How to Plan a Church Festival

Planning a church festival can appear overwhelming at first, yet with proper planning, it is an exciting opportunity to bring your congregation and community together in a one-of-a-kind celebration. If you are planning your first-ever festival or wanting to do a makeover of a current one, the following actionable tips will help you develop something special and memorable. 

Start with Clear Goals and Vision 

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, take time to define what it is you want to achieve. 

• Are you fundraising for a specific ministry? 
• Building community relations?
• Celebrating a church anniversary? 

Having goals in mind will dictate the activities you choose as well as your budget. Think about taking advice from a survey of your congregation regarding what they’d most appreciate and what the community requires.

Form a Solid Planning Committee

You can’t do it all on your own, and you shouldn’t try. Recruit passionate volunteers with differing talents and split responsibilities with team leaders. You will need people who can manage logistics, entertainment, food coordination, marketing, and day-of events. Give everyone ample time to prepare by planning at least four to six months prior.

Choose Activities for All Ages

The most effective church events offer a little bit of something for every possible interest. Traditional standbys like craft booths, bake sales, and live music are perennial favorites because they work. Don’t be afraid, though, to consider thinking outside the box. In Florida, water activities in the great outdoors are always popular in warmer temperatures – you might even consider leasing a Trinity water slide to give kids and families a way to cool off and make some memories together.

Fun activities like ring toss, balloon twisting, and face painting engage younger children, while adolescents might enjoy a youth-organized activity, photo booth, or DJ. Adults prefer craft booths, silent auctions, and social gatherings with great food.

Plan Your Food and Vendor Strategy

Food typically is the focal point of any celebration. Decide if you will rely on church volunteers preparing home-made food, renting local food vendors, or utilizing a mix of both strategies. Some crowd favorites include barbecue, carnival staples like funnel cakes, and cultural dishes which reflect your congregation.

If you have outside vendors involved, establish precise guidelines for setup time, electrical use, and cleanup responsibilities. A few churches charge a small vendor fee to help defray festival costs.

Market Your Event Effectively

Begin promoting your festival in advance through various avenues. Utilize your church bulletin, social networking sites, and neighborhood community bulletin boards. Design attractive flyers to be distributed to local businesses and schools. Word of mouth is still strong, so remind your members to invite neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

Plan Ahead for Logistics and Safety

Plan for practicalities like parking, toilet arrangements, refuse collection, and weather contingency. If it is being organized in the summer, provision of shade and proper water availability on premises is essential. Ensure that you possess sufficient insurance coverage and any permission required for the activities.

Create a detailed set-up and tear-down schedule and assign specific volunteers to each activity. A focal point of information helps visitors and acts as a command center for organizers.

Make It Meaningful

Remember, though, that this is actually a church activity. Strive to insert brief moments of worship, blessing the food, or testimonies regarding your church’s community service. These touches remind everyone of the bigger purpose for the celebration.

With wise planning and willing volunteers, your church festival can be a highly anticipated annual tradition that strengthens community bonds and builds lasting memories