Block parties are a great way to get out and have fun with your neighbors. Typically held in the summer, although they can also be held in the spring and fall (even if the winter if you live in a climate where winters aren’t cold and dreary), block parties are often held outside on the street where you live, in a cul-de-sac at the end of the street (if there is one) or in a front or backyard of one (or a few) of the neighbors. If you or someone on the block happens to have an outdoor kegerator, then you will surely be the hit of your next block party.

Outdoor kegerators function in the same way as indoor kegerators do. They consist of a refrigerated compartment that can house a keg of beer. The exterior of the kegerator compartment then has a single or double tap that dispenses the beer. Outdoor kegerators are available in different sizes that can house full kegs, half kegs and quarter-sized kegs. The only real difference between an outdoor kegerator and an indoor kegerator is that the outdoor model is constructed to withstand the elements outside.

If you have an outdoor kegerator built into an outdoor kitchen in your backyard, then the block party will have to come to the kegerator – meaning, the block party will wind up in your backyard because that’s where the good beer is. But if you have an outdoor serving cart with a kegerator, you can most likely bring the kegerator to the party, since most carts have wheels to make them easily transportable. This means that you can simply roll your outdoor cart and kegerator to a more central location in order to let all of your neighbors share in the good fortune of the great tasting draft beer you can offer.

Of course, a block party isn’t simply about the beer and how it is served, so you’ll also want to consider food, games and entertainment for the kids. Food at a block party is usually best handled by having everyone bring a dish to eat, or you can assign different types of food to different families. If you often plan block parties on your street, you may want to consider having a different theme each year or at each party to keep things interesting. So, you can plan a Mexican fiesta one year, an Italian festival the next and a German Octoberfest yet another (that’s clearly a themed event where you’ll want the outdoor kegerator to take center stage!). These are just a few ideas, but there are certainly many others – and one of the best ideas is just to have a good ol’ fashioned American barbecue, complete of course with good ol’ American beer along with the hotdogs and Guinness sliders.

Some block party coordinators find it easier to plan the entire menu, purchase all the food, drinks and beer and then just charge each family or person a fee to join the party. This is one option available to those who are planning a block party. Another is to just let each family contribute something to the party. However it is planned, you can be sure that having an outdoor kegerator on hand to dispense cold, fresh and great-tasting beer, will be a hit at your next block party!