As spring approaches and the winter weather (hopefully) starts to give way to sunshine and blue skies, you may find yourself itching to get out of the house and connect with your neighbors. If that’s you, now is a great time to start planning fun community-building activities for those warmer months!

At Pahlisch, we don’t just build homes; we build community. We carefully plan all of our neighborhoods and amenities with the homeowner in mind, elevating their lifestyle and designing spaces where they can create community with their neighbors.

We’ve assembled a list of some of our favorite community-building activities to help you get to know your neighbors this spring and summer.

S’mores and Clothing Swap Night

Before you put all those winter clothes away, consider gathering with your neighbors for a clothing swap! Whether it’s an old ski jacket you know you’ll never wear again or a box full of boots and snowsuits your kids have outgrown, this is an excellent opportunity to reduce clutter in your home and give your clothes a second life.

To make your clothing swap even sweeter, meet at your clubhouse fire pit (many of our neighborhoods have them) and set out all the fixings for people to make their own s’mores. Then, at the end of the night, you can collect any unwanted items and donate them to a local charity. This is a great way to have fun with your neighbors and do some good in your community.

Kindness Rock Exchange

Kindness rocks are painted stones or pebbles with encouraging messages on them that people leave for others to pick up. You may have found one yourself before, or recognize the viral trend from pictures you’ve seen on social media.

Bring a little joy to your community by inviting neighbors — kids and grownups too! — to come and create kindness rocks together. You can order kindness rock kits online or just buy paints and other materials at your local craft store. Then have everyone gather at a park or green space to paint kindness rocks and enjoy some snacks, drinks, music, and conversation.

At the end of your time together, have everyone place their kindness rocks in a bucket. Then on the way out, each person can grab a rock and take an inspiring message with them. This is a simple and beautiful way to spread some positive energy.

Pet Parade

All of the summer parade fun doesn’t have to wait until the Fourth of July. Invite your neighbors to dress up their dogs, cats, and other furry or feathered friends and walk along a designated parade route through your neighborhood.

You can amp up the party vibes by playing music and handing out bubble wands to the neighborhood kids. To make it even more exciting, include a panel of judges who can give out ribbons (and maybe some fun prizes!) for certain awards, like: Coolest Outfit, Best Walk, Cutest Pet, Most Exotic Pet, etc.

Neighborhood Water Park Day

When the temperatures start to climb, an activity that helps everyone cool down and relax is the way to go. If your neighborhood has a pool or splash pad — like our Rosedale Parks, Butternut Creek, Petrosa, Easton, and Sanderling Park communities — then schedule a neighborhood water park day!

Grab a good waterproof speaker, play some tunes, and invite your neighbors to share in some fun in the sun. You can even set up a snack table, a cooler, and have people sign up to bring yummy snacks and refreshing drinks that both the kids and grownups can enjoy.

Backyard Movie Night

We love this idea so much, we thought we’d share it again! We wrote a full blog post last summer about how to plan the perfect outdoor movie night. We talk through all the steps you might need to consider when planning a movie night for your neighborhood.

Want the sparknotes version? Find the perfect spot, get the right gear (projector and screen are a must), and set the movie theater mood with soft lighting, sweet and savory snacks, and a crowd-pleasing film for everyone to enjoy.

Share Your Favorite Community Building Activities

At Pahlisch, we love seeing our communities thrive when neighbors come together to create fun memories. Are you planning a community-building event in your neighborhood? Have some fun photos from a successful event last summer? We’d love to hear from you!

Write about your event or post pictures on social media, then follow us on Instagram and tag @PahlischHomes in your post so we can reshare your content with our audience. Happy planning!