Spooky Streets 2025

The Mayor's Office of Civic Organizing is excited to bring back Spooky Streets grants. This funding is an expansion of the Mayor’s efforts to create a fun and traffic-safe environment for kids and families to enjoy community. Residents and community groups who apply for the mini-grants can receive $300 to purchase items such as candy, pumpkins, decorations, and face paint, making it easier and more affordable for neighborhoods to host Halloween and Fall & Harvest block parties.  This year, thanks to support from the Cummings Foundation, the Office of Civic Organizing is expected to nearly double the number of events receiving funding. 

To apply for a Spooky Streets or Fall and Harvest Grant, you also need to apply for a Play Street Closing Permit and a Vendor ID. These can be pending at the time of your grant application, but both must be approved before your event.  Only events taking place on streets between Friday, October 17, and Sunday, November 2, are eligible for this grant. The application deadline is September 22, 2025, at 5 p.m.

The grant application is available on the same platform as the Play Street Closing Permit and will appear at the end of your permit application process. Please note that a Play Street Closing Permit is not the same as a grant application; you will need to complete an additional form to be considered for the Spooky Streets grant. If you submitted a Play Street Closing Permit before the grant application opened, please contact our office at civicorganizing@boston.gov.

For additional information, the Block Party Planning Guide is available here to aid in organizing your event.

1. Obtain a City of Boston Vendor ID:
   
   To receive a grant payment, you need to be registered as a Supplier/Vendor ID. This also allows you to sign up for direct deposit. If you’re a first-time or returning user and need assistance, please refer to the Supplier/Vendor ID Instructions for individuals and for non-profits. For more help, email vendor.questions@boston.gov or call 617-961-1058. For grant purposes, you will be asked to provide your Vendor ID number or a screenshot of the email confirming you started the process.
2. Apply for a Play Street Closing Permit:
   
   It takes about 30 business days to approve a Play Street Closing/Block Party permit. Your permit can still be pending when you apply for the grant, but it must be approved and valid by the time of your event. Your permit application is reviewed by the Boston Transportation Department and the Boston Police Department. Any questions regarding permits can be directed to btdpermitbranch@boston.gov or 617-635-4680.
   
   If you have questions about what’s happening in your neighborhood or want guidance on the best dates to host your event, contact your Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services liaison. 
3. Apply for the Spooky Streets Grant:
   
   At the end of your Play Street Closing Permit application, you will have the option to complete an additional form to apply for the Spooky Streets and Fall and Harvest Grant. Please fill out the grant application carefully, ensuring all information is accurate. Keep in mind that the Play Street Closing Permit and the grant application are separate forms, and both must be completed to be considered for this grant. You will receive an email confirmation with your application copy from Google Forms. If you do not receive this confirmation email, it most likely means the application was not completed correctly.

• Each approved block party grant will receive $300.
• Events must take place on Boston residential streets between Friday, October 17, and Sunday, November 2, 2025.
• Please check for conflicting events before applying. For example, Open Streets in Jamaica Plain is scheduled for November 2, 2025. Play Street Closing Permits are less likely to be approved for locations close to the route on that day.
• To qualify, you must first:
  • Apply for a Play Street Closing Permit.
  • Obtain a Vendor ID through the City of Boston.
• All block parties must be free and open to the public. Events charging admission are not eligible.
• The grant is not limited to Halloween-themed events.
• The deadline to apply is Monday, September 22, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
• Applications for block parties held in parks, on sidewalks, or in other public or private spaces will not be considered. 
• To host activities such as music, live music, open flame grills, or selling items, you will need ADDITIONAL permitting through a Special Events Process. 

• City of Boston employees, their immediate family members, and those who have held such positions within the last 12 months are not eligible to receive this grant, as determined by the Conflict of Interest Law (Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 268A).

If awarded a grant, funds can be used for: decorations, kids’ activities, non-alcoholic refreshments, lawn games, snacks, entertainment, and other community-building costs.

Funds cannot be used for: alcohol, purchases intended for private-use, fundraising, gift cards, giveaways, bouncy houses, sound systems, propane gas, on other permits, or anything not related to the event. 

The Block Party Grant Committee  may review proposed expenses and reserves the right to restrict the use of funds for certain items, even if not listed above.

• Your Vendor ID must be tied to a Boston resident or a nonprofit group to qualify.
• Vendor IDs linked to for-profit businesses are not eligible for grant funding.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 268A, City of Boston employees, their immediate family members, and those who have held such positions within the last 12 months are not eligible to receive this grant.

• Events must take place between October 17 and November 2, 2025.
• Only block parties held on residential streets in Boston are eligible.
  • Events in parks, on sidewalks, schools, BCYF facilities, or private property will not be considered.
• Applicants must show a connection to the street they are applying to close. If you do not live on that street, you must contact and collaborate with residents before applying. Complaints or concerns from residents may result in the denial or revocation of a permit or grant.
• Priority will be given to applicants who live on the street being closed, or to applications that show strong neighborhood involvement.
• Street Closing Permit Requirement: Closing and using a street is required for eligibility.
  • Play Street Closing Permits must be approved by both the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Boston Police Department (BPD).
  • Pending permits may be included with your grant application, but if denied, the grant will also be denied.

Questions about permits can be directed to btdpermitbranch@boston.gov.

• Submitting an application does not guarantee funding
• Only one grant will be awarded per street and per organization/applicant.
• Duplicate applications tied to the same Play Street Closing Permit, street, or Vendor ID will be automatically denied.
• Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received a Block Party Summer or Spooky Streets Grant.
• Applications must be submitted by September 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Approved applicants can expect to receive funds within 2–3 weeks after the award letter is issued.

Do you have questions about the Play Street Closing Permit, Vendor ID, or the Block Party Grant? Please refer to the City of Boston Block Party frequently asked questions for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you do not see your question listed, please contact the Office of Civic Organizing at civicorganizing@boston.gov for further assistance.

To host a Spooky Streets Block Party on public property, you need to apply for what the City calls a Play Street Closing Permit. This permit allows you to close a residential street to through-traffic so that you and your neighbors can use and enjoy the street during your Spooky Streets event. Here are some things you can do on the street and sidewalks with a Play Street Closing Permit:

• Meet and connect with your neighbors
• Play games like foursquare and double-dutch
• Have activities like sidewalk chalk and blowing bubbles
• Arrange chairs, tables, tents (10x10 ft or smaller), or other easily movable items
• Have a potluck and serve free food

The City of Boston encourages all hosts to hold block parties that are free and open to the public. You should apply for a Play Street Closing  Permit at least 4 weeks before your Block Party. Unfortunately, the Play Street Closing Permit does not allow for the following activities on the street or sidewalks:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Amplified music, stages, or risers 
• Carnival rides, petting zoos, and pony rides
• Food trucks or food being prepared on the street or sidewalk
• Grills (propane, wood, or charcoal)
• Inflatable structures like bouncy houses
• Street vendors

Feeling ready? Start your Block Party/Play Street Closing Permit Application. You should apply at least 4 Weeks before a Spooky Street block party.

If this is your first event with the City, you will need to set up an online account. Your username and password can be used for future block parties and other City business, so remember to keep it in a safe place. You’ll be able to copy a Block Party application for future years if you want to have a recurring event. When you apply online, you need to give us some general information about your event.

After we receive your permit application, it is reviewed by the Boston Transportation Department and the Boston Police Department. Reviewers look at event logistics, transportation impacts, and public safety considerations. You may get a call from a City staff member if we have questions and suggestions about timing, which parts of your street you’d like to close to traffic, and how to move forward with your event. 

Please note that if you want to close a public street, you must apply for a Play Street Closing permit, even if you're not applying for a Spooky Streets grant. The Play Street Closing permit and the grant application are different forms, so you'll need to complete both forms to be considered for the grant.