Has your neighborhood ever celebrated the end of summer with a barbecue? A great way to create lasting bonds with neighbors is by hosting an annual barbecue before school starts. But pulling off an event for dozens – or even hundreds – of people can be tricky. Here’s several ways to help make your neighborhood get-together a memorable success:
The first step to a great party is the invitation. An invitation can be as simple as slipping a flyer under the door. You’ll want to give your neighbors several options for what they would like to contribute to the effort. Avoid putting invitations in your neighbors’ mailbox. That’s a violation of U.S. Postal Service regulations. Either mail the invite or hand-deliver flyers.
It’s always a good idea to request an RSVP. That way, you’ll have a good idea of the number of guests to expect and can make sure you’ll have enough food. Keep a log of what each guest plans to bring so you don’t end up with too many drinks and not enough side dishes! Allow at least one week, preferably two, for neighbors to respond.
Even though the days are cooler, ensuring food safety is always paramount and the general rule is to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.
Lastly, don’t be reluctant to ask for help. Many of your neighbors will be grateful that you’re taking the initiative to plan a party and will be glad to pitch in for set up and clean up.
A neighborhood party can be a lot of work. But it can be a lot of fun, too, and can go a long ways to fostering good neighbor relations. Have fun!