Many of us are in the midst of preparation for our upcoming Fall Fest. This has become an annual event that has the potential to reach out to our communities and extend an invitation when they are the most receptive.
When we extend this invitation to our community we want it to be a great experience and it takes People, a Plan and a Process to host a Fall Fest that’s an Exceptional Event! So, I thought I would share some thoughts on how to make the process go smoothly and have the festival be a FUN event for both leaders and participants. A successful Fall Festival will be something that everyone involved enjoys and looks forward to next year! With that in mind here are the suggested steps.
Steps that can Lead to a Great Fall Fest:
1. Choose a Fall Fest Director
Choosing the right person for this position is going to make or break the event. This may be a staff member or a volunteer – the talents we are looking for is leadership and the ability to delegate.
Responsibilities for the Fall Fest Director:
- Proposing and administrating the Budget
- Seeking Donations
- Recruiting Volunteers – be the point person
- Supplies – create a check-list of needed materials
2. Build a Fall Fest Team
This is not a job for the “Lone Ranger.” Recruiting and training the right team is crucial to success.
Responsibilities of the Fall Fest Team:
- Publicity – Get the word out to your entire community.
- Outreach – Use the Fall Festival as an opportunity to distribute information about our church and upcoming activities.
- Booths & Games – Brainstorm, create, and build the games for the event.
- Follow-up – Register those who attend through a drawing and then send a Thank You Card and Invite them back to church.
- Evaluation – Take a look back after the event and critique everything.
3. Recruit Fall Fest Volunteers
The very best way to attract Fall Fest Volunteers – Invite Them! It can be just that simple, a personal invitation from a team member is absolutely the best way to get others involved. Announcements, posters, videos, etc. will help get the message out – but the BEST way is still a personal invitation!
4. Involve Families
We all agree that parents are to be the Spiritual Leaders of their children. The Fall Festival is a great way to involve parents and their kids in a family project that has spiritual benefits. Here are some ways that the entire family can be involved:
- Create and lead a Game Booth
- Donate Candy (every kid loves to be involved with candy!)
- Invite their Neighbors and Classmates
- Dress up together (i.e. The Incredibles) and act as event Hosts
- Participate in Registering Guests
- Help with Follow up Cards
Well, there you have it…the basic outline that can lead to an incredible Fall Festival. It’s NOT too late. Start today a get ready to bless your community with an event that will be talked about for weeks to come. Let us hear about your Fall Festival Plans!
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