BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

So Im getting together the 1st annual block party.. and I already have a bunch of people ready and willing to jmup in and help out, so thats one HUGE thing that's a huge help to begin with.

What are some great tips of what is a MUST and what NOT to bother with?

Im aware of the paperwork/permits, so that's in the works.

We're going to plan games/activities etc.

Just looking to see if anyone has great ideas, will be various age groups..

thanks!

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

One of the coolest things was we had the ice cream truck and everyone could get free cones. I have no idea how much that cost, but it's great.

Also if you go to the ice cream distributor, ices and ice cream bars are SOOO cheap. One year they just had humongous vats of Marino's ices. YUM.

We always ahd one of those airblown things that you jump in.

Sand art? Pony rides?

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

don't smoke pot in front of the neighbors kids!!! This is always a good rule to follow when we go to our friend's block party every year!!

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

my neighbors built a big jenga block game...that was fun and we had a DJ

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Posted by MrsFlatbread

don't smoke pot in front of the neighbors kids!!! This is always a good rule to follow when we go to our friend's block party every year!!

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Growing up we always had block parties.

They'd send around a list of times and if people wanted to they could play a game.

Like
12:00 Egg toss
1:00 baloon toss
2:00 Crab Race
One year someone did a thing with buckets and sponges. Put everyone in to teams and filled one bucket with water and put an empty bucket on the other side. We had to soak the sponge run to the other side and drain the water into the empty bucket. First one to fill to a certain line won. It was fun! We had a DJ. The last couple of years they had the dj come a little earlier they were having problems with teenagers that no one knew coming and drink and smoking weed

My block party sucks.

No games,Last year they had a dj and big blow up water slide. They collected 120 for that crap and the lady that put it together had 200 people. She rented tables chairs and a porta pottie wonder where my money went. This year I want to see if I can help her with it but don't know how to tell her

Message edited 3/30/2007 10:40:44 AM.

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Posted by MrsFlatbread

don't smoke pot in front of the neighbors kids!!! This is always a good rule to follow when we go to our friend's block party every year!!

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Raffles
DJ
Glow sticks for the kids
Face painter

One block party that we went to the volunteer fireman came with the truck and let the kids take pictures on it.

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Message edited 3/30/2007 10:45:26 AM.

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

If people aren't interested in particpating, don't force the issue. Block parties are big in my town and many people at the idea.

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Posted by JennZ

Posted by MrsFlatbread

don't smoke pot in front of the neighbors kids!!! This is always a good rule to follow when we go to our friend's block party every year!!

We go for long walks

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

thanks for all the great ideas!! I gotta start taking notes!

Im also wondering about the $ issue, like someone said not everyone will be interested.. we'll see how it goes. Im sure the empty nesters might not even answer the door

and how do you go about collecting early on? If you dont know what your costs will be until you book/decide everything, but you also dont want to wait till last minute to collect and be screwed paying it all.
Or do we just set a budget and go from there? (assuming a nice amount will participate?)

Also, it's 2 blocks that are doing this. A few people from each block are DEf interested. We are intersecting blocks, so we're combining the two blocks.
I hope this doesnt get too crazy

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Growing up it was 2 blocks that did it. The DJ set up on the corner of both blocks. It worked. I would get estimates then tell people how much it could be see who wants to participate. Then when you book things you will know the exact amount.

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Im bumping a few block party posts. hope you guys dont mind.

incase anyone has more feedback, and im sure many others will be throwing block parties this year.

so what's your list of what to delegate:

Phone calls to vendors

Organizing games.

??

please share !

thanks!

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

We had an ice cream truck giving the kids ice cream cones.

Another time one family bought huge vats of italian ices from marinos (they are so cheap!)

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

Last year we had a water dunking tank. I thought the idea would fade fast, but the kids loved it and did it all day!!

We had wiffle ball games and a DJ. It was a ton of fun!

Re: BLOCK PARTY... Dos and Donts ?

My friend's block has one every year........and they have this huge water slide for all the kids. And another guy from the rental place is there to supervise them.

The kids LOOOOOOOOOVE IT! Some adults do too.....