Straight from the National Organization’s website:

National Night Out Party Ideas

Ways to jumpstart your next NNO event

These are just suggestions to stimulate your thinking. Be creative!
SIMPLE REFRESHMENTS

  • Watermelon
  • Potluck - bring your speciality
  • Lemonade & cookies
  • Coffee, tea and dessert
  • Ice cream cones
  • Make your own sundaes
  • Pretzels and chips
  • Fruit and cheese plates
  • Pizza
  • Cookies
  • Hamburgers
  • Hot dogs
  • Chicken
  • Corn on the cob
  • Salads
  • Soda
  • Iced tea
  • Punch

GROUP CONVERSATIONS/MIXERS

  • Block history stories
  • National Night Out stories
  • Photos from past block parties and NNO events
  • Design a mixer: “Find a person who…” - with prizes
  • Oldest resident award
  • Longest resident award
  • Newest resident award

CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY

  • Collect for a food bank
  • Beautify a common area
  • Plan a fall clean-up or bulb planting
  • Recruit additional Neighborhood Watch leaders and block captains
  • Discuss neighborhood concerns, problems
  • Distribute neighborhood block list, phone numbers, etc.
  • Discuss outdoor lighting in the area
 ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH

  • Bike parade
  • Board games
  • Skits
  • Make a mural or banner
  • Coloring Contest
  • Pony rides
  • McGruff
  • 3-legged race
  • Football, baseball, basketball. Street hockey
  • Roller blade
  • Youth parade with a theme
  • Jump rope
  • Chalk art
  • Facepainting
  • Bubbles
  • Sack races
  • Magic show
  • Sing-alongs
  • Water balloons
  • Frisbee competition
  • Piñata
  • Clowns
  • Bike Safety
  • Child ID Kits

ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

  • Block party
  • Cookout
  • Parade
  • Jump rope contest
  • Hula hoop contest
  • Barbeque
  • Street dance
  • Volleyball
  • Storytelling (truth or fiction)
  • Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc.
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Visits from police, fire and EMS
  • Crime prevention videos
  • Take lots of pictures
  • Karaoke
  • Rummage sale
  • Music and DJ
  • Dunk tank
  • Movies
  • Sandy beach party
  • Street carnival
  • Disposable camera distribution/photo contest
  • Self-defense demonstration
  • Jail & Bail
  • K-9 demonstration
  • Funniest hat contest
  • Welcome new neighbors
  • Live music
  • Horseshoes