What National Night Out Does
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods celebrate NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:
- block parties
- cookouts
- visits from local police, fire fighters, paramedics, and city officials
NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation.
Why Host a Block Party?
Hosting a block party for National Night Out is not only a great way to bring your neighbors' together, but it is also:
- An excuse to have fun.
- An opportunity to meet your neighbors. When a neighborhood is more familiar with each other, the more likely they are to identify strangers or suspicious activity.
- Increases the sense of belonging in a neighborhood.
- Makes additional connections within the community - make plans to organize a book club, create a babysitting co-op, or find new friends for your children.
- Allows the neighborhood to use the street for a day for sports and other activities, like hockey, basketball and other games.
- Gives a starting point to have a yearly neighborhood tradition.
Get Started
There are a few things to get lined up before you host a block party:
- A couple of months in advance, talk to neighbors and find out if there is interest in having a block party.
- Gather a few neighbors and divide up the tasks. Decide on a possible theme, activities, etc. Decide what to do about food.
- Make the invitations and distribute to neighbors.
- Recruit volunteers.
- Register your event with your local police department.
- A few days before the event, place sign(s) in the neighborhood reminding the neighbors of the block party.
Suggested Activities
Neighborhood History
- Cultural Connections
- Have everyone bring their favorite family dish.
- Record the story of how everyone came to live in the neighborhood and what he or she likes best about it.
- Identify any special people that lived in your area such as the longest resident, politician, artist, military personnel, etc.
Family Activities
- Invite a clown, balloon artist, or magician
- Have games using water balloons
- Rent a "Jump House"
- Do face painting (Remember to use non-toxic paint)
- Organize a kids talent show or bike parade
- Use sidewalk chalk (Make it a game for the kids and give out prizes)
- Play Musical Chairs
- Play an ice-breaker game
Permits and Resources
Before any road may be temporarily closed, two permits need to be requested and approved: The City of Boise Citizens Use Permit, and Ada County District’s Special Event Permit.
Please note: On this event, you do not need to have insurance, and you do not need to pay the fee.
Download permits below and email to permits@achdidaho.org and citizenuse@cityofboise.org
Send a Message to Police
Thank you for contacting the Boise Police Department. Please fill out the form and someone from the department will be in touch with you.
If this is an emergency, please call 911.