Block parties are great opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another in a fun, relaxed setting.  The City of Sunnyvale can provide you with some useful tools to help make your block party safe and successful. 

Step 1 – Survey your neighbors to determine the best date, time, and location for your block party.  Ideally, you’ll want to have these details finalized at least one month prior to the event.  You may want to plan your block party around an event, like National Night Out (first Tuesday in August) or a holiday like Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day.  Summer months, late spring, and early fall are the best times of year for block parties since the weather is usually pleasant.

Step 2 – Read the following questions:
Is your anticipated attendance more than 300 people?
Is your block party expected to last later than 9 p.m.?
Are you inviting a significant number of people from outside the neighborhood?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, please contact the City’s Community Resources Division at (408) 730-7599 or ncs@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us at least two weeks in advance of your event. 

Step 3 - At least one week prior to your event, if you need traffic control items (barricades and cones) to block streets,  obtain a permit request by calling Public Safety at (408) 730-7212 or click here to download the

Block Party Permit for Street Closure .

Some tips for planning a successful block party:

• Form a block party planning committee consisting of neighbors from several households.
• Determine the budget for your party.  Will it be “potluck” or will donations be collected from neighbors to put toward food, entertainment, etc.?
• Determine what equipment your neighbors have, and what you will need to rent, such as tables, tents, sound system, etc. Ask everyone to bring their own chairs.
• Assign tasks to individual committee members (i.e. one person in charge of organizing the food, one person in charge of entertainment/activities, one person in charge of contacting the City, etc.)
• Don't forget to put someone in charge of the clean-up crew!
• Send out invitations, usually at least two to three weeks in advance. This can be done as part of your neighborhood newsletter or email group (if applicable), or a simple flyer that’s delivered around to the neighborhood by volunteers.  Click here for a sample Block Party invitation. Confirm arrangements for barricades, entertainment, food, refreshments, tents, tables and any other equipment that will be rented or borrowed a couple days before the party.

If you have questions or need more information about planning a block party, please contact Nathan Truitt, Community Outreach Coordinator at (408) 730-7472 or ntruitt@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us .