Block Parties

Does anyone know what you need to get one started??

Re: Block Parties

willing neighbors
permits from your town
tables
food

Re: Block Parties

When I was younger I used to go around with my mom to each neighbors house and ask if they'd be interested. If they were, my mom asked for $10 (that was in the 80s lol). Plus everyone had to bring a dessert (we had a bake off). She used the money for a DJ, games, prizes, etc.

Re: Block Parties

We are having ours this weekend. You need to get an application from the town. You have to make a list of neighbors and have 85% (in our town) sign the papers to agree to the block party. Ours had to be in and accepted by the town a full month before we wanted the party!
We are renting a bouncy house, pop corn machine, dunk tank and cotton candy. So we just diivided the cost by willing participants and its $100 a house for us (we have a small block!)
We do it so that you provide you own food/drinks for your own guests.

Re: Block Parties

We have a large block with almost 200 homes, so we have a committee to make decisions and help run things, but my DH and I primarily run it.

It's important to pick a date/rain date where the majority of your neighbors will be available.

We had to collect signatures from the neighbors on the street that we would be blocking off. Majority wins for us. Then we have to submit it to the town (it's all on record anyway, so they just update the info.)

Then we start getting quotes for the entertainment: DJ, bouncers, slides, etc.. (It will vary based on your budget.)

Put together a letter with the info and requesting money. We charged $30 per family and $5 each additional person because we have a large block and we didn't want to give my neighbors heart palpitations by asking for $50.

We supply a large BBQ to grill on and everybody brings their own food and beverages.

Set up starts an hour prior to the party, so everybody brings down their table, chairs, coolers, etc. around 3 and the DJ starts at 4pm.

Because our block is so big, we handed out admission bracelets at the entrances. Plus we also had a liability waiver that we wanted to make sure everybody signed.

Oh and we (my DH, myself and the committee) did the clean up after the party ended.

Re: Block Parties

Thanks everyone!! Going to give the town a call