The City of St. Louis holds its annual National Night Out celebrations on the first tuesday of October. The goal of National Night out is to allow for residents to attend safe and fun parties to build our communities through partnership with law enforcement.

Here are steps and guidance to host a National Night Out Block Party on your block.

Register Your Block

First, you will need to register (for free!) with the City of the St. Louis with the following information:

• Contact information
• Block number and street name. Ex: 1200 block of Market St (use the Address Locator to confirm information)
• NNO Party Location (required): Is the party location the same as the block(s) registering, a specific block, or a specific address?
• Street Closing Details
  • Indicate if you are planning on closing a street at the party location
  • Note: If party location is on a bus route, it cannot be closed

Signups for National Night Out open in early April. Use button below to sign your block up. The deadline to sign up in 2025 is September 12 at 11:59pm.

Plan Your Block Party

THREE MONTHS BEFORE

1. Form a Block Party Committee and hold an organizational meeting.
2. Appoint contact person, responsible for invitations, publicity and info.
3. Assign 1 person to handle permits, and other legal requirements.
4. Put 1 person in charge of organizing food.
5. Appoint activity & equipment coordinator.
6. Don’t forget to put someone in charge of the clean-up committee!
7. Decide if food is purchased, cooked on-site or donated by households.

ONE MONTH BEFORE

1. Invite neighbors with door-to-door flyer, social media and email.
2. Be sure to invite new neighbors in-person.
3. Tell neighbors what times cars must be removed from block, if necessary. If possible, arrange alternate parking.
4. Know the noise ordinance.
5. Reserve or rent equipment, like PA system, street barricades, tables tents.

ONE WEEK BEFORE

1. Send out reminder.
2. Confirm delivery date of equipment.

DAY OF

• Barricade the street. You can use a car with a sign to help barricade the street.
• Begin a Phone/Address/Email List. Be sure all attendees sign their names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. This is your best tool for communicating future events and knowing who you can contact for projects.
• Don’t forget:
  • Nametags
  • A bullhorn or microphone
  • Coolers and & tubs for cooling
  • Store meats separately from other food
  • Clean up when you’re done!

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

• Invite the local police and fire departments to visit and give safety demonstrations and tours of their vehicles.
• Organize contests such as a dance contest; a food-eating contest; three- egged races; potato sack races; basketball shooting contests; volleyball tournament.
• Kick off the day with a parade comprised of floats for the little children and a dressed up bike parade for the older ones.
• Hire a clown or magician to entertain the children with balloon sculptures, magic and face painting.

KNOW YOUR RESOURCES

Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood Association (forestparksoutheast@gmail.com)

The Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood Association is your neighborhood’s association! We here to provide you the forum to discuss issues of concern in the Forest Park Southeast and Kings Oak communities. We provide a place where information can be distributed, perspectives discussed, and community concerns collected and communicated to elected officials and other government and non-government entities within the City of St. Louis. We encourage and provide you the tools to play an active role in the neighborhood, serve as a mechanism for creating and fostering community among Forest Park Southeast and Kings Oak stakeholders, and medium through which Neighborhood stakeholders can participate in decision making that affects the life and community of its residents.

Neighborhood Stabilization Team – (314) 657-1392

The Neighborhood Stabilization Officers (NISs) are the link between your neighborhood and City government. NISs facilitate city service delivery and work with you to resolve problems. They are assigned by Ward, and work with the Aldermen, the police and city departments and agencies to deal with a wide range of programs. Their mission is to resolve the problems that have a negative impact on residents and their neighborhoods.

Citizens’ Service Bureau – (314) 622-4800

The Citizens’ Service Bureau (CSB) is the customer service department for City government. Call the CSB to enter requests for City services. For example, if your trash is not picked up or you have a street light out on your block, just call the CSB and they will notify the responsible City department for you.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Public Affairs Office [www.slmpd.org] – (314) 444-5606

Learn what police district serves your block and who your Police Public Affairs Officer and Problem Property Officers are. They can provide your block with statistics and crime reports, ensure that a police officer attends the block meeting to act as your liaison with the police department.

There are slightly different instructions if you are organizing a residential block party that is not on the date of the City’s recognized date of National Night Out.

WHAT IS A RESIDENTIAL BLOCK PARTY?

A Residential Block Party is defined as a residential, neighbors only, social gathering, not affiliated with any special event or commercial establishment.

Residential block parties (specifically gatherings for residents of a block and NOT events open to the public) require an application to be submitted 2 weeks in advance.

Residential block parties are limited to weekends, including Friday evenings.

1. Must be open to all residents of the block for purpose of meeting neighbors – no private parties. Organizer must notify all residents of the party’s date/time at least 24 hours in advance;
2. Access shall be open to all fire hydrants, mail boxes or other utilities;
3. No sound amplifying devices may be used that can be heard beyond 150 feet;
4. No admission charge may be made.

Blocking Hours for Residential Block Parties:

• Fridays, between 6pm and 9pm, or
• Saturdays/Sundays, between 11am and 9pm (excluding National Night Out and Halloween).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A RESIDENTIAL BLOCK PARTY

You will need to send in an application to the city.

For your application, you will need to provide:

• Street address
• Hundred block and name of street you wish to close
• Cross streets on either side of the block you wish to close
• Number of blocks to be closed
• Day, date and time of event
• Anticipated number of persons to attend
• Your plan for notifying block residents
• Your contact information

Submit your application by using the button below.