As those languid days of summer grow shorter, crisp autumnal weather presents a great opportunity to host a neighborhood barbecue. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season just around the corner, why not enjoy those golden days of autumn with good friends by hosting a barbecue?
The first step to a great party is the invite list. There are several ways to approach this task. A block party invite may consist of something as simple as delivering a flyer. Don’t put invitations into a homeowner’s mailbox, as that is a violation of U.S. Postal Service regulations. Either mail the invite or hand-deliver flyers, which can be slipped under a door or into the crack of the doorjamb. Children make for great flyer deliverers and it adds to their excitement, so make sure you include them in the effort.
Request an RSVP when you send out the invitation. That way, you’ll have a good handle on the number of guests you can expect. Allow at least two weeks for neighbors to respond. That should give you a fairly accurate headcount to help you choose the right amount of food to have on hand.
Even though the days are cooler, regulating the temperature of food is important and ensuring food safety is always paramount. The general rule is to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.
Clear out your fridge ahead of time so you have enough refrigeration capacity to keep bacterial growth at bay. While health regulators typically don’t get involved at the neighborhood party level, if you charge a fee, you may trigger a host of health department regulations. A ‘Chillin Table’ (cooler mounted on a table) is a great way to assure you keep everything at the right temperature and meet any official food safety requirements.
Asking for donations to cover costs via a can or basket will usually avoid any issues, but you should check with your local health department to ensure that is permitted.
Last but not least is the main attraction: The barbecue meal! You’ll want to plan out the type of grill set up. Renting a large-capacity grill is definitely the way to go. Also consider renting fun attractions like slush machines or a snow cone machine. Those items ramp up the excitement and fun, adding a very special touch to the occasion.
One last tip: Renting equipment is a good bargain because it saves you so much time and hassle. Don’t let the fleeting days of summer pass by without celebrating with an end-of-summer barbecue that would make any Texan proud!