There are numerous reasons to hold a summer carnival, but the most important is so that you can offer a fun event for your neighborhood or an organization. A carnival can be planned as a school fundraiser or as a fundraiser for a church group. Before getting into the details of the carnival, you need to set a budget so that you know how much money you can spend in each area, such as food and games.
Prices
One of the first things that you should think about when planning a summer carnival is the price of admission, how much tickets will be for any rides and games, and how much the food will be that is served. If you can get people to donate their time and donate baked goods, then you can save a lot of money in this area. You could choose not to have an admission to the carnival and only charge for rides, games, and food. However, if you're trying to make money for a school, church, or organization, then you're going to end up not making as much money as you could if there was an admission price set.
Designate Committees
Coordinate groups of people who can serve on committees so that you aren't doing all of the planning yourself. You could have a committee for food and beverages, one for keeping track of money earned, and one for games. Try to find people who are organized and who understand how vital the carnival is so that they will be excited and willing to offer assistance. Pick people who will be shrewd enough to look at safety standards as well, getting lead-free, vinyl bounce houses or mechanical rides that are relatively new. If you need to save some bucks, focus on some DIY projects committees, like making a photoshoot for carnival guests with some wood, paint, and creativity.
Decide On A Theme
If you have a theme for your carnival, then it will be easier to plan the decorations, food, games, and rides. An example would be a circus carnival with funnel cakes, ice cream cones, bounce houses, and maybe a small petting zoo. Try to coordinate the theme with the summer season. A luau or a beach party would be good ideas for this time of year.
Food And Games
The food served and the games played will likely be where the most money from the carnival is made. If you have the money in your budget, then you can hire an outside company to serve food and operate games. Hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy are good ideas for any carnival theme. Offer games for all skill levels and prizes that are easy to win so that everyone has fun.
Serving alcohol is another way to make money from your carnival. Just be sure to check the qualifications of your bartenders before hiring them. Having qualified bartenders will help ensure safe alcohol consumption among your guests. Also, remind guests to have designated drivers for the evening. There are strict laws against driving under the influence, so take steps to minimize this risk when serving alcohol at an event.
Part of a carnival is celebrating an event and hosting it on your own and with the help of the community. Bring the joy of the summer season to your carnival using decorations that are bright colors and games that involve water. At the end of the day, the smiles on the faces of those who attend will be worth all of the planning.
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