Next week is the national Night Out celebration – but it’s more than just a block party. Night Out is an annual event designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. Night Out is the first Tuesday in August and has been a Seattle tradition for 32 years.
Neighbors at Night Out set up tables and chairs on residential streets to share food, play street games and music and get to know one another.
Two Ways to Get Your Block Party Permitted
On any other day of the year, a block party street closure would be permitted through SDOT, but on the first Tuesday of August every year, block party street closures are arranged through the Seattle Police Department. Why? Because it is national Night Out!
Night Out Block Party
- Allows you to close your residential block to cars from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 2, 2016 only.
- Permits are available through the Seattle Police Department.
- This permit is FREE.
- Register your Night Out block party until August 1.
- Request visits from the Police Department, Fire Department, or Office of Emergency Management to your block party to share safety and emergency-preparedness information.
Neighborhood Block Party
- Allows you to close your non-arterial block to cars during daylight hours any day of the year.
- Permits are available through SDOT.
- This permit is FREE.
- You need to apply for this permit at least 2 weeks in advance of your event.
More Opportunities to Play in the Street
Throwing a block party is a fun opportunity to meet and play with your neighbors in the street. Check out some of SDOT’s other public space programs:
Play Streets allow you to host recurring street closures under a single permit. Want to host a weekly street soccer game? A monthly potluck or chalk art party? The Play Streets program is for you! Check out this new program that makes it easy to use your street as playful space for people. Apply at least 2 weeks before you want to close your street. Permit is free.
PARK(ing) Day Plus+ (September 16-17, 2016) What if you could turn a parking space into a park? Put café tables in front of your favorite business? Create a temporary bike lane? For two days in September, you can! If you are working with your neighbors on a project for PARK(ing) Day you may want to plan to finalize your design at your Night Out block party on Tuesday, August 2, so you can meet the permit application deadline on August 5. Permit is free.
Check out our previous post on PARK(ing) Day Plus+ here.