Summer is almost over, and that means one thing — it’s time to go back to school! Get the kiddos excited about the upcoming school year with a big celebration. We’ve found some great ideas and activities that can help with planning your back-to-school fair.
Planning Committee
Get help planning your back-to-school fair from teachers, parents, and other members of your school’s community. Share your idea at your school district’s PTA meeting or through a dedicated social media group. Post a volunteer sign-up sheet to collect contact info as well as what area of the event the person would like to participate in, such as budget, food, games, etc.
Begin planning 1-2 months out from your event. Meet with all of your volunteers to choose a date, plan a booth layout, and brainstorm everything you want to include. We have lots of fun back-to-school fair ideas to get you started.
Back-to-School Fair Games
No fair is complete without some friendly competition! You can hire a carnival games company to help out, or there are some simple games you can make yourself. Purchase some inexpensive prizes like bubbles or other small toys to give away at each station.
Duck Pond
This classic back-to-school fair game only requires a large wading pool and rubber ducks. Write numbers on the bottom of the ducks that correspond with prominently displayed prizes. You can even put a star on one or two ducks for a “grand” prize! Then, give participants a butterfly net or some type of grabbing device and a time limit to catch a duck and collect their winnings.
Balloon Darts
To set up a balloon dart carnival game, all you need is balloons, darts, and prizes. Attach inflated balloons to a piece of plywood (painted in your school colors, of course) and let the kids try to pop them with the darts or a heavier object if sharp darts make you uncomfortable. You can have students win prizes based on the size, color, or number of balloons popped.
Ring Toss
Ring toss games are a staple of any carnival making it one of the most popular back-to-school fair ideas. You can do the classic version with small rings tossed onto glass bottles or use larger rings on colorful cones. Award prizes based on the number of successful tosses!
Dunk Tank
Every great back-to-school fair needs a dunk tank, and the best part is it can double as a fundraiser. Put the principal, vice principal, and favorite teachers in the hot seat and charge a dollar or two to take a shot. Students and their families will be lining up to dunk their school leaders, and you’ll raise some funds, too!
Alternatively, instead of or in addition to cash, allow people to donate free school supplies like Kleenex or crayons to participate. A supply drive is a great way to support your hard-working teachers who are often buying classroom supplies out of pocket.
Back-to-School Fair Food
Plan to have an assortment of all your typical fair foods at your back-to-school event. You and your volunteers can prepare everything yourself, or you can hire a local food truck to come park on the school grounds for the day.
Grab and Go
With so many fun games set up, it’s best to offer food that can be easily eaten with one hand. Think corn dogs and ice cream cones! You can also hire a concessions company to set up cotton candy and popcorn machines.
Fun and Fried
While not necessarily the healthiest, fried treats are a back-to-school fair idea every student will love. Keep it simple and serve up some bite-sized fried desserts like fried Oreos, fried Twinkies, and of course, funnel cake bites.
Family-Friendly Entertainment Ideas
It’s always best to plan other activities for those who aren’t playing carnival games or digging into the delicious food. Here are a few of our favorite back-to-school fair ideas for a little bit of extra fun.
🎨 Face painters: Book a face painter to add some color to your back-to-school fair! Depending on the size of your event, you may need multiple artists so every kid has a chance to get their face painted.
🎈 Balloon twisters: For a budget-friendly option to entertain your crowd, hire a local balloon twister or two! They’ll arrive in colorful clothes and twist up simple designs for students and their families.
✨ Magician: A magic show would be a un idea for kids and adults! A children’s party magician can tailor their show to any age group, ensuring even little ones stay engaged.
🐴 Animal entertainment: You can’t go wrong with animal entertainment. You can set up pony rides or have a petting zoo for students to get up close and personal with their favorite animals.
🎡 Carnival rides: Make your fair even more authentic with a trackless train or carnival rides! Another less expensive option is a bounce house or inflatable games that can be set up inside or outside.
Going back to school doesn’t have to be a bummer when you make it a fun celebration! Get your teachers, parents, and students excited and create some new memories for the coming year. 🏫
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.