How to Create a School Fall Festival Fundraiser

Fall festivals are a great school activity that generates fun and funds for your learning community. Having a fall festival at your school is a great way to interact with parents, teachers and other members of your school district. Organizing a fall festival takes some time and planning. The end result of your planning will be an event that both young and old can enjoy. Add games, food and other activities and your fall festival will become a yearly event to remember.

Things You'll Need

• Calendar
• Pumpkins or gourds
• Craft supplies
• Food stand
• Book Sale
• Face painting supplies
• Games

Instructions

1. Sell tickets at the gate for all the events. Students may purchase more tickets throughout the fall festival.

2. Determine how many tickets are needed for each event. Keeping the ticket numbers consistent will make it easier for students and workers stay organized.

3. Designate a game area and have several games set up for students. Make the games easier for younger students and more challenging for older students.

4. Prepare food for your fall festival. Popcorn, hotdogs, cotton candy and a variety of soft drinks could be on your list. Cookies can be made ahead of time and will be a big hit at your fall festival.

5. Create a pumpkin patch for students to search for, purchase and decorate a pumpkin. Have craft supplies at tables in the pumpkin patch for students to decorate their pumpkins.

6. Offer face painting as part of your fall festival. Recruit the art teacher or a local artist to create one-of-a-kind designs for your students.

7. Sell books at a mini book fair. Parents love to see what other kids are reading and love to support their child's school.

8. Offer a story time throughout the day. Prepare a wide variety of books that will appeal to all ages. Dress up and act out the parts of the characters in the books.

9. Blow up balloons and sell them to your fall festival attendees. Purchase balloons in your school colors or purchase balloons with your school mascot imprinted on them.

10. Advertise school jerseys or T-shirts with your school logo on them. Students love to wear their school shirts.

11. Decide who will be in charge of counting and depositing the money collected during your fall festival. This will avoid confusion and lost funds.

Tips & Warnings

• Recruit parents, faculty and staff to work during the festival.

• School clubs or committees may be willing to organize your fall festival.

• Plan to move your fall festival to the gym in case of inclement weather.

Resources

• Top Ten Fundraising Ideas