Our Fall Festival (around 400 students) is based around the "fine arts". Some music students (chorus) sing, the different bands play, ceramics from the previous years are shown and the teacher's display indivdualized classroom "projects" usually related to literature or part of curriculum. They hang up the student's work outside with clothsline and clothspins. We usually have only about 6 volunteers to help with this project but, we are also blessed with dedicated "art parents" and musical teachers who love "putting on a "show"". This can be as big as the committee wants or just a simple community gathering enjoy art and music. Raise money? prepackaged art activity from an on-line store for students to do either at home or at a table in the cafeteria... Also with more creative planning (an idea taken from another PTO Today blog) - an art scavenger hunt.
What about a Family field day with outdoor games like Red Rover, Tag or even kickball? You could have different stations set up like double dutch jump ropes, 4 square, jacks or marbles, tug of war, etc. You could set some games up parents vs kids for basketball or kickball. Or family versus family? Teacher versus students?
Not sure how you could make it into a fundraiser though unless you had a raffle or auction type thing going on the side.
That is just thinking off the top of my head. I'm not sure how you'd implement it though. You wouldn't need a lot of money but would need people to man the stations.
Hope this helps spark some creative and better ideas!
Our elementary school (about 200 students) has done a Fall Festival for the past few years. We were planning it again for this October when our committee of 6 shrank to a committee of 3 in 2 days! We have a very small PTO (around 10 parents/teachers) and an even smaller budget! I am the new President and am determined not to burn our few volunteers out. We've decided to change course and make our Fall Activity a less labor-intensive one. We do a Spring Carnvial (which the kids love!) and a Movie Night in February (also a hit!), so I'm looking for something relatively inexpensive and easy to plan for this activity. We do plan on having concessions, would like to use it as a mini-fundraiser, and would like for it be outside to enjoy our beautiful weather. HELP!
