It’s the time of year when the temperature drops and the leaves begin to change dark brown and your church is organizing a Fall Festival. If you’ve never had one before, or looking for new ideas to help the event go smoothly Here are some tips to help you plan your most successful church event to date.
Determine Your Church’s Fall Festival Mission
Do you wish to offer an alternative that is safe to the holiday for your members? Do you want to present your church’s message to the world? Are you looking to increase your church’s membership? Do you want to reach the children of your community by preaching the gospel? The answer to the question: What is the reason we are doing this? is an excellent way to ensure your plans are in line with your mission. It will also assist you to make decisions such as: Should we promote this event? If yes then how? What size of a celebration will it be? What events will we be able to participate in?
Assign a Leader for Your Church’s Fall Festival
Appoint one person to handle the occasion. Reduce the amount of stress and the flow of communication by allowing the “point person” to make decisions without being required to oversee the majority of the solutions through church leadership.
Help your church’s Fall Festival Leader with Support
Be sure that your leader is given the backing and support he requires to succeed. Begin assigning volunteers to manage various aspects for the occasion. For instance, you could choose skilled as a host or hostess to supervise the food. Someone who is familiar with your church’s preschool programs can oversee the preschool section. A different person will handle all the entertainment. Allow them to take a fair amount of decisions in their own areas without needing to go through all the details through the leader.
Brainstorm Your Church’s Fall Festival
If you think back to your event’s goal, come up with fall festival ideas for church for the various elements that make up your celebration. Here are a few suggestions:
- Preschool area
- Petting zoo
- Games
- Jump houses and blow-up obstacle courses
- Food/Concession
- Carnival Games
- Dunk Tank
- Cake Walk
- Live Entertainment
- Karaoke
- Hayride
- Hay/Corn Maze
- Pumpkin Carving
- Pie Eating Contest
- Face painting
- Wall climbing rock
- Fall Photo-scape
While you are considering each section you will need to make a list of the equipment and staff that you’ll require for the successful completion of the. Pick a suitable number of places and activities, and remember that you will be able to grow in the years to come.
Collect Candy & Candy-alternatives
Set up collection stations in your church and request members to bring boxes of sweets. This will reduce the cost of prizes and candy and enable your church members to participate in the Fall Festival’s successful event. If you reside in a warmer area, request that people stay clear of the chocolate because it could melt. By including alternative candy in addition to candy, you’re providing secure options for families who are dietary restrictions or special needs.
Think Through the Logistics
There are a variety of areas that require particular attention to allow the church’s annual Fall Festival to run without any issues. These include bathrooms, parking and electrical security. They also include electrical and audio/visual. You should ask yourself the following questions:
Make Pre-Fall Festival Volunteering Easy
There will be many people who help out during the evening of the festival Don’t forget those who would like to be involved but cannot be present on the day of the event. Invite your church members to assist in the Fall Festival’s success by creating signs or backdrops for painting, constructing booths baking, or gathering materials. Many of them would be willing to assist prior to the event if they were asked.
Invite Volunteers to Sign Up for Time Blocks During Your Church’s Fall Festival
It’s a given that you’ll require volunteers to help make your congregation’s Fall Festival successful, but help them by letting them sign up for two hour periods of time. If, for instance, you’re Fall Festival is a four-hour event (5pm from 5pm to 9pm) let people register for 5-7pm and between 7-9 at night. This will enable parents and grandparents to help and take time to enjoy the festivities with their family. Don’t forget to include your teens. They’re typically eager volunteers when they’re able to participate along with their peers, and with the time block, they’ll take advantage of free time during the festival.
Keep Communication for Your Church’s Festival Flowing
Be sure to provide clear communication with your volunteers prior to, during, and following you congregation’s Fall Festival. Regularly updating all volunteers in different areas will to keep everyone updated.
Create a Unique Hashtag
A unique hashtag can allow you to follow your social media event. You’ll be able to see the comments of people and what photos they take. You’ll be able make use of those pictures to share your successes with your congregation and, with permission, utilize it for the following year’s marketing.
Ending
The Church’s Fall Festival is sure to be a hit if you take these steps. If you can determine your event’s purpose and putting together an organized strategy, making it simple for your volunteers and ensuring that communication is on point and on the way to having a memorable celebration.
