Our neighborhood is hosting our first block party. We are a mix of families with grown children and families with young kids. There are about 10 kids ranging from 2-11 years old. I am looking for some easy and inexpensive ideas for things to do, both for kids and adults.
Have the fire dept bring their truck over. The kids absolutely love it and the parents don't mind seeing all the cops and firemen around. :o)AND it's free.
Bowling for groceries! Kids bring groceries (box of mac and cheese, gatorade, little debbie, etc.) Line up the food on the street like bowling pins. Kids roll a ball toward the food and keep what they knock over. They can bowl as long as they put food in the kitty. The kids always want the Pringles and cereal, but it's a hoot when they knock over the cans of veggies instead. This game keeps the kids entertains much longer than the other usual block party games we organize and it is easy to manage.
Check with your Village because they may offer suggestions for your block party, like someone suggested - the fire department may come out w/ a hook -n-ladder, police may pass out trinkety stuff like glow necklaces, etc... or your town may offer a break in price for jumpies or dunk tanks.
You can rent a popcorn maker or cotton candy maker (it's hot to stand in front of all day so just make this a couple hours, at best).
There are a few things that you will need to decide - if everyone is in charge of their own food, grilling etc... or if you are going to centrally situate all food... centrally situate tables/chairs, etc... you'll possibly want to consider renting a grill. There's a lot that goes into having a block party. Make some notes in advance as to who is going to clean up, break down tables at the end of the night, etc... who will be in charge of getting ice if food is going to be centrally located... etc....Just be prepared to do a lot of things yourself. Even the easiest block party is a lot of work. The more planning and delegating you can do in advance will help lessen your load at the end of the day. Many hands lighten the load. Even delegating one person to handle just games, one to handle food and beverages, one for clean-up, one in charge w/ getting ice... will help.
I don't mean to sound negative - I have been on quite a few sides of block parties - from planning my own to helping others. My personal one went great because I had two great neighbor- friends who pitched in and truly helped. However, I've watched one of my best friends, finally, after 3 years stopped having one. Also, my sister, for about 5 years had a huge one and worked hard to delegate a bunch of stuff but she would just get the brunt of planning and clean-up because, at the end of the night... those neighbors who were drinking all day weren't that motivated to clean up at night.
Good luck.
I know at our block party we close off the street and the younger kids are just happy to get to ride their bikes on the street. That entertains them the entire night! I like the idea of the bike parade the other poster suggested, I may use that for my own block party. You could always get a bunch of sidewalk chalk and then the kids could draw on the street. I think the idea of doing things on the street, where they normally can't go, is exciting to them.
Good luck, I'm sure everyone will have a good time.
http://www.familyfun.com always has great ideas for this type of thing!
We have done a block party for the last 5 years...some of the things that we have done include a water balloon toss...parent/child teams (dad with daughter, mom with son, etc.)Everything they toss and catch successfuly, they have to take one step back and go again. We have had the local fire department bring a truck in for the kids to climb all over and get their pics taken in the seat (parent provides camera and sends pics to adults). Last year in addition to the fire truck, the police office came and gave a demonstration using their K-9 dog. We provide food for the firemen and policemen. They love that. We put a basketball hoop in the middle of the cul-de-sac and let the kids play a friendly game of bball. Not to mention, if they are friends, they will find their own things to do. You could set up croquet of mini golf in several front yards or an obstacle course. We have done lots of things! Good luck and have fun!
Kids: Face painting, tattoos, firetruck from your city, water ballon toss, bike parade (decorate with 1.00 store material)
Adults: white elephant, DJ (cheap/free)
Have fun!
Hi Georgia,
Balloon toss, 3-legged races(parent/child or kids vs. parents), egg toss (hard boil if you want a little less mess),relay races (who can put all the clothes in the bin on- trading at the other end, potatoes on a kids shovel, egg & spoon race), low-volleyball (kids can play by themselves) regular height when the adults want to play too, four square, hop-scotch, jump-rope.
I hope some of these will work. Enjoy your party!
Bag toss or washer tournaments. Water balloons, squirt guns, or even large sponges and buckets of water for water fights, sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, pinatas, freeze tag, big wheel races, kids can decorate their bikes, big wheels, etc and have a "parade"... good luck!!
My sister in law has them every year.
They do a bake off. Anyone who wants to bring a desert can do so and then they judge. They will also do this with chili.
Crafts also work. They bought some cheap paint and canvas bags and had the kids decorate the bags. Most kids did them for Halloween because they had theirs in September.
How about singing or talent show?
Dog parade? Dress the dogs up and show them off.
Good Luck and have fun!
I was going to suggest the firetruck. They come for free as long as you know that when a call comes in, they have to leave. This only happened one year, thank Heavens. : )
Georgia,
For the life of me I cannot recall any tips but this one! Take a picture of each family's home, then make a button for each person. That way when meeting a new person from your neighborhood you know which house they live in.
I know I learned that in the Family Fun magazine, if you go on their website and do a search I am sure it'll bring up more ideas. I remember thinking there were a lot of good ideas when I read it, and it was probably from last summer. Good luck!
Hi Georgia, I started our block party 4 years ago and it is always a big hit. We get the jumping jack from the city for free. I was also thinking of possibly getting a DJ this year if they are'nt to expensive. I also make several copies of the block party permit and go to the neighborhood businesses for donations. Most of the time I get at least 15 or so. We then do a raffle for the donations. Basketball hoop and volleyball net in the street. Thats about it. I do try to do kids games and get small prizes for that. Hope that gives you some ideas. If you have any new ideas please send me them. Thanks and Good Luck!!
Our block party has quite the elaborate ritual that has evolved over 30 years. It lasts all day. Here are some of our activities: day starts with donuts and juice/coffee - grownups chat while kids decorate their bikes with streamers, balloons and noise makers. One family is in charge of kid games in the morning. One house has an all day craft table for little kids. There is a softball game for all ages (we walk to a nearby park). One talented neighbor sets up an obstacle course that goes up and down the block, times the kids and gives out prizes. The police and fire truck come and let kids climb all over them. We have a rented snowcone machine (that also makes margarita cones!). The keg comes out around four along with hors doeurves SOmeone sets up speakers so we can have music all night. The dinner is potluck with combined funds buying chicken and paper goods. We mark off a dance floor with colored lights and the party lasts till midnight.
Its fun and exhausting - like Christmas in summer. Have fun!
Hi Georgia,
We've done a block party for the last 2 years. We rent a bounce house and the kiddos love it!! Last year it was a combination bounce house and slide, even better! But be sure to have a schedule of parents to supervise, nothing worse than one of our precious little ones getting hurt. We have a few teenage girls in our group that arrange all the kids games, it's fun to get everyone involved. We had a live band one year (my hubby is a musician), then we had Karaoke last year, not sure what we'll do this year. We provide the meat and people bring side dishes, in the invite we state: Even # houses bring side, Odd # bring dessert and rotate that each year. We have baggos and some other outdoor games like volleyball as well. Last year the firetruck turned on the water and the kids played for like 1.5 hours!!! How fun! Whatever you do, they will enjoy it, be sure to have fun iwth it yourself!
Haven't done a block part, but what about a pinata?
I organized a scavenger hunt one year for our neighborhood picnic and it was a real hit. I kept it simple, yet a bit challenging and fun. I printed out a list of random items and gave one to each family. The first family to find all the items on the list and turn them into me was the winner. I put things like : 1972 penny, pocket lint, toothpick, piece of string, etc. They were all items that could be found around the area and mostly outside. It was really enjoyable watching the families work together running around trying to be the first ones to finish. Have fun and enjoy! Here's to nice weather for your neighborhood picnic as well as mine this year...
