There's perhaps isn't a better way to raise awareness for charities while having fun than planning a school fête. It brings the whole community together to raise money for a good cause. However, the philanthropic motive won't make the planning and organising a school fête any easier. You should be prepared to work your arse off if you want the event to be one for the books. It takes a certain set of skills to pull off a successful event of such a scale. Is this your first time organising a school event? Lucky for you, we're sharing our expert tips for planning school fêtes. Let's get started.
Choose a suitable date
The first area of concern is choosing a suitable date. The perfect date shouldn't be warm but not too hot. Check the weather and make arrangements for unfavourable weather conditions. Rain, snow, hail- be prepared for it all. Also, ensure that the date doesn't coincide with any school event, national holiday or any other event.
Work on the budget
When the goal is to raise money for a charitable cause, budgeting is of prime importance. Work with the fêtes community to come up with a budget. We would suggest you set aside a portion of this budget for any unforeseen requirements. Try your best to stick to the budget.
Build a reliable team
While your aspiration to do it all by yourself is admirable, it's a smart idea to build a reliable team to help you. Handpick members who will be responsible for different departments such as donations, stalls, sponsorships, catering, risk management, marketing, entertainment, food, photography and so on.
Seek volunteers
Since it's a charity event, the budget is likely to be tight. That means you might not have the funds for hiring staff. Therefore, it would be best to seek volunteers. Post your requirements on social media and local newsletters and newspapers to encourage people to volunteer.
Don't skimp on decor
Apart from the charity aspect, the visual appeal is what will lure people to the event. You should involve local artists to come up with a creative theme and decor. Try to go all out with the decor to make it Instagram worthy. Spur Creative Workshop makes all kinds of props at competitive rates. Get in touch for custom props for your event.
Go wild with promotions
No matter how well-planned your event is, it will be a complete failure if no one shows up. Your goal is to raise as much money as you can. And that's only possible if people come to the event. Take advantage of social media and go wild with promotions. If your budget allows it, release advertisements in local newspapers and on radio channels.
Get sponsorships
To put it simply, the more money you have, the better your event will be. Approach local businesses and persuade them to sponsor your event. They don't necessarily have to give money, donations in any form will be of great help.
Pick entertainment wisely
In addition to the decor, people will attend the event for its entertainment. It would be great if you can convince a popular artist to perform at your event for free. You should also ask local dance groups, comedians or singers to perform at the event.
Arrange security
Even if you are organising a small scale event, it's imperative to make appropriate security arrangements. It's best to outsource security services for an open event to a professional security company.
Planning a school fête is by no means an easy feat, but with the timely and proper planning, you can make it a hit. Good luck!
