It’s time to bring back to the community block parties! Want to host a block party but not sure where to start? We have some great suggestions on how to start and how to make it successful.
Remember when you could go outside and there was always someone out to chat with? Now adays it isn't as common and it should be! A great way to meet your neighbors is to host a community or street block party. Here are some suggestions on where to start and how to make it successful.
1. Pick a date -simple.
2. Apply for a local permit to block the street. In Calgary this can be found 
HERE.
3. Gather a few neighbors to help with the planning if necessary. Think about the following:
- Music – what type? how will you project the sound?
- Tables – for food and for sitting around
- Chairs – encourage people to bring their own.
- BBQ – who will be cooking? Is it a potluck everyone brings their own? everyone pitches some money to cover the cost of food and you provide?
- Entertainment – will you have a bouncy castle? bike parade with decorating station? Family games such as potato sack races, water balloon toss, sidewalk chalk drawing, skipping contest/hula hoop contest, tug of war ..
- Decorations – keep it simple some balloons and table covers is sufficient.
- Name tags
4. Once the above has been considered, design a invitation and drop off at the houses on your street. Make sure your contact information is on there should there be any questions or offers to help!
5. Block party day – call upon those offers to help and set up, and enjoy meeting new faces on your street!
As a example on our street there is a block party every year, a few families put this together and spread the news about the date via Facebook/door invitations. We all pitch $20 per household to cover the cost of burgers and hotdogs plus we all bring a potluck dish and our own drinks. BBQ's are pulled out from the organizers house and set up with a volunteer cook, tables are set out for all the pot luck dishes, plates etc. We even have 2 bounce castles that get rented and set out – one for the bigger kids one for the little kids. It was a great night meeting new faces on our street and I can't wait for this years party.
