My neighborhood is supposed to have a block party at the park for national night out next Tuesday. My main question is if I serve hotdogs, how do I cook them and keep them at a safe temperature? Should I grill them at home and keep them warm in a toaster oven? Or put them in a crockpot of water?
I also have all the other details that are stressing me out. This is partly my own fault- I am not very organized. No one asked me to take over, but if I don't do the party it just won't happen. Three years ago, I wasn't involved in the planning and the party was cancelled because of a hurricane that almost came our way. Two years ago, I did take out pizza, salad, and watermelon. We had enough food to share with the police & fire department guests, but my husband was annoyed that we had to put the pizza on our credit card and wait months to get paid back. Last year, we did not have the party because I was out of town. This year, I want to go back to the hotdogs(which was a tradition for several years) because that's what people expect. The money is mostly left from previous years. The neighbors don't really chip in with money or help and we don't have any donations from businesses this year. I'm trying to keep a lower budget so there's a better chance I will get paid back. I'm going to try to get people to bring a bag of chips or a plate of cookies to share. There's picnic tables, electricity, and a water fountain at the park- but no bathroom or sink. I don't know whether 15 or 150 people will show up, so I don't know how much food to buy. And on the day of the picnic my son has an art class until 5:30 and the picnic starts at 6:30. I am so stressed out!
What food should I serve that is cheap and easy to cook by myself in less than 1 hour? What activities should I have to make sure the kids have a good time? They'll get to see a fire truck and I think the police pass out stickers. How do I remind everyone ahead of time that there is no bathroom at the park? Should I go door to door and beg people to help? Or should I tell my neighbors that if they aren't happy with the way the party is organized, they should do it themselves next year???
To clear up more details- there is an email list of those neighbors who signed up for it. I did have one person from the email list volunteer to bring cookies, and a second person RSVP. I am not able to do a flier to every home(around 1000), but I put a sign near each mailbox. I can buy whatever I want and then get reimbursed from a fund from a few years ago. The money does not come out of my own pocket. No way would I do it if that was the case!
Ann S.- Yes, I agree that August is way too HOT, the forecast is for 103. I would love to do it in October(cooler and we could use the building with the bathrooms). Unfortunately, the police want everyone to have it on the same day.
Yesterday I went out to check prices for hotdogs, and I was surprised to find that they are cheaper at the regular grocery store than at Sams Club! Today, I found out that we can't get to the electricity(it's in the locked building) so there goes my crockpot plan. Grrr!!!
Overall the party was good, but I am so glad that's over with! The art class turned out to be a good thing to keep my son occupied while I was getting everything ready. My husband picked him up afterwards, then came home, grilled all the hotdogs, helped load the truck, and was super supportive the whole time. 62 out of 90 hotdogs were eaten. Kept the food simple with toppings for the hotdogs (ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, shredded cheese, chili), corn chips, pretzels, grapes, carrot sticks, lemonade, and tea. My husband teased me about the chili(neither of us eats chili on hotdogs), but later admitted that people did enjoy it. One store donated hotdogs and buns, and another donated 5 gift bags for kids which we did a drawing for. I didn't do any formal activities except for the prize drawing. The kids just played at the playground and looked at the fire truck and ambulance, and the police gave out frisbees and glow sticks. We were surprised that at least a dozen police were able to come. One neighbor brought homemade cookies. Another neighbor who is good at talking(not always doing) greeted all the police and fire guests, made everyone feel welcome, and stayed late to help me clean up. After we got home, my son was feeling bad from being out in the heat. I'm hoping after he drinks more and rests he'll feel better.
Will I do it again next year? Hmm, I'll have to think about it. I now have a list of 5 people who want to help. But only $1.75 in new donations.
"No one asked me to take over, but if I don't do the party it just won't happen."
Don't do it. If they don't care enough to even offer to help, forget it.
Make it a picnic night. I don't see why you need to do it all. Have people just bring their own food, especially since you have no idea how many people are coming.
As far as activities, keep it simple. Bring some frisbees or balls, perhaps start up a soccer or baseball game.
Oh my. I'm stressed just reading this. Okay, first about the hot dogs...I would just boil them. They are already cooked so just warm them up and keep them warm. I'd go with a crock pot. Check with some neighbors you know well and see if they're willing to bring out their crock pot and help you with that part. Having people bring food is a good idea.
Do you have a list of emails? If so then I'd send out a mass email laying out the details of the party, including the part about bathrooms. If you don't then I'd make up some flyers and deliver them door to door. Your son would probably love to help you with that!
Activities...get some cheap stuff on sale right now! Get a bunch of sidewalk chalk, tell people to bring their bikes (list on the flyer for people to bring toys to share), bring out all your balls and frisbees from your house (label them first) and any other outdoor toys. If you can get a bunch of balloons and have those on hand. Even if you can't do helium kids love balloons and will bat them around like balls.
As far as next year...you need a committee. Maybe put out a jar for donations to help set off the cost of this year, which is sort of tacky, but I don't think it'd be unacceptable. Next to it put out a sign up sheet with address, phone and email for people to volunteer for next year. If the people are nice enough to donate money to the cause they are the people you want on your committee b/c they are already thinking about the good of the whole, so keep them together. If no one signs up then I'd wait until the spring next year and send out another flyer and if you get no help then don't do it.
Good luck! I'm sure it will be awesome!
I would've started last week and gone to all of the neighbors with a flyer with your information on it. Made it a potluck type of get together and put an RSVP on there. Then you could provide all the hot dogs and everyone else can pitch in and bring other dishes, and you would know how much to make. Do the neighbors even know that there is something going on? I am confused.....
DO A FLYER AND PUT ONE IN EVERY MAILBOX:
- Date, time, location
- Reminder of "no potty"
- Describe food to be provided
- Bring a side dish or a dessert to share
Help welcomed, please call ______
Hot dogs are great and are usually pre-cooked. I would do the crockpot or have them in a disposable chafing dish (like a caterer would use). Hot dogs freeze well, so if you have left-overs it's not a huge deal.
- condiments for the hot dogs
- buns
- pasta salad (make the day before and add dressing before serving)
- chips
- soda/water
** Put out a flyer asking families to bring a dozen cookies or a baked good to share** and then put out a table for the desserts. We have gone to a couple of parties with this request and it works out well- tons of desserts, but only enough for those who attended! Add other info (like "no potties") to the flyer **
Activities:
- Sidewalk chalk (kids can decorate the street)
- Bubbles
- Craft table (teenagers could "run" this one) where little ones can paint rocks and add googly eyes, etc. My son loves this kind of thing!
Parks are entertaining in and of themselves, so don't freak too much about that.
We've hosted our National Night Out block party (just our block) for several years. It was in our yard and I didn't do nearly as much as you have planned. Our chidren put out the flyers door-to-door a week ahead and we put a sign in our yard the day before. We planned it to be AFTER suppertime and made homemade ice creams (my husband loves to make it). We asked neighbors to brings toppings, cookies, etc. We did not open our home as a public restroom because everyone was so close to their own bathroom. We did have a firetruck come by, allowing the kids to climb all over it and a police car (he did a little stranger safety lesson and gave out color books). I recommend that you simplify your plans and just make it a "share your favorite dessert" party. You can provide the paper goods and flyers out of that fund. The flyer could suggest that since the party is in a park some may like to come early and picnic as a FAMILY- that gets the point across that you're not providing a meal to the entire neighborhood. The flyer could include a reminder that there are no restroom facilities at the park (part of my reason for suggesting a shorter time frame of dessert only). ...as for your original question about the hotdogs: we have put very hot water in an ice chest, shut the lid for about 10 minutes, then quickly pour out the water and place the precooked hotdogs into the warmed ice chest (wrapped in foil, about 6 to a foil packet). This has kept the hotdogs warm for hours, if the lid is kept shut. I do hope that you can relax and enjoy this time with your neighbors!
When we have large parties, I use my turkey roaster oven thing to keep meat warm. I would just serve hotdogs, chips, watermelon and buy a couple of those really huge jars of pickles!
Whoa--is this a block party or YOUR party?
Keep in mind that all you can do is all you can do. No more no less.
If people aren't happy with it, they can take over next year!
Wow! There's a reason why it's called a "block party"! EVERYONE is supposed to chip in my dear! And it's normally done on your block. I would print out some flyers and send them out to all that are coming. Why cook the food at home? Just take your grill and gill some burgers and hotdogs there. The only way your going to save on your spendings is if everyone that goes helps out in bringing something. Don't buy more then you can afford, who has the money to feed that many people at a block party? NOBODY! Especially with this economy. My neighbor had a block party awhile back and sent out flyers and asked everyone to chip in, so everyone brought food, I took two kinds of salad, juice boxe's (50) for the kids and a veggie platter. This is supposed to be somethng fun right? So then why stress out about it. As for expecting people to pay you back, well some will and some won't which is the reason why you should print out flyers and ask them to chip in by bringing some food with them. Put some ideaas on the flyer of things they can bring like fried chicken, salad, chips, cookies-cake, ketchup, mustard, pickles, etc. Paper plates, napkins, forks and spoons, paper cups. I even had a neighbor that made goody bags for the kids which was awesome! Some even brought games like bozo buckets, bingo, jump ropes, and potatoe sacks. As for not having bathrooms there then thats going to be a major problem! How and where are they supposed to go? Talk to your local city hall and see if they can send out some port o potty's for that day and let them know what it's for, they shouldn't charge you for that since it's a local block party. And when you shop go to a Sam's Club or CostCo, not sure if you have one in your town but you'll save alot of money since your going to need to buy in bulk. It also depend's, is there going to be alcohol? If so then have the one's that prefer alcohol bring their own, you'll save alot! It takes alot to plan a block party but it shouldn't be all on you! Talk to your neighbors and all of you chip in on printing out flyer's. Hopefully I was helpful and it all works out! Good Luck!
if they all live there, then they all know there's no bathroom!
I think you're stressing over way too much that ....really doesn't even need to be thought of!
As for precooking the hotdogs, what's wrong with letting a few people who show up....grill them fresh on the spot? It's a park....so why not? Fresh is always better!
& wherever the food is set-up, post a sign: We Need More Volunteers!
Peace....
cheap easy to cook foods = corn on the cob, baked beans
Wed 08/03 So how'd it go?
If you are providing all of the food, then it isn't a block party, its a party that you are hosting for the block.
Cookies
Watermelon
Mac n cheese
Pasta salad
If you show up without a 'meat' source, some other may chip in and order pizza.
All suggestions sound helpful. I would also put out a jar by the food line for people to donate toward the block party fund. When people are taking food they will think to give a few bucks to help pay for stuff. Just providing paper plates and stuff for that many people is a lot. Husband needs to do more and fuss less and so does everyone else. Ask people specifically to bring things. People actually feel more involved if they bring something. Brownies or cookies or something.
If you are trying to pass out 1000 flyers, that isn't a block party, it is a neighborhood party (in a really big neighborhood)! The idea of block parties is to get the people on a block together so they get to know each other and can watch out for each other and help each other. Our block party is always in someone's yard (usually back), with a dish brought by each person, and if they don't like iced tea or water, they bring what they would like to drink. Word gets out by flyer and e-mail. Oh, and we've started doing ours in the Spring, because in Texas, August is WAY too hot. :)
if its going to be tasking for you and not done with fun then i would not do it. there are scriptures talking about doing everything with a happy heart and not to do things if your bitter or begrudgenly (sp). if you do decide to get happy about it and want to have fun with it. i would get your hubby to cook the hotdogs at the park. its really odd that the park dose not have a bathroom so i am assuming they might not have a place to cook hot dogs. a woman we know had her sons bday party at the park but brought hotdogs in a ice chest wrapped in foil and they stayed warm like that.
If you have a place to plug in the crock pot, I would go with hot dogs in the crock pot. We often have hot dog pot lucks at work and this is how we serve them.
It sounds like a lot of stress and not really worth it. My suggestion would be that if people don't volunteer to bring stuff next year, that you skip it! Maybe you should tell people to bring stuff instead of ask. Maybe assign each family to bring something. If that doesn't work I wouldn't do it!
Absolutely tell anyone who is not happy with it that they can do it themselves. I can't believe people would complain after you go through all that trouble. As far as the kids activities, can you tell a few of the parents to organize that?. (Don't ask!)
I wouldn't worry about reminding people about bathrooms, maybe add that tidbit to the flyer.
Good luck!
Agreed with PB and J! It still sounds like a good idea though, so I would consider working on arranging it for NEXT year if the interest is really there. That gives you lots of time to talk to people about if they want to do it, what they are willing to help with, maybe raising money, etc. Good luck :/
From now on, have it be potluck, everyone bring something. Boil hotdogs, put them in buns and wrap each one in foil. put a towel down in the bottom of a cooler and put wrapped dogs on top then cover with a towel. Keeps them warm for 2-3 hours.
Your neighbors sound like mine, which is unfortunate. If year after year no one helps and you get stuck with most of it, don't do it anymore...it's not worth it. I've been in similar situations.
You could use a crock pot.
