regal
Sapphire
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Post by regal on Apr 3, 2018 11:06:35 GMT -6
I'm chairing our committee this year and we need some new ideas. Our last one, two years ago, was so bad that the principal cancelled the event last year so that we could regroup.
What activities do your kids love? Games, activities, prizes.
Any other ideas?
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Post by chickenonsunday on Apr 3, 2018 11:10:58 GMT -6
What ages? We did a carnival for a three kid joint birthday party and these games were the most popular -
bingo plinko (my husband built the board) clothes pin drop knocking over the stack of cups bobbing for apples
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gimmeaQ
Opal
Posts: 7,738 Likes: 34,881
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Post by gimmeaQ on Apr 3, 2018 11:12:48 GMT -6
Elementary age?
Knock down the bottles Throw the ball into the fishbowl (NO FISH) Face painting Box tunnels Bubble soccer Dunk tank Ball toss (through the target, or even better if you can set up a speedometer) Giant Jenga Parachute (for younger kids) Scooter races Fishing game
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Post by misskilljoy on Apr 3, 2018 11:15:11 GMT -6
My school typically has:
Bouncy houses Karaoke machine Photo booth Face painting Races (3 legged, relay, obstacle, whatever)
Other events happen here and there, but those seem to be staples.
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klw
Opal
Posts: 8,734 Likes: 21,525
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Post by klw on Apr 3, 2018 11:15:34 GMT -6
Duck Pond Basketball type game Pin the tail on the donkey
Activities: sand art spin art face painting
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Post by CurlieWhirlie on Apr 3, 2018 11:17:12 GMT -6
One that I thought was really cool at our school fair this year was rubber duckie races. Four troughs of water with a rubber duckie in each, and the kids have squirt guns (ours used squirt animals, not guns) and use them to push the duckies to the other end of the trough. I had never seen that before, it was cute.
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tater
Emerald
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Post by tater on Apr 3, 2018 11:17:17 GMT -6
At DS’ school they had a photo booth, dunk tank, blow up obstacle course, throw ping pong balls into fish bowls, cotton candy, taco man, churros..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 11:18:11 GMT -6
3 legged race Eating contests (no hands eat a donut hung on a string, apple bobbing etc ) Giant twister (paint grass )
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 3, 2018 11:43:33 GMT -6
Fundraiser, elementary school (4-14) we have no money and not a ton of volunteers
Right now we have: little kids bounce house large inflatable climber/slide for older kids button making tattoos (faster and less person power than face painting ring around the pop bottle duck pond toilet paper toss plinko
Games and activities are $1 each and kids win tickets they can redeem at the candy bar.
We're having dance and martial arts groups do demonstrations and workshops as entertainment.
We have a parent who is a caterer doing all the food.
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teatime
Gold
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Post by teatime on Apr 3, 2018 11:56:36 GMT -6
Cakewalks have been hits here. Little cost to it because the baked goods are solicited via donations. (Store/bakery bought only)
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gussie
Amethyst
Posts: 6,331 Likes: 18,769
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Post by gussie on Apr 3, 2018 12:43:08 GMT -6
I remember the favorites when I was in school were the blow up obstacle courses, cake walks, rubber ducky game and ring toss.
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emma
Ruby
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Post by emma on Apr 3, 2018 12:52:03 GMT -6
coconut shie face painting balloon animals hook the ducks bouncy house those giant inflatable sumo suits egg and spoon race sack race 3 legged race
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 12:56:49 GMT -6
From a profit stand point - we made a lot more switching to an all inclusive wrist band system. It was fairly low cost ($12) and less than a dollar per game. But we made a lot more per student than the sister school that did $1 per thing
I’m assuming it’s a fundraiser.
We also got a ton donated. Like we asked businesses to sponsor specific items (tee shirts to come with wrist bands, dunk tank (teachers sat), pie throwing etc )
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Post by truffleshuffle on Apr 3, 2018 13:15:12 GMT -6
some sort of arts and crafts thing would be cool, or a t-shirt press where kids can pick their design
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klong11
Emerald
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Post by klong11 on Apr 3, 2018 13:32:28 GMT -6
Fishing game (kids toss their line over something set up as a wall and someone behind the wall attaches a prize to the line for the kids to reel in) Balloon popping beanbag toss/cornhole bowling prize punch mini golf
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suziq
New
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Post by suziq on Apr 3, 2018 13:34:34 GMT -6
The cake walk was a huge hit at DD's carnival last year. The kids also enjoyed the dance room, which cost them a ticket to go in and dance. Instead of a per game price, they sold packs of tickets, and each game cost a ticket, cake walk took 4 tickets. Also, the most sought after prize was a homework pass, which allowed them to skip 1 night of homework.
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 3, 2018 18:45:09 GMT -6
From a profit stand point - we made a lot more switching to an all inclusive wrist band system. It was fairly low cost ($12) and less than a dollar per game. But we made a lot more per student than the sister school that did $1 per thing I’m assuming it’s a fundraiser. We also got a ton donated. Like we asked businesses to sponsor specific items (tee shirts to come with wrist bands, dunk tank (teachers sat), pie throwing etc ) This is similar to what we are doing. In the past they charged $30 per wrist band which was insane and included all the games and activities. This year it will be $10 if you pre-order your wrist band, or $15 at the event. Our school is very small, but has a huge range in income. Some families show up with $10 for three kids so we want them to be able to participate as well.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Apr 3, 2018 19:02:54 GMT -6
The cake walk was a huge hit at DD's carnival last year. The kids also enjoyed the dance room, which cost them a ticket to go in and dance. Instead of a per game price, they sold packs of tickets, and each game cost a ticket, cake walk took 4 tickets. Also, the most sought after prize was a homework pass, which allowed them to skip 1 night of homework. At our art fair they had an art walk. They had pictures on the floor of various art items (crayons, chalk, paint brushes, watercolors, etc). The volunteer in the middle had cards with the same picture on them. She picked one kid to draw one. The child on the corresponding picture wins. They get their prize, a mark on the hand so they couldn't win again (this was free) and next kid comes in. Prizes were (not Crayola) crayons, markers, coloring pads, etc.
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Post by roguelily on Apr 3, 2018 19:38:07 GMT -6
For the spring fair my kid's school basically does a whole bunch of different raffles + sales. there is:
- A book stall - Cake sale - Teddy Bear Raffle - Beaker Raffle (essentially parents fill one or 2 beakers with random stuff such as stationary, stickers, hair accessories) - Bottle raffle (Wine, Champagne, Ketchup, sauces, anything like that).
Parents essentially are all asked to donate a cake, a beaker, a teddy, etc ...
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klondike
Sapphire
OHIO
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Post by klondike on Apr 3, 2018 20:03:41 GMT -6
bounce house obstacle course face painting dunk tank hula hoop toss over helium balloons mystery box raffle- every kid gets a tickets to enter to win one of several wrapped mystery prize boxes- they can pick them up & shake them! scavenger hunt- teachers pick a favorite image, print & places images around the fair, kids write down the teachers name on a card next to the corresponding image & completed cards are entered into a raffle sno cone machine!!!
We've done small prizes at each game and tickets. Winning tickets to cash in for small prizes went over better with the kids. They love choosing small trinkets or pieces of candy at the end. Fun dip, gumballs, & sour straws go quickly.
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Post by beesquared on Apr 4, 2018 20:58:24 GMT -6
In addition to the above, we rent those inflatable slides and obstacle courses. They are super popular.
Home Depot sends employees with cases of the kid craft kits they have at their weekend workshops. It's free for us and the kids (they donate everything) and they do all the work supervising. It's a great activity that allows everyone to participate regardless of HHI.
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leahcar
Sapphire
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Post by leahcar on Apr 5, 2018 5:42:21 GMT -6
At our school, each grade is in charge of a themed type of game or part of the event. One does silent auction of gift baskets and one grade does the painting (hair and face). The others will have a theme -animals for a younger grade, sports for one of the older ones - and the games go with that theme. Some of the games I remember: pie toss. Bowling. Toss games. Dart throw. Grab a duck thing for a prize.
We do inflatables outside (weather permitting) and a dance party in the gym where PTA sells light up jewelry. Concessions and a bake sale. An animal zoo where you can "rescue" a stuffed animal. Face painting. Hair painting (which I HATE, but the kids love).
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regal
Sapphire
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Post by regal on Apr 5, 2018 16:35:47 GMT -6
These are some great ideas guys! Thank you!
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Post by nenarene on Apr 6, 2018 6:25:36 GMT -6
If you are looking for workers, our school always gets highschool athletes to run the games and such. Whatever sport is in season, for us it's the cheerleaders and football players.
We also do a raffle that the kids sell tickets to ahead of time and you can buy tickets there, then the prizes are given out at the event but you don't have to be there to win. TV's, ipads, season passes to school sporting events(like they might give out a family pass that will get you into ANY school sport event for free the whole next year), that kind of thing.
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Post by mustardseed2007 on Apr 6, 2018 8:23:14 GMT -6
We go to a tiny school and the #1 activity is always the cake walk. Families who don't want to volunteer their time sign up to bake goods for the event. Of course you might need a particular peanut free/gluten free option.
Also if this is public school there might be a limit on bringing home made baked goods....
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Post by bluebook on Apr 6, 2018 11:13:46 GMT -6
One unique activity that I recently saw was a huge pile of cardboard boxes and a plastic bag. There was a very long line for that one. The workers were a bunch of high school boys so they didn't mind rebuilding the box tower over and over
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regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
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Post by regal on Apr 6, 2018 12:22:06 GMT -6
One unique activity that I recently saw was a huge pile of cardboard boxes and a plastic bag. There was a very long line for that one. The workers were a bunch of high school boys so they didn't mind rebuilding the box tower over and over I don't understand. What were they doing with the boxes and bag?
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Post by Cupcakemama on Apr 6, 2018 14:09:45 GMT -6
Our school has done an art silent auction during this time as well. Parent council supplied canvases to each class in the school. You could also look to get these donated. The classes did a painting/ art piece and then during the funfair parents could bid on the art. Highest bid won the piece. It was an easy way to make money.
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Post by bluebook on Apr 6, 2018 16:10:05 GMT -6
One unique activity that I recently saw was a huge pile of cardboard boxes and a plastic bag. There was a very long line for that one. The workers were a bunch of high school boys so they didn't mind rebuilding the box tower over and over I don't understand. What were they doing with the boxes and bag? Sorry, autocorrect. Bag should be bat. They were hitting cardboard boxes with plastic bats and knocking them over
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Post by burritosateverymeal on Apr 7, 2018 5:03:29 GMT -6
Our PTO goes above and beyond. The Cakewalk is the biggest hit. Some other popular parts are facepainting, the "nail salon," a used book sale, and the fire dept and police dept. Bring vehicles for kids to sit in. Last year, the fire dept. Brought little plastic helmets for kids to take home. Our game area also has a designated area for toddlers, so they can win too-it's a hit.
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