Our guide to organising a street party

Having a street party is easier than you may think and it will definitely be worth it. Trust that your neighbours will want one, because they will!

By ‘street party’ we mean one that is organised by and for all residents in 1 or 2 small streets, without external publicity. A wider public event in more streets needs extra arrangements than this website provides. Here is the difference:

To get going read our Checklist below or skip to our full RESIDENTS’ GUIDE

Getting Started 2-3 months in advance

• Chat about your idea with neighbours you know
• Ask your council about road closure procedures
• A full road-closed street party is best or have a less formal quick street meet
• Think about when to hold it
• Plan 2 or 3 meetings and invite everyone in your street in writing
• Ideally hold some of your meetings in the street

Planning

• If your street agrees, apply to council for road closure or plan an informal street meet
• Share jobs – not one ‘organiser’ – involve everyone
  
• Plan activities for all ages and tastes
• Plan a Street Quiz – download it here
• Bring food, games, chairs etc. to share
• Music not too loud, late or long, and for all tastes
• Don’t raise money in advance, hold a raffle on the day if you need
• Arrange road signs, some tables and chairs etc.
• Borrow, buy or make bunting
• Probably no insurance is needed unless your council ‘requires’ it
• No licence for selling anything should be required
• Get Age Friendly Streets ideas
• Get our Neighbours’ Street Play Guide
• Get our SwapShop kit to plan how to swap things, help or do things together during and after the day
• Download all our free resources
  
• Kit to buy or hire – bunting, tables, prizes, banners etc.
  
• Folding tables are really handy too

A week before

• Send out reminder for party and moving some cars
• Display legal order for road closure if you are required to

On the day

• Set up road closure barriers and bunting etc.
• Do the SwapShop, with a Bring & Buy perhaps
• Clear up and open the road after party

Afterwards

• Share photos in window, street or websites etc.
• Age Friendly Streets to mix up ages.
• More ideas and projects to build community spirit

If a full street party might be too much, or you can’t close your road, why not have a ‘street meet‘?

For more ideas and inspiration see our:

• Videos
• Ideas and themes from other parties
• History of street parties as a British tradition
• How Neighbourhood Watch groups can hold street parties
• If you can’t or don’t want to close your road see here

Ask a question

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