A street transformed into a vibrant neighborhood party filled with laughter, music and camaraderie — that’s the magic of a classic New York City block party.
It’s the ultimate way to celebrate summer in the city with friends, neighbors, kids, parents and grandparents. But before you start partying, you have to start planning.
Gothamist spoke with several local block party experts to guide first-time organizers. They offered valuable insights on all the legwork needed to throw a successful block party in your neighborhood and emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all attendees.
Here’s what we learned.
Organize your neighbors
To organize a successful neighborhood block party without having to do everything yourself, form a planning committee of five to seven dedicated volunteers from the community. Be sure to assign key roles for things like applying for permits, promoting the event, coordinating food and setting, and cleaning up.
Organizers can advertise the block party through various channels to encourage participation from neighbors. “Make sure you’re taking advantage of resources like Eventbrite for promoting, Meetup, all sorts of different ways that you can get your name out there so that you can get a bigger audience,” said Jules Karp, a host of Yoga Block Party, which holds yoga events across the city.
Also leverage local connections with residents, businesses and other groups as well as social media platforms to increase the event’s visibility. “We’re very heavily involved on Instagram,” said Ashleigh Bello, Karp’s cofounder, adding that block party organizers can tag community partners to maximize the reach of posts promoting their plans.
Set a reasonable budget
For a basic block party with food, beverages and activities, experts say you should budget around $200 to $500 for 50 to 100 households. Major expenses will include table and chair rentals, decorations, entertainment and supplies.
You can offset the costs by collecting small contributions from neighbors who plan on attending. And there are various routes you can take with food offerings, including having a potluck or cookout and partnering with local restaurants or food trucks. Pick whatever feels like the best fit for you and your neighbors.
Plan activities and entertainment
For some of the experts we spoke with, having music is a must.
Riley Bright, marketing director of Dolly’s Swing & Drive, a bar in Williamsburg that’s been holding block parties in the past few years, suggested getting a DJ — and some special treats.
“We’ve had a couple of block parties with snow cones sponsored by liquor brands we’ve partnered with,” said Bright. Other music options that can get people up and dancing include live bands and performers, assuming your budget allows for it.
Games and activities like bouncing castles, dunk tanks, balloon artists and sidewalk chalk drawing can also keep the event lively for kids. By incorporating diverse entertainment options and remaining open to unique opportunities, you can create an engaging block party atmosphere for everyone.
Tyler Maccubbin, general manager at Dolly’s Swing & Drive, said fostering a sense of belonging is vital for a successful block party and can help avoid potential resistance from some neighbors.
“We try to make it a very inviting atmosphere that everybody from a wide age range can go to,” he said. “It’s family-friendly and very inclusive.”
Obtain the necessary permits
No surprise here: Organizing street events in New York City requires careful planning and adherence to local regulations, including obtaining a permit from the city’s Street Activity Permit Office.
“Typically, it would be to block down the street,” said Maccubbin. “It’s quite expensive to do so.”
Block party hopefuls must submit an application to the city 60 to 90 days before the event, according to the street permit office. The application fee is $25 and can be paid online.
While residential block party permits are often free, larger community events may come with fees ranging from $3,000 to $25,000. And to legally use amplified sound like DJ speakers, you have to get a permit from the NYPD and pay a $45 fee for the first day of use.
“Make sure that you are not going to get caught off guard with some element of the permit you weren’t aware of, such as amplified sound,” Karp from Yoga Block Party said.
Ensure cleanliness and cleanup
Arrange for portable restrooms if needed in case of a larger community event, and provide clearly marked trash and recycling bins to help keep the street clean throughout the party.
Experts said it’s essential to designate a setup and cleanup team to restore the block to its original state after the festivities, including putting away tables and chairs and sweeping up garbage.
Pro tip: Arrange in advance for recyclables and trash to be separated and collected in compliance with sanitation department rules.
Why block parties matter — even in 2024
They may be an age-old tradition in New York City, but block parties still have multiple benefits for communities, from supporting local businesses to creating chances for neighbors to connect and enjoy their shared spaces in a relaxed, festive environment.
“It helps promote merchandisers locally, and it also gives those people [who] already find us a safe and comfortable space another opportunity to come together in our geographical area,” said Maccubbin from Dolly’s Swing & Drive.
That’s especially the case given the time of year when block parties usually happen, said Yoga Block Party’s Karp: “Oh my gosh, because the sun comes out after a long winter and everyone just wants to be outside.”
“It’s just so nice to get out with your neighbors and barbecue, put some music on, have some conversations,” her cohost Bello added. We want to connect with people and kind of break down walls and barriers. So I think we got to keep the block parties going.”