Sprillowfest 2011 a Block Party Hit

After three years of numerous neighborhood moms saying “We really should,” we got our acts together and finally did. And it was fantastic.

All hail: THE BLOCK PARTY.

If you have ever toyed with the idea of closing down your street to host a little neighborhood merriment, take it from this Tireless Mom when I say that it’s worth the effort to spend a day with the families around you. What started with a quick email to ended with over 70 people, four tents, five grills, a bouncy castle, 769 desserts and yes, even a live band.

Dubbed “SPRILLOWFEST 2011,” the social event of the season’s moniker is derived from the nickname for our neighborhood – where SPRuce and wILLOW streets intersect. So many neighbors gathered to spend time with their old friends and meet the new kids on the block. After three years of saying hello to the nice couple who walks their dog, I’m happy to say that I now call them Don and Marion!

Interested in organizing your own block party? Here are a few tips from the newly crowned “Pro:”

• Start with an email to Marie Rizzo at Town Hall, requesting for your street to be closed for a few hours on a weekend date a few weeks in the future. She’ll put it in front of the Board of Selectman and once it’s approved, the DPW will drop off sawhorses the day before the event. Such service!
• Get a committee of three or four “Do-ers” that you get along well with. There were four of us who organized it, and we divvied up responsibilities like invitations, bouncy castle, tables and chairs, tents, and of course, the live music. We are fortunate to have musicians in the ‘hood and a great house with a porch that doubles as a “stage.”
• We split the RSVP list into two; half the families brought side dishes for the big tables and the other half brought desserts. Each family was responsible for bringing anything they wanted grilled and whatever they wanted to drink. And yes, everybody shared.
• Don’t overdo “events.” We started off with grand plans like kid games, trivia, raffles… even a dunk tank was discussed. In the end, we had the bouncy castle and the band, which allowed for guests to mingle with each other all day.
• We had a few donated raffle events to raise money that went to defray any big costs incurred. Everyone was happy to take a chance at winning a Groupon to Isabella, the Blue Bunny, a donated gift card to Legals and even a bouquet of flowers.
• Organize a set-up and clean-up committee; we realized this after the fact. It all worked out, but a little more structure on that end instead of having so many desserts (oh, the cavities our ‘hood must have by now) would have been a much better idea.

All in all, it was one of the best Dedham days I’ve ever had. The party was slated from 3-6 p.m. and at 2:50, the rain stopped and the sun came out. As if on cue, the skies opened up at 6:01 and the rain started to pour. It didn’t stop the neighborhood revelers as we simply bounced from tent to tent and back outside again to dance in the rain. Nothing could dampen our spirits.

So much so, that SPRILLOWFEST 2012 is slated for next spring. Who can wait until fall?