Set up the block party in the middle of your street, gather the food, entertainment and of course, the neighbors for an easy party right outside your door!
A block party is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening hanging out in your neighborhood. It also makes for a great National Night Out or back to school event. It’s a chance to catch up, hear about what your neighbors did over the summer and get ready for the new school year. To keep things on the “up and up” be sure to submit an official “Block Party Request” to your local municipality.
For more ways to have fun this summer in Des Moines, be sure to visit our Event Calendar and Summer Fun Guide.
Here’s a few tips for hosting your next block party:
Ciao Down!
The easiest plan is a potluck where everyone brings a dish to share. To avoid duplicates, divide up your food needs alphabetically and have people bring a dish that is assigned by the first letter of their last name. (For example, letters A-H bring a main dish and letters I-N bring a side and drink, etc.). Guests can bring their own drinks in a personal cooler, or you can provide them.
Go Play in the Yard
Set up a different game in each neighbor’s yard. Some fun options include bocce ball, yard Twister, croquet, lawn tic tac toe, volleyball, badminton, pickle ball, horse shoes, bean bags or ladder golf. Bring out the hula hoops, jump ropes and balls of all sizes. You can also make a four-square game with chalk or tape on the driveway or street.
Fun Stations
Set up self-serve stations offering sidewalk chalk, bubbles and temporary tattoos. Enlist some of the teens on the block to help with face painting. Create a simple background for selfies and group photos. Provide a large frame, sunglasses, boas and hats to be used as props.
Take Up a Collection
This is a great opportunity to give back to your community. Call your local food bank and see which items they need the most this month. Collect new and gently used school supplies for families who are struggling. You can even help the furry friends of the community by collecting used towels and blankets for the animal shelter nearest you.
Use What You Have
Most of the basic items needed for a block party can be found in everyone’s garage. Ask everyone to bring their tables and chairs, coolers and lawn games. Pull out the kiddy pools, sprinklers and water guns. Determine who has tents, grills and other tailgating items.
Make it a Team Effort
If you have a large enough group, you can split the cost to rent a bounce house, a dunk tank, a mobile zip line or carnival games. You can also rent food machines such as a popcorn machine, cotton candy maker or a snow cone machine. If there are small children at your block party, you might want to rent a character costume to meet and greet the kids.
Nighttime Is the Right Time
When the sun goes down, your party will need a little more light. Bring out the fire pit and make s’mores. Use glow in the dark sidewalk chalk to make cool art. Create a glow in the dark scavenger hunt by hiding glow sticks in neighborhood bushes and trees. Set up a family friendly movie to be shown on the side of the house or garage door.
