BOOTHS -  this is the most important simply because we'll have so many.  At least 20 games, maybe more.  Running for 3 hours.  If we get volunteers for hour long blocks we need SIXTY people just to run the games for the night.  And we'll have face painting, tattoos, food and ticket booths.  We need a LOT of help.  I would hope that all parents will volunteer for at least an hour on festival night.  Mom and dad can work opposite shifts and take the kids around while the other parent works, or work the same shift then go around the rest of the night as a family.  Older siblings and their friends. Grandparents.  Neighbors.  We need them ALL.  Will soon be producing a flyer to distribute to potential volunteers, but for now just spread the word so people can save the date!!

 

GAME PRODUCTION - We have a LOT of games to make so I won't turn down help.  Wait til we get donations and help assemble games with the supplies we collect, or if you have items around your house feel free to create a game yourself.  Any help is welcome.  Use a game from our list or something totally different.  Be sure to let me know if you are making something, though, so we don't end up with duplicate games, and I know how many games we'll have to scrape up enough volunteers.  Be sure to visit the game page for suggestions to keep in mind when planning a game.  Go to the "activities" page first, then click on "games".

 

DECORATIONS - we don't necessarily need a lot of decorations, as the games will be cute and festive and we'll have signs for the games and all of the booths.  But we'd like to make it fall themed, so any fall decorations could be implemented.  We can put something as centerpieces on the tables for eating, and on the walls inside the buildings, or set things on the ground in front of games that aren't really fall themed.  I haven't given a lot of thought to decorations, but if it's circus or festival related or fall themed, we'll implement it somewhere.  Feel free to make simple and inexpensive decorations if you're crafty but the point of the carnival is to have minimal expense.  If you have craft supplies already that you can put to use, that's great!

 

SIGNS - we need lots of signs.  Signs for all of the games and all of the booths.  Signs in the cafeteria area.  Signs directing people to different areas and the bathrooms the night of the event.  Signs with prices for tickets, food, etc...  I am NOT at all skilled at Photoshop type programs, so if anyone is good in this area and wants to work with me to create some signs.  I have some ideas of what I think would look good for some of the game signs, but don't know where to go to create them.  If anyone is skilled in this area, I'd love some help.

 

FLYERS  - again, I'm not super skilled.  Can throw something together that's very basic, but if anyone is more skilled than I, I'd welcome help.  Would like to make something up the girls can give to friends and classmates and parents can give to anyone they think may be interest - to advertise for people to actually attend the carnival and then also some type of flyer to give out to anyone who may be willing to volunteer, especially something targeted to high schoolers offering volunteer hours.  And we need some type of Thank You to give out to anyone who volunteered or donated items.

 

FISHING FOR DONATIONS - if you are "persuasive" and don't mind phone calls, we could use someone to call some businesses and try to coax the out of donations to help our cause.  We could use small - even just $5 gift cards for raffle baskets, or larger items like the bouncy house and other donations.  Anyone that donates can put a business card or flyer on their donation, plus give us a stack to hand out to festivalgoers as advertising.   

 

DONATION CLEANING - the  majority of the prizes will be new, but we will have a "stuffed animal walk" and will take donations of small used toys that can be prizes - such as kids meal and similar size prizes.  Could use volunteers to clean the small toys with lysol wipes and spray the stuffed animals with disinfectant spray so we can assure festival goers that any used items have been sanitized.

 

SET UP / CLEAN up - we'll need a crew that comes several hours before the event to set up all the booths, food serving, and eating areas.  Post all the signs.  Hang signs directing people to the carnival from the road.  Put trash cans out throughout the event, etc...  At the end we'll need a 2nd crew to clean up.  The games alone will create a lot of trash, plus all the trash cans to empty and just clean up any mess in the entire area.  Clean up all the eating areas, etc...

 

BAKING - We are having a cake walk, so we'll need lots of cakes.  Linnea has volunteered to bake a bunch of cakes, but we need lots and lots.  I'd like it if every family would bake or purchase at least one cake for our cake walk, but if you are willing to provide more than that, please do!!  There will also be a bake sale, so we can use cupcakes, cookies, homemade candy, rice krispy treats, brownies, etc...  Please sign up for what you'd like to bake so we can have an idea what all we'll have for sale, and can figure out what else still needs provided in order to have a nice variety.  We can use tons of baked goods of any sorts so please bake away!!

 

ADVERTISING - We need to do some advertising to have a nice turn out, but want to do it in a controlled manner.  If we run an ad in a city wide paper or such we could end up with THOUSANDS of kids showing up and not have enough space, prizes, food, etc... to support that large of a crowd (maybe next year!!).  So we are looking to post flyers on doors of just nearby neighborhoods.  Could use volunteers for flyer posting.  It's good exercise.  Also could use anyone's creative input on other ways to advertise our event to a limited, but large enough, group of kids.  I'm planning supplies and costs to cover around 100-150 kids, so I'd like the turn out to be close to that.  Don't want too few kids or we'll have tons of materials left over and waste money. Don't want a far greater turn out or we won't be prepared.  I'd love anyone's help in obtaining the ideal crowd.

 

 

If you can think of any other way you'd like to help out that's not listed, just let me know what you'd like to do.  I'd more than welcome any help.  Please use the link below to sign up.  Please indicate what time frame you are willing to work a booth, and then any other positions you are willing to help with, including any pre-festival prepartions so we can start to get things moving.  Also if you are willing to provide any baked goods please indicate that as well so we can keep track.  Please fill out a volunteer form for each family member or friend you have that is willing to donate their time.  We need LOTS of help and appreciate everyone who contributes.