21 May 24 - 10 Fun & Frugal Fundraising Ideas for Your School Summer Fair!

Summer fairs are a fantastic way to bring the school community together, have a blast, and raise some vital funds! But keeping costs down and activities engaging can be a challenge.

Here are 10 cost-effective, easy-to-run ideas perfect for primary schools:

1. Plucky Penguin Toss: Set up a paddling pool and fill it with plastic ducks or penguins. Players pay a small fee to try and toss beanbags or ping pong balls into the pool, landing them on a penguin for a prize!

2. Glittery Face Painting Extravaganza: Unleash your creativity! Parents can volunteer as artists and use face paint and glitter to transform faces into dazzling masterpieces. Charge a small fee per design.

3. Guess the Jellybeans: Fill a giant jar with jellybeans and have children guess the number for a small fee. The winner takes home the jar (and a sugar rush!). Use donated candy or buy in bulk for a better profit margin.

4. Design-a-Cupcake Competition: Get those creative juices flowing! Provide plain cupcakes, basic frosting, and sprinkles. Charge a small entry fee for children to decorate their own masterpiece. Parents can vote for the winners with a small donation.

5. Second-hand Book Bonanza: Encourage families to donate pre-loved children's books in good condition. Set up a stall selling the books at bargain prices. This is a win-win – a fun activity for children and a way to declutter homes while raising funds.

6. Wacky Hat Relay Race: Get silly! Participants create their own wacky hats using recycled materials like cardboard, newspapers, and colourful paper. Then, have a fun relay race where they compete to complete the course without their hats falling off. Charge a small entry fee per team.

7. Tin Can Alley: This classic is always a crowd-pleaser! Collect empty tin cans (cleaned and labelled for safety) and set them up in a pyramid. For a nominal charge, players throw tennis balls at the cans, aiming to knock them down. Award prizes for the most successful throws.

8. Sponge the Teacher: Let the students turn the tables! Set up a "dunk tank" with a brave teacher volunteering to be the target. Children (or parents) can pay to throw wet sponges, aiming to soak the teacher. Remember safety precautions – use a shallow pool of water and ensure proper supervision.

9. Guess the Baby Photo: Collect baby photos from willing parents and teachers. Display them anonymously and have participants donate a couple of coins for a guess on who the baby is. The person with the most correct guesses wins a prize.

10. DIY Photo Booth: Set up a fun backdrop with colourful paper, balloons, and props like oversized hats and funny glasses. Have a donation bucket for families to take silly photos with their phones.

Bonus Tip: Promote these activities effectively! Create eye-catching posters and flyers to spread the word around the school and local community.

With a little planning and collaboration, these fun and cost-effective ideas can make your school summer fair a roaring success, raising funds and creating lasting memories for everyone involved!

If you would like to know more about how we could help with your fundraising activities just drop us a message here.

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