Walk outside on a warm summer night in Texas or Colorado, and you’ll likely find an eerily empty street. Neighbors wave at each other from driveways but seldom stop to chat. It takes shared spaces like parks, pools, and clubhouses for a neighborhood of houses to transform into a community.

Summer is the ideal time for board members and volunteers to change that dynamic. Hosting a special event for your HOA can strengthen neighborhood bonds and create what economists call social capital. When residents know each other, it’s easier to communicate about property standards and safety concerns making your neighborhood a better place to live.

Typically, volunteers will organize and plan HOA community events. Before you know it, you’ve got vendors to coordinate and details to juggle on a tight HOA budget. When that stress hits, remember the purpose| bringing homeowners together so new neighbors feel welcome and those who’ve lived there for years feel at home. Easy-to-access activities can create a thriving culture your community will identify with.

Top HOA Events To Host This Summer

HOA events don’t have to be one-size-fits-all. Demographics play a large role in what your community wants to get out of social activities. A condo high-rise in Denver will likely require a different approach than a 500-acre master-planned community in Houston. For maximum participation, plan your HOA community events with activities that entertain every age group.

Movie Night

Convert your common green space into an outdoor theater. Inflate a massive movie screen and rent a professional sound system to make attendees feel like they’re at a real “event.” Ask that everyone brings their own blankets and lawn chairs to keep it casual. Consider rolling out a popcorn machine or candy station for nostalgia points. Everyone loves popcorn at a movie! Keep the film G-rated, or ask your residents to submit movie options via your online portal and hold a community vote.

Ice Cream Social

Ice cream attracts people like bees to honey. It’s one of the least stressful and most affordable ways to get your neighbors talking to one another. Set up a “make your own sundae” bar at the clubhouse or hire a local artisan ice cream truck to rotate through a few blocks, parking for an hour at each stop. Most HOA ice cream socials are hour-long events that don’t require a large time commitment. They’re perfect for busy professionals who can’t spare an entire afternoon but would love a fifteen-minute break to meet their neighbors.

Pool Party 

For many neighborhoods, the pool is the star of summer. An organized pool party can consist of kid-friendly activities like dive-for-treasure along with a lounge space for parents. Before booking vendors, touch base with your HOA management company to ensure you have lifeguard staffing for the headcount and all safety signage is up to date. Pool parties don’t need to end when the sun goes down. A live DJ or curated playlist will take your afternoon to the next level.

Game Night 

Summer fun doesn’t always have to take place outdoors. Board members can plan a rainy day “game night” at the clubhouse where residents can escape the heat. Trivia is always a hit if you focus on community history. Many clubs also set up themed games stations so everyone can wander and try each activity. As an alternative, some HOAs host “e-sports” tournaments in the community lounge. Game nights are perfect for reaching young families and tech-savvy homeowners.

Cookouts

The smell of grillin’ meat is summer’s calling card. Invite your neighbors to come together for a communal barbecue. Some boards will supply the burgers and dogs and ask that residents sign up to bring side dishes. Potlucks can be tricky to manage, so if that concept stresses you out, try hosting a food truck rally. Inviting three or four vendors not only allows residents to choose between dietary options (vegan, gluten-free, etc.) but also keeps the HOA from having to worry about food safety.

Neighborhood Cleanup

It’s no fun to think about, but HOA communities love a good cleanup. It unites the neighborhood toward a common goal|keeping their shared home beautiful. Try kicking off the morning with coffee and donuts and then celebrate with lunch when the work is complete. Highline homeowners take pride in their beautiful surroundings, and a cleanup is a productive way to meet like-minded neighbors.

Block Party

Close off a side street (one without major traffic patterns) and watch the neighbors come out in force! Block parties are a neighborhood classic for good reason. With street parking prohibited, kids can ride their bikes freely, and homeowners will set up tables right in the middle of the road. These events foster long-lasting friendships because they take place right outside your doorstep.

Quick Tip | Welcome Station

Consider placing a small table at the entrance of your HOA event with nametags and a sign-in sheet. New homeowners will have someone to talk to immediately, and your board can compile a helpful email list for future communications.

Planning a Successful HOA Event

Throwing an HOA community event can feel overwhelming, but the key to keeping stress low is adequate planning. Here are a few tips to prevent common event planning disasters like overspending and poor attendance.

Form a Committee

Is your Board President feeling “overwhelmed?” Remember they do not have to plan, and host the event single-handedly. Forming a social committee within your HOA empowers others to help and delegate tasks. Maybe one member of the committee focuses on researching vendors. Another creates decorations, and someone else can gather volunteers to set-up and clean-up after the event. The more community members that help with an HOA event, the more residents will have personal investment in the outcome.

Set Goals and Budgets

Your HOA budget should be decided long before you start planning events. How much of the annual dues are allocated to HOA activities? Once you know your number, be strategic about how that budget is spent. Setting goals is another way to keep yourself accountable to the community. Does your board want 50% of homeowners to attend? Are you trying to raise funds for that awesome playground? Decide what success looks like, and work backward when planning the event.

Promote Your Community Event

If people don’t know an HOA event is happening, they can’t attend. As a rule of thumb, you should communicate the event at least three times through various channels.

Place signs throughout the neighborhood entrance. Homes are constantly coming and going throughout the day, and a giant sign is sure to catch someone’s eye as they drive home from work. Don’t rely solely on physical advertisements. Send notices through your community or resident portal so people can easily RSVP.

Maximizing The Impact of HOA Events

Hosting unforgettable HOA events is only half the battle. To truly develop a thriving community culture, they need to happen regularly. One block party won’t create lifelong friends, but a seasonal calendar full of fun summer activities will! When planning your next HOA community event, keep the following tips in mind.

Always plan for all ages, and abilities to participate. Although you may not have many young children or elderly residents currently, they will come someday. If all your activities require standing for long periods or hiking far distances, you will inadvertently exclude those members of your community. Make sure the event activities are accessible for all ages and abilities.

Let Goodwin & Company Help with HOA Events 

Trying to balance managing your community and having fun can be difficult. If you’re a volunteer board that feels overwhelmed by HOA duties, or if you’re a developer that wants help with your community’s transition into operational status, contact Goodwin & Company today to learn how we can help. Our experienced team has been providing lifestyle services to Texas and Colorado associations for over 40 years.