Neighborhood Night Out - August 6th - August 10th#
Registration begins on May 1
Neighborhood Night Out (NNO) is a celebration of the special things that make Fort Collins such a great place to live - your neighbors and community! Neighbors across Fort Collins connect by hosting "parties with a purpose", combining fun-filled social events like block parties and ice cream socials with educational or community service activities.
NEW FOR 2024: Neighborhood Night Out is expanding to Saturday, August 10th!
Neighborhood Night Out registration is for events taking place Tuesday, August 6th through Saturday, August 10th. Registration deadline is Monday, July 15th. For additional information, please call the Neighborhood Services office: (970) 224-6046 or email NSPrograms@fcgov.com.
*Only events held on Saturday, August 10th are eligible for visits by City staff.*
**Only events held Tuesday, August 6th are eligible for visits from Police Services and Poudre Fire Authority.**
If you’re interested in helping host a Neighborhood Night Out, register below - start with finding what makes your neighborhood special (see below) and choosing an event activity.
Neighborhood Night Out events can still register for the traditional National Night Out Tuesday evening and be eligible for visits from Police Services and Poudre Fire Authority and mini-grant funding.
For inquiries or to join the NNO email list and stay updated on all the latest news and announcements, reach out to us at nsprograms@fcgov.com.
This year’s extra Neighborhood Night Out perks
Participating neighborhoods have more help than ever making Neighborhood Night Out special! This year’s participants can receive support and grant funding for their events, including:
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Higher mini-grant awards for Saturday events that incorporate an activity
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Bonus grants for connecting with a nearby neighborhood
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Easy to follow activity guides
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Assistance and visits from City staff
What Type of Neighborhood Do You Live In?#
To help you plan a personalized NNO event, we’ve created some "Neighborhood Types” that describe some of the special things your neighborhood might be or want to be more like. You can select your type based on the descriptions below! You can also build your own wild card type. Collaborate with neighbors to organize themed events aligned with your neighborhood type.
Activity ideas and planning guides for each type are available.
Sustain-a-ville
My neighborhood embraces sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship.
We Like to Move It, Move It
Active and outdoorsy, my neighborhood is always on the go, biking, walking, or working out.
Very Wise & A Little Wild
With an active senior population, my neighborhood knows how to have fun.
Sweet Tooth
Let my neighborhood eat cake! We love all things sweet like dessert potlucks or ice cream socials.
Diverse & Divine
We want to embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) work and celebrate our existing diversity.
Funky Town
My neighborhood celebrates arts and culture, whether through outdoor concerts or paint parties.
Foodies
My neighbors and I bond over cookouts, shared meals, and getting to know each other through food.
Kids at Play
We’re a child-centric community that values all-ages, family activities.
Whisker Watchers
We’re pet-friendly and wild about wildlife.
Planning Resources#
Once you know your neighborhood type, you can start planning your themed party. Check out the resources below for tips, ideas, and full activity guides!
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Ready to start planning your party? Start here by reading our Planning Intro Guide.
This step-by-step guide explains how you can plan your own Neighborhood Night Out event.
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If you're looking for activity ideas, try out one of our 2-page activity guides!
Funky Town
We Like to Move It, Move It
Sustain-a-ville
Sweet Tooth
Kids at Play
Whisker Watchers
Diverse & Divine
Very Wise & A Little Wild
Foodies
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These general planning guides are helpful for any type of event you're hosting.
Know your options for sourcing event supplies.
A list of places you can rent essential event planning items like tables, chairs, inflatables, lights, and games.
How do you know what location is best for your event? Use this guide to think about potential spaces within your neighborhood.
Be prepared and know how to pivot your party in case of severe weather.
Grant Funding#
Limited grant funding is available for NNO events. To apply for grant funding, you can submit your application from April 15 - June 25, 2024, at Neighborhood Services Mini-Grants.
Update: Another round of NNO grants is available! Please submit applications by July 10 at 11:59 p.m.
For the additional work neighbors put into planning and organizing parties with a purpose that feature organized activities, more mini-grant funding will be available. More funding will also be provided to neighborhoods working together to offer walkable and bikeable, connected NNO events. The application process is simple and straightforward, and we encourage all neighborhoods to apply!
Applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Inclusivity - Is there a plan to make people aware of the project or to invite people to participate? Is the project considerate of the wants/needs of other neighbors?
- Planning – Does the application clearly describe the project/activity and identify any helpers, outreach/coordination, a timeline, a proposed budget, etc.
- Sustainability – Does the proposal consider sustainable practices? (e.g., encouraging reusable options, eating lower on the food chain, composting, etc.)
- City Priorities – Does the proposal align with one or more City priorities?
Consideration will also be given to:
- Neighborhood size
- Projects/activities that benefit an underserved area and community such as the Designated Opportunity Neighborhoods
- Neighborhoods who have never received funds
- Neighborhoods who have successfully managed City grant-funded projects in the past
- Neighborhood Night Out events on Saturday, August 10th