From coast to coast and across the heartland, cities are celebrating National Good Neighbor Day (September 28) with a variety of creative, meaningful events. Whether through neighborhood block parties, tech-forward engagement, or simple acts of kindness, communities are coming together to strengthen the fabric of local life.

Here’s how cities big and small are making National Good Neighbor Day a powerful force for connection:

1. San Francisco, California: The Inaugural Good Neighbor Week

In San Francisco, the nonprofit Community News Lab is launching the city’s first-ever Good Neighbor Week, running September 28 to October 4.

Highlights include:

  • A city-wide proclamation
  • Good Neighbor Awards
  • Local block events
  • A hackathon to develop tools for community-building
  • Digital community bulletin boards in public spaces

With its blend of creativity and tech-savvy planning, San Francisco’s Good Neighbor Week is poised to be a national model for innovative community engagement.

2. Boston, Massachusetts: A One-Day Celebration with a Bingo Twist

Boston’s celebration is concentrated on September 28 itself. Organized by the Office of Human Services, Age Strong Commission, and Community Engagement Cabinet, the city’s celebration features:

  • Good Neighbor Bingo to encourage neighborly acts (with downloadable cards)
  • Nominate-a-Neighbor Certificates mailed directly to honorees
  • Community clean-ups and city engagement via the BOS311 app

Boston’s model shows that even a one-day event can make a lasting impact through small gestures, civic pride, and meaningful recognition.

3. Phoenix, Arizona: Building Neighborhoods from the Front Yard

In Phoenix, National Good Neighbor Day is about grassroots engagement. Inspired by a local emphasis on front yard events, the city promotes small-scale, neighbor-led gatherings that create natural opportunities for connection.

According to North Central News, these events include potlucks, front porch chats, and shared projects, all designed to bring neighbors together in low-pressure, welcoming environments. The city’s approach is decentralized, empowering residents to take the lead in shaping community life.

4. Coral Springs, Florida: A Scavenger Hunt for Community Connection

Coral Springs is celebrating Good Neighbor Day as part of its “Neighbors of Integrity” initiative, blending fun with values-based community building. The city is hosting a scavenger hunt challenge, where neighbors team up to complete friendly missions that highlight cooperation, communication, and care.

The program encourages residents to get to know one another through interactive tasks and shared experiences—bringing a playful yet purposeful approach to fostering trust and integrity in neighborhoods.

5. Missouri Cities Unite: A Statewide Movement for Good Neighbor Week

Across Missouri, cities large and small are banding together to celebrate Missouri Good Neighbor Week, which runs Sept. 28 to Oct.4. Cities participating include:

  • Springfield – Hosting the Mayor’s Neighborhood Challenge, where neighborhoods can win party supplies for holding gatherings.
  • Excelsior Springs, Manchester, Fremont Hills, Republic, Lee’s Summit, and Houston – Each city has passed local proclamations and planned neighborhood-focused events.

These collective efforts highlight a growing statewide culture of connection and kindness, showing how local governments can amplify a national celebration in unison.

6. Colorado Springs, Colorado: 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings Strong

In Colorado Springs, the return of the “1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings” initiative brings momentum to this year’s Good Neighbor Day. The city is encouraging residents to host informal get-togethers throughout the summer and into the fall, with National Good Neighbor Day serving as a culminating moment.

This initiative taps into a proven formula: when neighbors meet face-to-face, communities become safer, more inclusive, and more resilient.

A National Story in Acts of Kindness

From tech-driven initiatives in San Francisco to porch parties in Phoenix, bingo games in Boston, interactive challenges in Coral Springs, and statewide proclamations in Missouri, the celebrations are as diverse as the cities themselves. Yet the message is consistent:

Whether you’re hosting a potluck, joining a scavenger hunt, or simply saying hello to someone new, National Good Neighbor Day is a chance to turn small gestures into lasting change.

Get Inspired, Get Involved

To learn how your city can celebrate or to find resources for planning your own event, download a Getting Started Guide or visit our Resources page. If your city is celebrating, let us know! Email us at hope@hopefulneighborhood.org or complete the National Good Neighbor Day 2025 Action Report after September 28th!

This blog was originally published on the We Are Neighbors blog.