Unique Ideas for Community Events

Draw citizens together with community events.

Well planned community events draw the citizens of a town together into a cohesive whole. This is especially true when city leaders make efforts to include the whole family. When communities repeat the same events year after year, sometimes those who participate do so by rote and others in the community stop attending out of boredom. Ideas for community events need to reach out to involve all segments of the community.

Celebrate History

Each generation needs to know its historical roots. Such community roots should be celebrated. Work with the high schools to have students write plays based on research they do on the history of the community. While all who complete the project receive school credit, choose one or two plays for the community to act out. Instead of adults, use children from elementary and middle schools as actors. Ask each school to choose a team to create an historical scenario to be acted out by the students of that school. Assign each school a different historical period. The plays can be acted out on a stage or in the middle of a blocked off downtown street. The plays could also be recorded to be shown online and in theaters.

Create a Fair

Many communities bring in a fair to entertain citizens during community events or celebrations. Make your own fair. City, civic, charity, church and school organizations can choose the task of creating a ride, an activity or serving food at the fair event. Ask everyone to wear period costumes. Offer horse and carriage rides and music from a variety of eras. Create booths along the blocked off downtown streets. Games can include versions of ring toss, fishing, maze walking with hay bales and more. Ideas are limited only by safety and imagination. Use the fair as a fundraiser for a community project, such as making a park accessible to those with disabilities.

Celebrate People

Individuals within the community should be celebrated when they contribute to the community or do heroic deeds. Give the residents a chance to nominate outstanding individuals from the community to be appreciated and celebrated. Someone who volunteers on a regular basis for years without recognition should be recognized. Someone whose quick action saved a life or prevented a tragedy should be celebrated. Age isn't a factor. Plan a parade with community organizations, schools and churches sponsoring floats. Plan a dinner to honor those chosen. Throw a downtown block party. A smaller community might plan a community potluck picnic. Honor those chosen with thanks from community leaders and things like gift cards to restaurants, amusements and theaters.

Creative Craft Symbols

Consider the symbols of your community, region or state. Choose one of these symbols, such as a lighthouse or state bird. Focusing on the symbol chosen, have civic organizations, schools and churches choose ways to create crafts based on the symbol. Choose several winners. This can be used a community fundraiser for a project that benefits the whole community. Plan booths downtown, in a park or in a large auditorium where the community can come and purchase the crafts. Auction off the winning crafts. Allow each sponsor to choose among several different community, state or national symbols. Run a contest for those writing about these symbols and their importance to the community.

References

• Kaboura Events: Charity Team Building and Community Focused Events
• Briar Patch Marketplace: Unique Fundraising Ideas and Fundraising Events