Block party planning support

Great cities are made up of strong neighbourhoods. In turn, strong neighbourhoods are made up of connected and engaged residents. Neighbourhood events are a fun and enjoyable way to meet neighbours and build a stronger, more connected neighbourhood.

If you’re planning to organize a neighbourhood event to build connections among neighbours and a sense of community, we can help! Check out our Neighbourhoods Events program and Meet your Street Kit details below to see how we can support your next neighbourhood gathering. We have also included some great resources below that can help you prepare for a great neighbourhood event!

Learn about neighbourhoods who have hosted successful neighbourhood events by visiting our Strong Neighbourhoods success stories page.

Meet your Street Kit

The Meet your Street Kit includes games and resources to help neighbours connect at a neighbourhood gathering in their street block, apartment or complex in Kelowna. Organizers can sign out the kit and enjoy a variety of games and activities: stacking cups, disc slam, giant connect four and parachute.

Events must be neighbourhood based and meet eligibility requirements listed in the Neighbourhood Events program guidelines. Requests for the Meet Your Street Kit must be submitted at least 2 weeks before anticipated event date. To submit a request, fill out our form below.

Meet Your Street Kit Request Form

Neighbourhood Event Program

The Neighbourhood Event Program is for Kelowna residents who want to host a get-together with their neighbours and would like a little help along the way. Whether you're looking to host a condo or block party, neighbourhood scavenger hunt, picnic, porch concert or neighbourhood clean-up, we can help!

The Neighbourhood Event program provides the following support, for free:

Pre-event planning: support includes booking public spaces, inviting neighbours, neighbourhood building activities and more
On-site support: City staff provide two hours of on-site help the day of your event, plus time for set-up and take-down
Access to equipment: access to equipment from the mobile event trailer: tables, chairs, tents, sound system and a variety of lawn games
Access to resources: resources such as nametags, conversation starter cards and contact cards are available to help connect neighbours
Neighbourhood Clean-Up Kits: This year Strong Neighbourhoods is partnering with the Parks department to lend out Yellow Fish Road and Neighbourhood Park clean up kits to help neighbourhood groups interested in doing neighbourhood clean up activities as part of their event.

Please note that if a street closure is required for your event, a road usage permit from Strong Neighbourhoods is required.

NEIGHBOURHOOD EVENT TRAILER REQUEST FORM

Application process

It’s highly recommended that applications be submitted a minimum of four weeks prior to the event date in order to ensure ample time for review and to address any potential concerns. Applications that are submitted less than three weeks prior to the proposed event date cannot be considered.

Applications will be reviewed by the Community Development Coordinators, who will:

Review and evaluate applications weekly
Consult with applicable City departments depending on the nature of the proposed event
Evaluate applications based on the program criteria

Applicants will be notified of the final decision within two weeks of applying. In some cases, applicants may be asked to provide additional information before a final decision can be made.

Eligibility

Any resident of Kelowna interested in hosting a neighbourhood event can apply. Event planning experience is not required.

NEIGHBOURHOOD EVENT GUIDELINES

We will support the following types of events, as long as they’re outdoor, free, inclusive, and neighbourhood driven/based:

Block parties/BBQ/picnics
Condo festivities
Porch concerts/backyard theatre performances
Scavenger hunts
Picnics
Free-cycling events
Neighbourhood clean-ups
Neighbourhood sport tournaments
Skill, book, toy, plant/seed exchanges

An event can’t be supported if:

It does not follow current public health orders
It’s a fundraiser
It’s a political or religious activity
The presence, sale or consumption of alcohol is involved
It violates any City bylaws
It’s a private or closed function (e.g., a birthday party)
If it’s hosted by a for-profit business or group
If attendance is expected to be more than 350 (visit Plan an outdoor event)

Other considerations

Depending on the event, other considerations may need to be considered and additional permits or permissions may be required.

Road closures: if a street closure is required, a road usage permit from Strong Neighbourhoods is required. Please note, you are required to maintain a six-metre emergency lane throughout the event. You will need to discuss your plan with a Community Development Coordinator for next steps, including obtaining signatures from the affected residents. Strong Neighbourhoods event road usage permit application
Food service: if the event involves serving food, a permit from Interior Health may be required.
Access to power: if the event is in a park and requires power, please discuss the options with a Community Development Coordinator
Waste Removal: event organizers are responsible for removing and disposing any resulting garbage and/or recyclables
Attendance: ensure your gathering does not exceed current attendance restrictions (if any) on gatherings as identified by the Provincial Public Health Office.
Noise: must be kept at a respectable level for the consideration of your neighbours (i.e. quiet time is 10 p.m.).
Promotions: all promotions for your event must be neighbourhood based. Event announcements on channels that would reach a city-wide audience are not permitted.

*Permits and permissions do not need to be in place prior to applying for neighbourhood event support. A Community Development Coordinator will assist applicants in obtaining the necessary requirements.

How we work together to plan your event

Once an event has been approved:

A Community Development Coordinator will be available to work with the organizer through planning and implementation of event
The event organizer will be required to sign a letter of agreement that will clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of the organizer and the City
Our staff will provide two hours of on-site help the day of your, event plus time for set-up and take-down
The event organizer will need to provide a site map two weeks prior to event date
All event promotions and communications will need to recognize the City and be approved by the Community Development Coordinator prior to distribution
The event organizer will be required to provide photos from the event and a story that can be shared on the Strong Neighbourhoods website section. We will provide photo release forms for the day of the event as well as a short guest survey to be handed out at the event for guest feedback.
The event organizer will be required to complete a short event evaluation form to provide details such as the event’s impact on the neighbourhood

Top 10 reasons to have a block party

To have fun and animate the neighbourhood
To plan neighbourhood initiatives such as street clean-up, little libraries or cycling events.
To encourage neighbours get to know each other, and look out for one another
To meet neighbours, strengthen existing relationships, and build friendships
To create a welcoming and inclusive community
To learn more about who lives on the block and the skills, talents and passions of neighbours. They might be able to lend a hand with a gardening project, care for children in time of need or keep an eye on the house while away on vacation.
To help with safety/crime prevention by knowing who lives where and spotting/reporting out of ordinary activity
To learn about the history of the neighbourhood
To encourage neighbours to look after the neighbourhood
To create more opportunities to be social such as forming walking groups, hosting games nights, or organizing a paint night.

Make your social a success with these tools and resources!

Block party planning tips
A few helpful things to consider when planning your block party

Project planning tips
If you've never organized a neighbourhood project or event, this guide will help walk you through the basic steps

Outdoor events planning
For events over 350 people or that disrupt traffic, the Outdoor Events office can help you navigate the permit and application processes

Poster templates