How to Create a School Halloween Fayre That Raises Big Funds 🎟️

Want your school’s Halloween fayre to deliver real results for pupils—fun, engagement, and fantastic funds? Setting up an unforgettable event is easier than you might think, especially with some strategic planning and a focus on well-loved attractions like raffles, prize games, and creative activities. Here’s everything you need to create a school Halloween fayre full of excitement and real fundraising power.

Start with Vision and Purpose

Before diving into the details, it’s wise to set clear goals with your PFA (Parents and Friends Association) or committee. Decide what you want to achieve, whether it’s buying new equipment, funding trips, or upgrading library books. Setting a fundraising target helps you decide on admission prices, how many raffle tickets to print, and which fundraising ideas to prioritise.

A well-planned fayre brings the community together, builds lasting memories, and secures much-needed funds for your school. With the right blend of spooky fun and practical planning, your Halloween event can become the highlight of the school year.

Assembling Your Team

Successful fayres aren’t solo missions. Involve parents, teachers, caretakers, and older students from the outset. Set up a core volunteer planning group to share tasks such as:

• Sourcing donations for raffle prizes
• Designing and distributing marketing materials
• Organising stalls and activities
• Setting up and cleaning afterwards

Encourage everyone to draw on local contacts for sponsorship or donations. Many local businesses are keen to support school events in return for some visibility within the community.

Choose a Date and Venue

Pick a date close to Halloween but avoid overlapping with half-term breaks or other major local events. Most schools use the assembly hall, playground, or even marquees for extra space. Consider weather contingency plans, especially if you’re relying on outside areas or inflatables.

A ticketing system works well for entry—think about advance tickets to help with planning and float requirements. Discount family tickets can boost overall attendance, encouraging parents to bring siblings along for the fun.

Theme, Decor, and Atmosphere

The devil is in the details! Create a school Halloween fayre atmosphere with bold decorations—bunting, fairy lights, spider webs, and carved pumpkins. Get pupils involved by running a Halloween craft week, decorating the event with homemade bats, ghosts, and paper pumpkins.

Add playful touches like spooky music, themed signage, and a photo booth complete with Halloween props. These immersive extras make your fayre more memorable and help justify entry or activity charges.

Key Fundraising Attractions

Your school fayre will work best with a mix of free, fixed-fee, and token-based activities. Raffle tickets and prize tokens are classics, offering big fundraising potential.

Raffle Tickets: Fundraising Powerhouse

A well-run raffle draws in family, friends, and even local businesses. Here’s how to maximise your success:

• Start collecting prizes early: Ask local businesses, supermarkets, and parents for prize donations.
• Aim for a main prize with smaller runners-up gifts to encourage more ticket sales.
• Sell tickets in advance at school gates, local shops, or via pupils’ families.
• Stress that every ticket supports school initiatives—offer a class prize for the most tickets sold to spark friendly competition.

Prize draw excitement keeps families around until the end of the event. Make the presentation fun—invite the headteacher or a popular teacher to draw the winners for added appeal.

Prize Tokens: Flexible and Fun

Prize tokens or tickets can be used as currency at stalls. Parents buy bundles at the entrance, and children use them to pay for games. This reduces cash-handling at stalls, speeds up queues, and encourages everyone to try new activities.

After the event, leftover tokens can be refunded or donated back to the school. Make it clear on posters how tokens are used so everyone understands the system.

Favourite Stalls and Games

Classic fayre games bring in steady revenue and are easy to organise:

• Pumpkin Bowling: Use small pumpkins as bowling balls. Prizes for strikes!
• Lucky Dip: Fill tubs with sawdust or shredded paper and hide wrapped prizes.
• Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin: Charge per guess and offer the pumpkin as a prize.
• Apple Bobbing: Ever popular; consider a prize draw for anyone who manages it.
• Creepy Lucky Bags: Fill paper bags with small toys or sweets, some with a “golden ticket” for larger prizes.
• Spin-the-Wheel: Children spin for a chance to win sweet treats or school merchandise.

Switch up tradition with themed alternatives—monster hoopla, mummy-wrapping races, or a “witch’s cauldron” beanbag toss.

Boost Revenue with Creative Extras

Adding a few special features can encourage families to spend that little bit more while creating lasting memories.

Food and Drink Stalls

Sweet treats are always winners. Set up a cake stall with Halloween-themed cupcakes, sponsor a hot chocolate bar, or run a “decorate your own biscuit” table. Selling meal deals or snack bags for families on the go helps raise more funds and keeps children fuelled for fun.

Craft Activities

Host simple make-and-take tables:

• Mask decorating
• Pumpkin painting
• Badge-making

Charge a small fee and provide all materials. These stalls are always well-attended, especially if children can take their creations home.

Costume Competition

Encourage children (and staff!) to dress up. Charge for entry, then parade the costumes at the end for a small prize. Include categories like “Scariest”, “Funniest”, and “Best Home-Made” to widen appeal. Photos from the parade make excellent content for your school’s newsletter or website.

Marketing Your Halloween Fayre

Getting the word out early maximises your crowd—and your profits. Use every available channel:

• Send flyers home with children at least three weeks in advance.
• Post updates and teasers on school social media and local community groups.
• Enlist children to design posters for display in nearby shops and cafes.
• Put up banners at the school entrance.
• Use class WhatsApp or Facebook groups to remind parents in the run-up to the event.

Advance ticket discounts and pre-ordered raffle tickets can help estimate numbers and generate excitement. Remind everyone about the fundraising goal—knowing what the event supports encourages greater community buy-in.

Involve Local Businesses and Community Groups

Partnering with local organisations can boost your Halloween fayre’s success. Ask nearby shops, cafes, or gyms to sponsor games or donate prizes. Offer to display their leaflets in return.

Invite groups such as Scouts, Guides, or local sports clubs to run their own stalls. More activity variety attracts a wider audience and supports the spirit of community fundraising.

Tidying Up and Thanking Helpers

After the last game is played and the last prize given, don’t forget to thank your volunteers. A thank-you list in the school newsletter, on noticeboards, or social posts goes a long way to showing appreciation. Collect feedback—what went well, and what can be improved next year?

Money raised should be counted promptly and securely, with a total reported back to families as soon as possible. Transparency strengthens trust and keeps the community keen to support future events.

Conclusion

Create a school Halloween fayre with a blend of imaginative games, popular fundraisers, and community spirit, and you’ll raise both smiles and vital funds. With thoughtful organisation and enthusiastic promotion, your next fayre could be your most successful yet!

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