Block Party Paradise Made Easy
(Family Features) - With so much time and energy spent seeking summertime fun, it's easy for families to overlook their easiest seasonal escape - right outside the front door. What's the draw? Block parties, the ultimate afternoon vacation with friends, relatives and neighbors for a budget-friendly family getaway from the normal barbecue routine.
Like with any successful gatherings, the difference is in the details. Group games, activity committees and designated clean-up crews are a must, but most block party pros will tell you that the real hero of the party is the food. To offer block party goers - new and veteran - some neighborly help, King's Hawaiian has created a signature block party recipe and some party planning tips to make your event a blast.
- Feed the masses- Utilize tasty recipes offering multiple servings with minimal preparation. Mini sandwiches, dips and small plate appetizers are universal crowd pleasers. Check online recipe sites like KingsHawaiian.com for great ideas. (Watch video below for great recipe)
- Call the cops - Notifying the local authorities about your event is a wise choice for safety and traffic clearance. Also, consider inviting the police/fire to attend your event for community awareness or to provide safety demonstrations for the kids.
- Divvy the duties- Delegate responsibilities (food, cleanup, games) to neighbors by address, name or street (example: addresses ending in odd numbers provide a side dish, even numbers provide finger foods in portions of 10).
- Location, location, location- Depending on your neighborhood layout, consider a cul-de-sac as the gathering point. The closed off portion of the street will contain the fun to one location.
- Make way for the parade- Invite neighborhood kids to decorate their bikes, tricycles, scooters or wagons for a mid-party parade and fanfare.
- Let the games begin- The best way to keep block party guests engaged (and in attendance) is with group games for all ages. Consider time-old favorites, such as potato sack races, food eating contests, basketball shooting competitions and three-legged races.
- Designate a play zone- Identify a kid space for games (within immediate proximity to parents) to let parents and children enjoy themselves with neighborhood friends.
The following is an ideal block party recipe. Busy party planners can make 12 mini-sandwiches, all at once, in one pan making cleanup fast work!
Click to Play Video
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