still don't know if this is a fundraiser or fun day. in either case you have got your work cut out for you. do you have a theme yet. it is easier to brainstorm if you pin a theme down. a couple of games: WORD BINGO - there is a website you can get the game boards using the words you choose to go along with a theme, TREASURE HUNT - clues are given based on the answers to math(or other subject) questions.
for prizes: have each class make a basket up related to the theme for the bingo prizes and have that many games of bingo. does you school hold a bookfair? - see if the book profit you earn can be used as prizes or if you use scholastic, the posters you get to keep if you display them.

You can do it. It's amazing what you can pull off in these situations.

Our Family Resource put on a Fall into Reading and a Spring into Math. Neither are fundraisers. Spring into Math has games much like you see at a fall festival. They all include Math. Every game must be completed for them to get a free ice cream (probably donated), they receive stickers for each game completed. They also recieve plastic coins to spend in the "Store" which they can buy novelty gifts usually purchased from Oriental Trading. There isn't a lot to choose from but the kids don't care and the games are fun enough they don't realize they are using Math skills.

It depends if its a fundraiser or just a festival for fun. Like everyone else has mentioned get local business to donate food items and you can sell them for a reasonable amount. Like hotdog buns from one place and franks. Chili - from Wendy's a pot goes a long ways. Since, it's fall - you can advertize and have space available for craft vendors. Like 5 x 6 and rent it for $20.00 and have them sell crafts. Use a long hall way and measure it off w/masking tape, they must bring their own set-up you just provide the space. Another good idea is to have a dance room for the kids w/a parent doing the djaying. Have it set up like a disco room and let a certain amount in for 20 minutes and then the next batch come in. That's lots of fun. Have the staff sell pastries by the slices or cookies in baggies like 2 for .50. A soda company that your district has a contract with will donate the drinks. These are just some ideas. Have each classroom to scarecrow contest and have it judged the day before the carnival and put them throughout the school for decorations. Have them name their scarecrows and the 1 winner per grade level and they can have ice cream party.

Is this intended to be a money maker for the PTO or just a fun festival for the kids? I'd suggest going to some local businesses and seeing if they would set up a booth, say for instance a local restaurant. They could sell food and they could keep the profit.Ask the local business community for donations. Most places will give you something. When we did our 1st carnival I had a small(very small) group of parents that helped make the games. we asked the local lumber store for wood and wood scraps and were able to make about 6 games. we got a large inflatable moon walk donated by the local rental store. We had the corner deli type store come to the school and they sold the food, we had 5th graders do face painting and tattoos with some assistance from the art teacher. We have a local sand art business come in and the kids could make sand art for about 3.00 a jar, raffles, silent auctions. It takes a lot of HARD work to plan. I did all of the planning last year and got very stressed out but this year went off without a hitch because the parent's saw how much fun the kids had the previous year and I definitely had a huge increase in volunteers this year. You could ask around at local music shops for bands that are just starting out and see if they would donate their time to have a small "concert" at your event. Good Luck! [img]smile.gif[/img]

When we do our spring carnival we hit up businesses in oru commmunity for donations. We have a raffle and we get some really nice prizes. Is your event supposed to be a "free" event or could you charge for some things and maybe make up some of the costs? I would suggest first of all to go to the membership and show them how much this event has cost in the past and ask for an increase in the budget. At the same time, write a letter to local businesses and tell them about your event and ask for any help they can give. A student population of 600 means a lot of potential customers for a business. Make sure you prominnetly display the names of any businesses who donate and send them a formal thank you letter they can display at their business.

I am basically new to the PTO/PTA organization. Which means I got "suckered" in to taking on a task, that at the time seemed Ok. But that was then, this is "reality." The reality is, I am to put together (single-handidly) a festival for the elemenatry children for next school year Oct/Nov with a few stipulations from the school. It must have an academic theme and my budget of $300 (total elementary population of 600 students) I am finding it difficult to do. When I find activities (excititng enough to draw the kids/parents) the cost does not leave me with much $$ left over. I have looked at the past budget for this festival and for the past 2 years the budget has been $300 but the total cost for theses parties have been in excess of $500. With some of the $$ coming out of the volunteers own pocket! I don't have that kind of extra $$, I wish I did. Is this the standard when it comes to helping your schools PTO/PTA? Or am I just being stupid! I get plenty of "Call me if you need help" but the calls go unanswered and my messages get very few returns. The pres. of our PTO is not supportive of much. Therefore not much help. Just alittle "you can do it" pep talk would be appreciated. Now I understand why no one else wanted ta take this on. HELP!