Block parties are the hallmark of the summer season. There’s no better way to get friends and neighbors together to enjoy the sticky summer nights than having a block party. However, not planning appropriately can result in a serious party foul. If you want to plan the kind of get together that people will be talking about for months and years to come, don’t forget to plan for these essentials:
Parking
Unless everyone will be walking or biking, you’ll need to plan for parking to avoid annoying neighbors or causing a traffic jam. There’s nothing worse than angering the people you need to see every day, which means that you need to figure out a place for your guests to park that won’t interfere with your neighbors’ ability to get in and out of their homes quickly.
Additionally, local ordinances may govern where or how long people can park on your street. Violating these can be more serious – resulting in tickets, fines, and even having cars towed.
If you can accommodate lawn parking, an easy idea is just to have guests park on your grass, otherwise you’ll need to secure some parking nearby your house. Asking neighbors to lend their driveways or approaching local businesses can generate additional parking spaces. If you have a park or other public area near your home, you can always ask guests to park there and then just shuttle them back and forth.
Food
Block parties tend to attract lots of people, even some that weren’t invited. You don’t want to run out of food when neighbors and other acquaintances start dropping by unexpectedly. Ensure that you have enough food for everyone by making or ordering extras of everything. If you have lots leftovers, you can always offer to-go bags to guests as they leave.
Don’t supply food that’s perishable if it’s going to be sitting out all day. Dishes with mayonnaise or eggs can go bad quickly in the hot summer sun. Plan to replenish meat quickly from other containers that are being kept at appropriate temperatures inside so that guests aren’t served old food. Also follow proper food handling protocols to avoid contaminating cooked food with raw food. These precautions will help you to avoid foodborne illness.
Bathrooms
Assuming that guests can just use your home bathroom is the biggest mistake that people make when having an outdoor party. Asking people to come inside brings in messes that could otherwise be kept outside. Additionally, regular home bathrooms can’t accommodate enough people to avoid lines, which means that people will end up waiting around inside your home – missing out on the party and congesting areas where food prep is being done.
Instead, provide portable restrooms to keep the party going strong outdoors and minimize mess inside. You can choose from typical portable bathroom units or luxury restroom trailers depending on what fits your party best. Restroom trailers are sure to impress guests with their amenities and can typically be run off of standard water and electrical hookups.
Entertainment
Whether you’re planning to have water fun, a bonfire, a live band, sports, tailgating activities, or some other form of entertainment, ensure that there’s something for everyone. People will be more likely to stick around if there’s something for them to enjoy regardless of their preferences. This means offering fun stuff for people of all ages throughout the day. Staggering entertainment is a great way to have interesting things going on no matter when someone arrives and leaves so that people don’t miss out on “the big event.”
Consider the weather when planning entertainment and have a contingency plan in case it rains or is hotter/colder than imagined. Things like tents can serve multiple functions, protecting guests from rain and also direct sunlight on those blazing hot days.
Kerkstra Luxury Portable Restroom Service Inc. provides portable restroom service across Michigan and luxury restroom trailers for all of the states surrounding the Great Lakes. Take a look at our mobile restroom trailers and request a quote today!
