Thinking Caps on please...Village Fete ideas....

[pillj123]

OK...you marvelous thinkers...over to you.
I live in a small Norfolk village.It has a primary school,a few things like a good local shop with P.O, a chippy, hairdressers,Pub.We have had village fetes over the years,but the gent who ran it...fairly single-handed had a heart attack and wants fresh blood to take it over.
My friend and I want to have a bash.(noone else seems bothered)..BUT...want to bring fresh ideas...or old fashioned ideas which are proven winners.
Care to add your suggestions.What makes for a fabulous village Fete?????

[NOX]

I organised a fete once and we had all the usual things, bar b que, bar, and siude stalls bash the rat ( where you whack a beanbag dropped down a pipe), slinging wet sponges at one of the locals, china smashing stall, archery, karaoke competition,plus things you'd expect like tombolas cake stalls etc, dinkey rides. You can't really go wrong as anyone who turns up is out to enjoy themselves anyway.

[Traci66]

We have a village fete every year with a different theme, this year it is the Queens jubilee, we have had scarecrows, little pottery figures, the whole village gets involved, there is live music on the green, a hog roast, picnic, processions between the churches, anything goes.

[NOX]

Donkey rides that should be lol

[bednobs]

duck and sheep racing
dog display (if you have any local clubs)

[pillj123]

think I prefer dinkies....Nox..!

[marval]

This should give you some ideas.

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A417124

[tenrec]

If someone has a ferret ... You build a maze of tunnels like spokes of a wheel and put ferret in at the middle and people put their money on where the ferret will appear first. Winner gets a cut of the money, or small prize.

[giveup]

Try and get a live band, always adds to the atmosphere ,and some kind of flower/fruit/vegetable show.

[gness]

I once did `Stick a pin in a Politician.` Huge board with photographs of politicians. Choose winning one in secret. Pins made into flags for entrant`s name. Winner is one who matches your secretly chosen one. Should be popular with pensioners.

[Eve]

Is there a stream/river near? Having a rubber duck race could be good fun.

Are there groups at the local school who could get involved like singing or playing instruments or dancing or something.

How about some old fashioned games like a sack or beanbag race?

Face painting too. Kareoke could be good fun, maybe throw in a bit of a mini XFactor style competition.

[naomi24]

I've organised lots of fetes. We get fairground people to come (they advertise on the internet) and they bring childrens roundabouts, giant slides, candy floss stalls, bouncy castles, and all sorts of things - and they'll give you a donation for letting them come! Also, ring up local ice cream companies who will send an ice cream van along - again giving you a proportion of their takings for coming - and if, instead of booking a burger van (which would also give you a donation for being there), you can do your own barbeque, you'll get the profit from that too.

Also bric-a-brac stalls, plant stalls, cake stalls, a bar selling beer and wine - and we have fancy dress competions, a children's colouring competition, children's races and a tug-o-war too - and the prizes are bags of sweets.

You'll need help - it's hard work - so advertise around the village for that - and also advertise your fete on the 'What's On' websites, and in local papers and magazines - you'll get calls from lots of people wanting a stall there.

With any fundraising event, the secret is to spend as little as possible for as much profit as possible. Good luck!

[Eve]

If you want something a bit different could you try to find some random record to break for the Guiness Book of Records?

[Maydup]

Hi Pillj123

I live in Norfolk and wonder if you're close to any of the local celebs? Ask one of them to open it for you and to start the guess the weight of the cake competition. Tell me roughly where you are and I might have some ideas.

Write to all the local businesses and ask for raffle prizes.

Make sure you're in the EDP/EEN listings and on Radio Norfolk. Invite the press along to cover the local celeb appearance.

Face painting is always really popular with the children, and stick on tattoos satisfy the boys too. Never fails and raises good money.

Think of things to appeal to the Dads. They are competitive and often have a a go at something until they win a prize reagardless of how much it cost them.

Good luck

[atalanta]

Don't forget the fortune-teller. Get the boy scouts to put a small tent up for her, and a sign advertising Madame Rosa, and lend her a crystal ball and a pack of cards. Then find an eccentric extrovert who is prepared to wear mad robes and say absolutely anything. The vicar's wife ? The post-mistress ?
Charge at least £5 a go, with half-price for school children. She can tell all the boys they will be football stars or motor racing drivers, and all the girls that they will be famous singers or film-stars.

[funnygirl]

Portaloos and car parking.

[Canary42]

Reading the replies so far, it occurred to me you could combine some of them.

For example: Get a politician as the celebrity then throw wet sponges at him/her.

[moonraker558]

Welly boot throwing, Tug'o'war, Yard of ale, Guess the weight of a sheep.

[albaqwerty]

you and sheep Moonie, whatcha like ? :-)

[moonraker558]

What? What? he he.