Tools and Resources
How to Throw a Block Party
(Timeline: minus 3 months (or 1 month) before the party – how we do it)
- Identify community leaders or receive a request from a neighbor for a block party. Form a Block Party Committee consisting of several households and hold a short outdoor organizational meeting.
- One member will become the main contact person for the block.
- Assign one person to handle permits, insurance and other legal requirements. Permit application
- Put another person in charge of organizing food and refreshments.
- Appoint another person to be activity coordinator.
- Don't forget to put someone in charge of the clean-up committee!
- Survey the neighborhood to select the date for the party and get petition signatures from all affected residents to close down the street.
- Decide how the food will be handled: Will the Committee purchase food and beverages and simply charge attendees a flat fee? Will the Committee plan a menu and assign recipes to each household? Will you ask everyone to bring a main course and beverage for their own family, and a side dish to share with others? Block Party San Diego will typically provide the hotdogs and condiments while encouraging residents to bring meat for the grille or a side dish to share (We do not serve alcoholic beverages during our block parties)
- Send out invitations and/or flyers. This can be done as part of a neighborhood newsletter or as a separate mailed notice.
- Submit the permit request.
- Make arrangements to get barricades to block off the streets surrounding the party.
- Purchase any necessary insurance to cover the event. In San Diego, your homeowners insurance is enough to cover the event.
- Reserve equipment you will need to rent such as tables, tents, sound system, etc. Block Party San Diego works with Vision San Diego to provide the basic block party essentials. Ask everyone to bring their own chairs.
- Publicize the party. This can be signs posted throughout the block, as door hangers, or a phone call chain.
- Confirm all arrangements that have been made with emergency, police and fire departments.
- Confirm arrangements for barricades, entertainment, food, refreshments, tents, tables and any other equipment that will be rented or borrowed.
- Invite the local police and fire departments to visit and give safety demonstrations and tours of their vehicles.
- Organize contests such as a dance contest; a food-eating contest; three-legged races; potato sack races; basketball shooting contests.
- Kick off the day with a parade comprised of floats for the little children and a dressed up bike parade for the older ones.
- Hire a clown or magician to entertain the children with balloon sculptures, magic and face painting.
- Nametags - they may seem geeky, but it's a lot easier than trying to remember everyone's names or doing self-introductions.
- A bullhorn if there will be organized contests and activities.
- Tubs with ice for chilling beverages.
- Coolers for storing perishable foods.
- Store meats separately from other food to protect against contamination.
- Clean up when you're done!
SDPD contact in your district
City Council contact
