Need some ideas for a "Block Party".

[Big Cuddly Bear]

My next door neighbor and I are planning a block party for late June. And I have been to a few in my day, so I know what they are, but I am looking to make this one a little different than the ones I have been to. I do know that we won't be renting moon bounces as most of the kids in the area are age 10 and up.

We plan to ask everybody to make some food to bring to the party, or bring drinks. I was told that the last time this street had a block party, the organizer asked everybody for $20 to buy beer and soda, but still had people bring food. I think I will just have people bring beer and soda as I don't want to be responsible for the money, especially since I am brand new in the neighborhood.

Anyway, I am looking for ideas of things to do that you don't traditionally see at block parties.

Like I think that I may have a kickball tournament, or a wiffle ball game. At night we may show a movie on a big screen. And everybody seems to have those basketball setups on wheels, so maybe a basketball game. I will have a volleyball net set up on the side of my house. And I will be supplying all the music for the day.

But maybe you folks can throw in some other ideas? Thanks for reading.

 

[stashbin]

For the love of Pooh...get a good DJ!!!! A DJ can make or break a party KWIM?

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

For the love of Pooh...get a good DJ!!!! A DJ can make or break a party KWIM?

Uh, that would be me.... I've been DJing professionally since 1976.... And I do about 50 kids events a year, so I have that covered.

 

[Magic Mom]

All the block parties I've been to have been group efforts, not planned by just one or two. Why don't you ask the other people on the block what they would like to do?

 

[dakcp2001]

water ballon or egg toss
pie or watermelon eating contest
neighborhood trivia contest

 

[Liberty Belle]

At our block parties we've had corn roasts, chili cookoffs, cornhole, squirt gun fights (not just for kids), and potluck with music.

We've also gone to baseball games and horse races as a group.

I'd make sure to have plenty of seating (people can bring their own, but some will not have any or will forget), some extra drinks, more than one large trash can!, maybe if it's not windy, a card table or two set up with board games or cards, so those who don't want to play a physical game can have fun.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

All the block parties I've been to have been group efforts, not planned by just one or two. Why don't you ask the other people on the block what they would like to do?

I actually have that in mind. Right now it is just the 2 of us, but in the letter I am putting out I am asking for planning volunteers.

 

[mom2d&b]

A giant game of twister. Make a circle template and spray paint the colors on to the grass.

If it will be a HT day, freeze some folded tee shirts and see who can put them on first.

Maybe have name tags to help those like yourself who are new to the neighborhood.

A trivia type game that has questions that encourage everyone to mix and mingle. Things like, find a neighbor who has 5 siblings, find a neighbor who has lived in another country, and so on....

 

[Liberty Belle]

A giant game of twister. Make a circle template and spray paint the colors on to the grass.

If it will be a HT day, freeze some folded tee shirts and see who can put them on first.

Maybe have name tags to help those like yourself who are new to the neighborhood.
A trivia type game that has questions that encourage everyone to mix and mingle. Things like, find a neighbor who has 5 siblings, find a neighbor who has lived in another country, and so on....

That's an excellent idea. And not just for the new people. When we had our last (and only, in this neighborhood) block party, we had just moved in about four months before, but many people had been here for years and didn't know who everyone was. I wish we would have had name tags.

 

[mom2d&b]

sorry, my post shoudl say if it is a HOT day, ( for the frozen tee shirts)

 

[Swank]

I would do the musical chairs where you ask people to go get things from around the neighborhood, and the last one back is out. For example, get me a baseball hat, get me a brush.., get me a rake.. It is always fun.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

sorry, my post shoudl say if it is a HOT day, ( for the frozen tee shirts)

That sounds fun(ny).... and I just happen to have about 2 dozen T shirts around from a previous project I was involved with.

 

[McKelly]

How about an Amazing Race type thing? Find out your neighbor's ethnicity and plan a game or activity from that country to do in their yard and race around the neighborhood. Give a prize to the winning family, globe, world puzzle, etc.

You could have everyone bring an ethnic dish to pass as well.

Might be a lot of work though..........I don't know how much you want to put into this!! LOL!

 

[SpecialK]

Picture Scavenger Hunt - take close up pictures or weird angles of things in the neighborhood (a mailbox, fence post, gas meter, etc.) and print sheets with the pics. Kids works in teams to find the items , where they'll find clues to a phrase or map or something similar. First team to complete gets a prize.

Solicit coupons/gift cards from neighborhood businesses for raffle prizes.

Every house is responsible for a miniature golf hole or a game.

Corn hole/beanbag tourney for the adults. pay to play cash prize.

Popcorn machine for the movie.

Flashlight tag.

 

[golfgal]

As a parent with kids over 10, bounce houses are still fun for them, especially if they don't have to worry about little kids in there with them.

They have inflatable obstacle courses that our kids like too.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

As a parent with kids over 10, bounce houses are still fun for them, especially if they don't have to worry about little kids in there with them.

They have inflatable obstacle courses that our kids like too.

Well, I thought so too, but I asked 4 or 5 kids and all were lukewarm on the idea, so I think we'll save the money to use on something else. I like the scavenger hunt idea of things in the neighborhood.

I would think the obstacle course idea might be fun.