6 Tips to Throwing an Awesome Block Party
Gather your Balloons, Bins, and Barricades!
Nothing brings a neighborhood together like a block party. So, if you’re thinking of throwing one, we’re here to help! Block parties are interactive and engaging, and they give neighbors an excuse to connect in a fun new way. This kind of event is also a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, support your local businesses, and show off the cool things that make your street so special. It’s not always easy to put on an awesome party (especially if it’s your first time), but with the right planning and equipment—like crowd control and safety barricades from OTW Safety—you can make sure yours stands out from the rest.
Here are our six tips on how to throw an awesome block party:
1. Plan, plan, plan
You’ve got the great ideas and enthusiasm, now it’s time to get down to business. Check with your city about what permits you need and apply early. Make sure you know the boundaries of the party itself, and details like whether you’ll be playing loud music or serving alcohol. You’ll want to know how you’re blocking off your street or party area. OTW Safety has crowd control barricades that can be great for sectioning off certain areas. These can be very helpful for any vendors you might be bringing in for food or entertainment. Many of our versatile barricades can be used on roads as block party barricades to divert traffic safely.
If you’re local to Salt Lake City, UT, consider renting Wedge Barricades, affectionately known as the Block Party Barricade, or heavier duty traffic barricades to keep unwanted traffic away. While traffic barricades are essential to the safety of block parties, crowd control barricades can also prove useful. Billboard Barricades are perfect for sectioning off different areas. Think alcohol friendly spaces, through ways for bikers, and more.
Pro-tip: Check your city’s special events portal for more information on permits, block party barricades and more.
2. Choose the right date and time
As we’re still enjoying the warm weather from summer and moving into the cool breezes of fall, it’s a great time of year to throw your block party. Decide early whether daytime or evening makes more sense for your neighborhood. Also, be sure to check weather forecasts just in case of some surprise showers. You can plan ahead for unforeseen weather and make sure to have tents and canopies. Rest assured, if you’re using OTW’s barricades, they are built to withstand anything thrown at them, from hot, direct sunlight to high winds and even snow! Also, make sure to check there are no big sporting events or holidays conflicting with your party, so everyone can be in town and available to come party!
3. Decide on a theme and stick to it.
Decide what the overall theme of your block party will be. This can help you make sure your guests know what to expect at the party and it can help your event feel more cohesive. Some common themes include a neighborhood potluck, a sports-related party, or a children’s play event. With Autumn well on its way, you can even think about Halloween and Harvest themes, which can be fun for both adults and kids. Grab a few decorations to match your theme, and plan food and activities to match. Make sure to communicate the theme to any vendors you might be bringing in so they can jump on the bandwagon, too!
4. Come up with activities
Once you have your event theme decided, you can start thinking about activities for your party. You can choose activities that are related to your theme, or you can simply try to come up with things that all your guests will enjoy. Keep in mind that you’ll want to factor in the size of your event space, as well as the weather, when deciding on activities. If you’re hosting a party that involves kids, you’ll want to make sure to include some activities that are appropriate for their age group. You can think small, like beanbag toss booths, or go big! Did you know some clients have used OTW Safety’s barricades to build full-on go-kart tracks?? With your imagination, the sky’s the limit!
5. Find partners for your event
If you’re planning a large block party, you’re going to want to find a few partners to help make it happen. You’ll want to find someone to help you bring in food and drinks, someone to help handle the music, and someone to manage the cleanup. Block parties are a great way for neighbors to get to know one another better, so it’s a good idea to collaborate with other hosts to make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself with the logistics. If you’re hosting a smaller event, you don’t need to worry about finding partners so much—but you may want to consider teaming up with other hosts to help make your event even bigger. Have some local businesses that want to join in? Let them help! Often local vendors or restaurants love to be involved to let their neighbors know who they are. You can even offer custom signage on your barricades to showcase their logos at the event (and help boost your party budget!).
6. Don’t forget to clean up
It’s easy to think of everything you need for the party itself, but don’t forget about afterwards! You will need to clean up after your event. It may not feel like a big deal while the party is happening, but you’ll regret it later if you don’t clean up properly. Having a plan in place and cleanup processes throughout the event means less work at the end of the night when everyone is tired. Set up enough trash cans placed about the event, and think about using signage and barricades to indicate where people can throw away their trash and recycling (and keep it a bit separate from other areas). Having a team of volunteers keeping an eye on the bins and picking up debris through the whole event makes it all a lot tidier and simpler. When the party is winding down, you can focus on cleaning up any last trash or debris. And don’t forget to thank your volunteers for helping you out!
Don’t underestimate the power of a block party.
These neighborhood events are a great way to bring people together, showcase your community, and have a ton of fun in the process. Here at OTW Safety, we love helping our clients plan their events. As our own manufacturers, we can offer the best safety equipment at the best prices. Let us help you find custom solutions for your event, and contact us today!
