Spooky Streets 2024

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.

The Mayor's Office of Civic Organizing is pleased to offer Spooky Streets grants for the first year. This funding is an expansion of the Mayor’s efforts to create a fun and safe environment for kids and families to enjoy community. Residents and community groups who apply for the mini-grants can receive $250 to purchase items such as candy, pumpkins, decorations, and face paint, making it easier and more affordable for neighborhoods to host Halloween block parties.  

To apply for a Spooky Streets Grant, a Play Street Closing Permit and Vendor ID are required and should be obtained prior to the event. Only parties held on public streets during the week leading up to Halloween, from Friday, October 25 to Sunday, November 3, will be eligible. The deadline to apply for this grant is September 20, 2024 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 enables you to sign up for direct deposit. For detailed instructions for first-time or returning users who need help, check the Supplier/Vendor ID Instructions.  Please email vendor.questions@boston.gov or call 617-961-1058 for additional assistance. Note: You will be asked to provide your Vendor ID number or a screenshot of the email confirming you initiated 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. If you have questions about the process or if your permit is taking longer than expected, reach out to your Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services liaison. They can help you to get your permit and answer any pending questions about your permit application.
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 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 the Spooky Streets Grant.

• Applications for Block Parties hosted at parks, sidewalks and other public and private spaces will NOT be considered for this grant - this is for block parties on your street.
• Anyone hosting a block party on a public street must first apply for a Play Street Closing Permit. If you wish to apply for the grant, a Vendor ID is also required.
• To be eligible, all block parties must be free and open to the public.
• Block parties must be hosted the week leading up to Halloween from Friday, October 25 - Sunday, November 3.
• The deadline to apply for a Spooky Streets grant is Friday, September 20 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
• To host activities such as music, live music, open flame grills, or selling items, you will need ADDITIONAL permitting through a Special Events Process. 
• To be eligible, the block party does not have to be Halloween-themed.
• 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).

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.