper products. Everyone brought a side dish or dessert. Then, we got tired of keeping track of the $, and did it as a potluck/BYOB. It turned out great both ways. Also, for the adults, we do a corn hole tournament every year.

The block where I grew up use to do this.
It was a horseshoe street and we closed it (a saw horse on each end with notice that block party was in progress) since we set up in the street.
One neighbor put his stereo speakers on his front porch and provided music (they were huge).
Everybody brought their picnic tables and folding chairs and blankets to sit on the grass too.
One or two neighbors brought out their grills and did hot dogs and hamburgers and everyone else brought a dish (salad, dessert, side dish, etc).
There were sack races, bean bag tosses, and plenty of games for kids (and adults).
It was a great day that started around 10am, and everyone had things put away by midnight.
I was a kid at the time so I don't know if there was a permit process or not for it.

L.,

I don't know what kind of street you live on. I live on a cul-de-sac so I don't have to worry about traffic, etc. if you live on a 'street' and plan on closing that street to traffic? I would ask the police department if there is a permit that is required or something they can do to help you block traffic.

Our block parties are "simple" - it's pot luck style. My husband and I bring our BBQ'er from the back deck down and put it at the end. We have two canopy/gazebos that we use as well.

We are the block captains so we "lead" this. I am the POC. I send e-mails out to everyone and we set up the date and time. I coordinate the meals - making sure we are balanced and have a little bit of everything....just make sure that people know what others are bringing so that you don't have all desserts and no salads, etc.

Don't forget the condiments, napkins, utensils and plates....keep them in sturdy container so they don't get toppled or blown away.

Assign someone to BBQ duties.
Assign someone to kid duties - like a babysitter - so that people can enjoy and relax.

We bring out our "boom box". I spray the YARD GUARD an hour before the party so we cut down on bugs, etc.

When we had a lot of kids on the block - we had a bean bag toss, a small pool to cool off in, hoola-hoops and bikes....we tried not to give too much so that the kids aren't overwhelmed with too much to do. We have had a bouncy house (that was expensive - but everyone with kids contributed) and it was set up in the grass in the common area.

You can contact your alderman. He/she can help arrange for a fire truck visit if available. I think it arranged a 1/2 hour visit. When my sister helped plan one on the block we grew up on, the alderman also gave some goodies as well as a piñata and helped arrange a bounce house. Really, unless your neighbors are super close, it is really just a chance to sit in front, with the street blocked off and let the kids play in the street. Usually the kids will get some kind of game together and otherwise, ride their bicycles or kick a ball around in the street. Like I said, it depends on how close you are with your neighbors. Don't over plan and let the kids decide some stuff to do.

ETA: not sure since you never did this before, in Chicago you do have to have a permit to close the street. The alderman can take care of that too. Make him or her work for you.

Our development has a block party every year but they have it on the fields (soccer and baseball fields) that are a part of our neighborhood. They charge a set fee per family which pays for hot dogs, burgers, bounce house and music. It is a BYOB event and everyone brings a dish.

Our neighborhood had a huge Halloween party every year, up until a couple of years ago when some of the lead organizers moved. Anyhow, families would sign up for different games or activities, we would have a huge fire pit in the middle of the cul de sac and it was just a pot luck dinner. After dark, we would project a fun-kid friendly movie on a sheet for the kids. Parents would sit around the fire just getting to know each other. It was so much fun, but it does take a go getter to organize.

I'd have people sign up for what they want to bring so you can request things you're short on. Have fun!

Ask the fire department if they can bring out the fire truck for the kids. It's an "educational" thing. Our neighborhood did that.

Can you all chip in and get a bouncy house? One of our block parties did that too.

A lot of people brought their kids' wagons and that was a hit, big kids pulling little kids. Probably works better in a cul-de-sac.