EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (November 6, 2025) – The Excelsior Springs Neighborhood Engagement Team met recently to celebrate small acts of kindness while looking ahead to new ways for residents to connect, including encouraging Friendsgiving gatherings among neighbors.
Led by Excelsior Springs Neighborhood Specialist Laura Mize, the team spent the evening reflecting on what it means to be a good neighbor and celebrating this year’s milestones.
Among the group’s goals, Mize said the community met its objective of hosting more than 50 neighborhood gatherings between Easter and Halloween as part of the Mayor’s Block Party Challenge. The citywide initiative brought residents together for backyard barbecues and front-yard fire pits in areas such as King’s Estates, Cates Estate, Shamrock Hills, Golf Hill, and Colony Plaza. Others joined the fun downtown during the Fourth of July celebration, at the Boarding House Dinner Party, and even at the Farmers Market, where neighbors turned familiar spaces into community hubs for connection.
Beyond the block parties, Mize noted that the Westwood Hills neighborhood has embraced “Flamingo Fridays,” a lighthearted tradition held for the past five years that offers an easy, low-pressure way to gather in a driveway with minimal planning.
The team also celebrated the fun and community engagement of Excelsior Springs Night Out, reimagined this year as a downtown celebration on September 27. Despite the unseasonable heat, residents turned out to see local first responders face off in a tug-of-war match, with the police department pulling the fire department over the line on the Hall of Waters lawn. Children explored emergency vehicles and cheered during a donut-eating contest, where public works employee Sevin Hines took first place.
Now, as the weather cools, Mize said the team is keeping the focus on connection with new ideas for the holiday season. She is encouraging residents to host Friendsgiving with Neighbors.
“Friendsgiving is basically a Thanksgiving celebration with friends,” Mize said. “The vibes in November are different than summer block parties. It lends itself to more intimate gatherings with your nearest neighbors.”
The idea builds on the success of the block party challenge, she added. “We wanted to offer neighbors a way to continue building relationships into the holiday season. Having a Friendsgiving celebration is a perfect way to gather with neighbors in November.”
Friendsgiving events can be as simple as an impromptu potluck meal or whatever works best for neighbors, Mize said. Those interested in hosting can request door-hanger invitations by emailing Neighborhoods@ExcelsiorSprings.gov.
Still, Mize believes the best invitation is personal. “If someone came to my door to invite me, that shows they care enough to make an effort and plan something that will bless their neighbors.”
Ultimately, she said, Friendsgiving is about more than sharing a meal; it’s about building trust and offering companionship, especially for those who may not have family nearby.
“I have four or five neighbors around me who are single,” Mize said. “We’re going to have a simple Friendsgiving to just bring people together.”
Looking ahead, the Neighborhood Engagement Team is exploring additional initiatives for next year, including a new program called Out and About, planned for spring 2026.
Inspired by similar efforts in other communities, Out and About would encourage residents to step outside and connect with others on the first Sunday of each month at 5 p.m. Participants could walk their neighborhoods or serve as “relief stations,” offering snacks, drinks, or a friendly place to rest and visit.
“It’s about getting people outside and connecting,” Mize said. “You’re either walking or providing a place for neighbors to stop, chat, and build community.”
While the initiative is still in the planning phase, the Neighborhood Engagement Team will meet again in February to refine the details and keep the momentum going.
“Twenty-six is going to be better than twenty-five,” Mize said with a smile. “But twenty-five was pretty hard to beat.”
Anyone interested in joining the Neighborhood Engagement Team can attend the next meeting on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Excelsior Springs Community Center.
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