15 Great Block Party Ideas

15 Great Block Party Ideas

15 Great Block Party Ideas

It’s summer and the PERFECT time to do a neighborhood block party! Enjoy these 15 great party ideas to make this summer’s block party the best yet. Some of the ideas below came from my childhood, my neighborhood or my block party bucket list. Hopefully they inspire you and be sure to add to the list! I look forward to hearing your ideas.

  1. Food is always the most important thing about throwing a party!  Pick a theme like “50’s Diner Food” or “See Food” (play on sea food). You’ll be amazed at how creative your neighbors can be.
  2. Chocolate Tasting. This is for all you chocaholics. Invite everyone to come and taste some different yummy chocolates and see who has the most in-tune taste buds!
  3. Water Balloons & Spoon Racing. This party is perfect for a HOT day…get some wood spoons, water balloons, friends and RACE your way to a fun filled day!
  4. Art Attack. You don’t have to be an artist to have fun at this party.  Make some fun art canvases for painting or get big art paper and let your imagination run free.  Anyone can join in this activity.
  5. Couples Minute To Win It. Not a lot of kids in the neighborhood? That’s no reason not to have a block party. Why not throw a party around one of the BEST game shows to ever be invented?  This night is guaranteed to be full of laughter and fun!
  6. Progressive Dinner. This is a great way to have fun with neighbors and share in some delicious food.  Do you have a lot of neighbors from around the world? Make it an International Progressive Dinner.
  7. Bike Parade. This is an oldie but goodie. Organize a bike parade for all ages to join in.  Get together and decorate the bikes (adult bikes included ) and then parade around the neighborhood.  You can even get candy to throw at the spectators watching the fun parade!
  8. Chalk Walk. This is a fun way for adults to relax and chat while the kids get to go wild with sidewalk chalk.  This will be a big hit among your neighbors.
  9. Popcorn & Movie Theme. Plan a popcorn and movie night outdoors!  Grab your favorite movie, popcorn, and invite all the neighbors to this outdoor awesome night movie themed block party! Large inflatable movie screens are available to rent but even a garage door will suffice.
  10. Book It! This is a worth while way to having fun with your friends.  Invite everyone over and have them bring books that they are willing to donate to kids in need.  This is a perfect way to combine some service while having a good time. Another option is the donation of school supplies to fill the backpack of students in need.
  11. Spuds & Suds. Create a potato bar where you supply the spuds (and suds) and everyone brings a topping. This is an amazing, low budget way to have a good time with great food!
  12. Bowling. Anyone can go bowling, but it takes creativity to bring bowling to your neighborhood party! Make your own bowling all on flat ground, party streamers as lane dividers, and then break glow sticks in plastic bottles full of water to use as your pins.  A soccer or basketball can be used for the ball. This makes it so you can bowl in the dark! Simple, easy, and FUN!
  13. Hose Down. Do you have really hot summers? Here is another oldie but goodie. Invite the local fire department to join in on the fun. Perhaps, they’ll lead the bike parade and with some encouragement and food, cool everyone down afterwards by hooking their hose up to a nearby hydrant. This is one of my fondest memories as a child from our neighborhood block parties.
  14. Nerf Wars / Salad Wars. People of all shapes and sizes can join in on this fun party.  Grab your nerf guns, invite your neighbors, and have an all out ‘war’! You can even fill a baby tub with salad and put the dressing in some inexpensive super soakers 🙂
  15. Park In The Dark. Miss the old drive-in movie theaters. Or, car hop service? Do you kids look at you with an eyebrow raised when you explain what they are? Well, why not create your own, have a night out and keep the kids busy bussing your car on roller skates. Whether you create a “mock” drive in movie in your neighborhood (or a borrowed parking lot) or set up a food stand, park your car along the road with your neighbors and place an order with the kids who will deliver your order from the food stand to your car on skates, you’re sure to win the Block Party of The Year Award. Suggestion: If you don’t show a movie or have space to park your cars, hire a local garage band or DJ (depending on your budget) and park yourself in a couple lawn chairs instead.

BONUS IDEA: Toga! Yes, your neighborhood will go down in the history books if you master the fine art of throwing a neighborhood toga party. Parade around in your togas and take it to the next level with horse drawn cart rides through the neighborhood (also known as a hayride) and Roman / Greek inspired food! This actually happened in my neighborhood growing up!

15 Great Block Party Ideas

15 Great Block Party Ideas

15 Great Block Party Ideas