How do you host a block party? Where do you start? What will you need?
Cristina Burwell and her neighbors have been hosting block parties in their neighborhood twice a year for years. Cristina has created 5 wonderful checklists with everything you need to host a block party.
BLOCK PARTY CHECKLIST #1:
* Checklist 1: Getting Started
HOW TO GET STARTED
Timeframe:
Midwinter is a perfect timeframe for choosing a date before summer vacation schedules take over. Most other planning decisions do not need to be made more than a month in advance of the actual block party.
You can organize with less lead time. Just be prepared for the fact that you will not find a date where everyone will be there.
- Form a PLANNING COMMITTEE - e.g., 2 or 3 interested families
- Identify a date to get the planning committee together to choose a block party date and place
- When the Committee meets, choose when the block party will happen
- Best DAY & DATE
- Raindate
- Start (and end?) time
- Identify a LOCATION for the block party with these considerations:
- Where is there space to gather?
- Is there a safe place for kids to play?
- Will you be having tables and chairs?
- Will you be having grills?
- Is it necessary to have the space be wheelchair accessible?
- Toilet available?
- Will car traffic be a problem?
- Is there rain protection?
- What type of FOOD will you be having? What will people need to bring?
- Super-Easy - e.g., order pizzas
- Simple - e.g., everyone bring their own meal
- Plan-ahead - e.g., potluck and/or grilling
- Who is the main CONTACT for the informational flier?
- Can their phone number or email be listed?
- How will people know about rain decisions?
- Check the dates you have chosen with any key people who would need to attend.
Other: __________________________________________________________
WHAT's NEXT?
Download the rest of the checklists here:
© Cristina Burwell, 2014