Fall Festivals are fun for the whole family. Whether it’s a fundraiser for your school or church, or for a local charity, with some advanced planning and creativity, your community will look forward to attending the festival, year after year! Try these fun activities when planning your next fall festival. And, get some help! Use a free online scheduling tool to coordinate the volunteers. Organizing your fall festival can be a snap if you plan ahead.
Human Slot Machine
Set up three large refrigerator boxes in a row and cut out a large window in the front of each. When a player pulls an imaginary lever, three volunteers, one in each box, toss wax fruits (orange, banana, apple) up and down, finally picking one. Three in a row wins!
Dinosaur Dig/ Treasure Dig
Players dig in shallow boxes of sand for plastic “dino” eggs. Each egg contains a slip of paper with a number. Players can redeem the slip for the prize assigned to the number found on their paper. Pirate variation: hide chocolate gold coins and trinkets in the sand, players dig for buried treasure!
End of the Rainbow
Draw a rainbow in chalk on an outdoor surface. At the end of the rainbow, place a miniature pot (or fake cauldron). Players try to flip pennies into the pot from a distance. Prizes increase depending on the number of pennies the player tosses into the pot.
Quack Shack
A costumed volunteer dressed like a mad scientist decorates the kids with fake scars, wounds, and tattoos.
Food Booth
With so much activity, your guests will be ready for a snack! Try some of these favorite items at the food booth: Popcorn, snow cones, hot dogs and hamburgers, cotton candy, soft drinks, peanuts, cookies, candies, churros, trail mix, fresh fruit, ice cream.
Crafts for Younger Kids
Set up a few tables with beads, string, paper, scissors, glue, glitter, and other craft supplies to keep the younger ones occupied. Invite local high school students to volunteer to help!
Bean Bag Tic-Tac-Toe
Set up nine paper plates on the ground, a few feet away from the tossing line. Have the participants toss five bean bags onto the plates. When they make three in a row, they win!
Face Painting
An old favorite, this one never goes out of style. If you’re trying to raise money at your carnival, place a “donation” jar at the table to remind customers about helping out.
Engage Local Businesses
Invite local businesses to set up a booth with a prize wheel, game, or other promotional giveaway. This gets them exposure to the community, and it’s one less booth you have to worry about setting up!
Mural for Local Shelter or Hospital
Check with your local shelter or hospital to see if they are interested in receiving a donated mural to decorate their walls. Set up a large paper on a table. Tape down the edges. Place a variety of drawing tools (colored pencils, crayons, pastels) on the table, and encourage guests to draw what they like on the mural. Or, ask a local artist to draw the outline of a design, then have everyone else simply color it in!
Fall Festivals are a great way to get the community working together towards a good cause. The money you make can be donated to a local charity, so the funds stay right within the community. Try these booth ideas to make your fall festival fun for the whole family! This article has more ideas for planning a School Carnival. And, here's even more great ideas for Room Moms, including class party ideas, room parent duties, and teacher gift ideas!
Lori Krein - Lori Krein is a member of team VolunteerSpot . She works to improve the volunteer experience of everyday heroes -- active community ...
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