Throw a Block Party
Americans love to invite friends and family members over for patio parties and backyard barbecues, but for a party that draws in the whole neighborhood, you need a location with a lot more room. A popular solution is the block party, where people get together, close off both ends of their block, and gather on front yards, on sidewalks and in the street for a celebration. So what are block parties like, and how can you go about planning one?
Denise Tomlan is a professional architect and a big fan of block parties. She and her neighbors hold one very year, and here she shares ideas and advice for throwing a neighborhood bash or your own:
- An annual event. Tomlan and her neighbors have made their block parties an annual occasion, one that kids and adults alike look forward to. Your event could coincide with a national holiday like Independence Day or Labor Day, or you could just hold it on any weekend day when the weather will be nice.
- Food and fun. At its most basic, a block party is just a big barbecue or potluck picnic. Have people sign up to bring various salads, main dishes and deserts, and just let everyone mingle, eat, drink and talk. It's a wonderful way for neighbors to get closer, and for kids and older folks to interact and have fun together.
- Special events. You can make your block party more special in any number of ways. In the past, Tomlan and her neighbors have had live music with an ad hoc band of neighborhood musicians, rented bounce houses and popcorn machines, and have even invited the local fire department to give a talk about safety.
- Get permission. It isn't legal to block off your street without getting the okay first, so contact your department of public works or local government to see what's required before you can throw a block party. Once you know the procedure, you can throw one every year, or as often as you can. It's a great way to tighten the bonds in your immediate community, and will provide great memories for your children!
For more information about block parties:
Earth Day Block Party
www.allspecies.org/neigh/block.htm
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