0. Intro
Cabin wants to help you create a vibrant neighborhood that feels like home. The best way to start is to get to know your neighbors.
A regular gathering is the cornerstone of any community. This guide will walk you through hosting the essential steps to plan, promote, and run your first one. Starting one can feel intimidating if youâve never done it. Weâll make it simple for you.
1. Plan your event
The key thing to keep in the front of your mind is the purpose of your event. Take a second right now to ask yourself: What do I want people to take away from this gathering? It could be a sense of togetherness with the people who live nearby, a feeling of support from the community, or even just some relief from the burden of entertaining their kids all the time. Knowing this will guide every decision you make.
You will also need to decide (and tell people) the what, where, and when of your event.
What kind of event is it?
With your purpose in mind, think about the type of event you want to host. This will help you shape everything from the location to the materials youâll need. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- poluck dinner
- picnic in the park (weather-permitting)
- family play date
- nature hike
- outdoor movie night
- backyard barbecue
Where and when?
Once youâve nailed down the type of event, decide on a location and date. Choose a spot thatâs accessibleâwhether itâs a park, a local community center, or even your (or a neighborâs) house or backyard. As for timing, pick a date and time that makes sense for your attendees. Evenings and weekends are usually the best, but this depends on your crowd.
Strongly consider hosting the event in a public location (e.g. a park). It does make setup logistics a bit harder, but cleanup is easier and you donât have to worry about your house getting cramped. Plus neighbors might wander over to see whatâs going on (this is a good thing!).
Aim for a date 1-3 weeks from now. Not too far in the future, but not last-minute either.
At this point you may be tempted to ask potential attendees what time works best for them. Donât do it! For your first event, keep it simple and decide on your own. If someone wants to come but canât make it, theyâll let you know for next time.
How attendees can contribute?
A great way to make your event feel like a shared experience is by inviting others to contribute. Think about whether people can bring food, lend supplies like tables or shade structures, or share their talents. Maybe youâll ask them to bring a snack or help set up. This gives people a sense of ownership and makes the gathering feel more collaborative. That might sound counter-intuitive, but our experience has been that giving people jobs is a great way to help them feel included and connected.
How to get in touch with you?
How do you want people to contact you with questions or suggestions? If youâre comfortable giving out your phone number, thatâs the easiest and most personal way to go. It might be too personal for you though. If so, we recommend setting up a group chat on Whatsapp or Telegram and inviting people to join it. Finally, email is also an option.
2. Make a flyer
Now that you have the details nailed down, itâs time to let people know.
Creating a flyer is one of the easiest ways to spread the word about your event. Keep it simple and to the point. Include the essentials: what kind of event it is, date, time, location, and how people can contact you. If thereâs a way for attendees to RSVP, add that too (we recommend lu.ma or partiful). Try to make the flyer eye-catching but donât overdo itâclear and readable is key. If youâre artsy, a hand-drawn flyer is a great way to go. Alternatively, there are free online tools (Figma, Canva, Photo Pea) to help you make one.
ChatGPT is your friend here. If you need ideas for names or event descriptions or text for any comms, ask the AI and tweak as you please.
3. Get the word out
Print off a bunch of flyers and drop one in the mailbox of everyone on your block or in your building. Feel free to leave some sitting out in common places where your neighbors might find them (the lobby, a nearby coffee shop, taped to a telephone pole on a street corner).
Feel free to invite friends from outside your neighborhood too, but donât overdo it. You want at least half the people who show up to be locals. Itâs good to get numbers, but your goal is community where you live and you wanna set that vibe.
4. Do the thing
On the day of your event, take a deep breath and remember: youâve got this! Arrive early to set up and make sure everything is in place. As people start arriving, greet them warmly and introduce yourself. If things donât go exactly as planned, itâs okay! The most important thing is that people feel welcome and enjoy the experience. Be present, have fun, and donât stress about the small stuff. Your energy will set the tone for the entire event.
As you have conversations, try to learn about your neighborsâ interests, their history in this community, and whatâs going on in their lives. At the very least, get theirs names and where they live. This will help you plan a second event that is even better. if your memoryâs not great, jot details down in your phone between conversations.
Finally , donât forget to take some selfies and group shots. Aim to take at least five photos throughout the event. Theyâll be great to share with everyone later to remind them how much fun they had (especially when youâre inviting them to your next event 
).
5. Let us know
We love stories, so please tell us all about how it went! What was the best part? What last-minute things did you forget? Who many people came, or did no one come at all (donât worry, thatâs happened to literally all of us 
and we even have a No One Came club for it 
). If you have a great pic you donât mind sharing, please send it our way.
The best way to reach us is by email (team@cabin.city) or in our Discord.
Stuck? Need help? Hit us up! Describe what youâve done so far, and weâll be happy to guide you.