School Carnival Fundraising Guide (How to Plan a Fun & Profitable Event for Your School)

From dunk tanks to snack stands, this school carnival fundraising guide covers all the essentials to plan a fun, organized, and money-making event for your school. 🎟🍭 #CarnivalFundraisers #SchoolEventPlanning #PTAFundraisingIdeas

Looking to plan a fundraiser that’s fun, family-friendly, and actually brings in real money? You can’t go wrong with a school carnival. This classic event is a favorite for a reason: it brings the whole community together, kids have a blast, and there are tons of ways to raise funds—all at once.

Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or a seasoned PTA pro, this guide is here to help you pull off a carnival that’s organized, exciting, and (most importantly) profitable. We’re covering themes, games, food, booths, setup tips, volunteer roles, and smart ways to make the most of your event.

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🧾 Why a School Carnival Is a Top Fundraiser

School carnivals are more than just fun—they’re fundraising gold when done well. Here’s why they work:

✅ They appeal to everyone

Young kids, older siblings, parents, teachers, even grandparents—everyone has something to enjoy, which means higher turnout (and higher sales).

✅ You can raise money in multiple ways

Ticket sales, raffles, food, sponsorships, games, merch… carnivals let you layer your income instead of relying on just one source.

✅ Local businesses love to sponsor them

They get visibility in front of families (aka potential customers) and feel great about supporting local schools.

✅ It’s a community event

People don’t just come to support the school—they come to socialize, make memories, and let the kids burn off some energy. That feel-good factor goes a long way!

💡 Bonus: Carnivals can become an annual tradition families look forward to—which means easier planning and better results each year.

📅 Planning Timeline + Must-Have Roles

School carnivals are totally doable—but they do need a bit of lead time and teamwork. Starting early and breaking the event into manageable roles is the key to keeping things fun and stress-free.

🗓️ Ideal Planning Timeline:

• 3–6 months out – Set the date, book the space, and recruit your core committee
• 8 weeks out – Finalize your theme, start collecting donations, confirm booths/games
• 6 weeks out – Secure sponsors, start promoting, begin designing your carnival program, order supplies and signage
• 4 weeks out – Sell pre-sale tickets, finalize volunteers, confirm food
• 1 week out – Create setup plan, prep prize tables, send final reminders
• Day of – Arrive early, set up stations, get your cash box and wristbands ready
• After – Celebrate your wins, share photos, and thank everyone who helped!

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🙋‍♀️ Must-Have Volunteer Roles:

You don’t need a huge team—just a well-organized one. Here’s who you’ll want on board:

• 🎪 Event Chair – Oversees everything, keeps the timeline on track, and delegates like a pro
• 🎟️ Ticket & Money Coordinator – Manages ticket sales (pre-sale + at the door), wristbands, and cash boxes
• 🎯 Games & Booth Lead – Plans booth layout, game supplies, and volunteer coverage
• 🍕 Food Coordinator – Organizes food trucks, concessions, or meal options
• 💌 Sponsorship & Donations Chair – Contacts businesses, collects basket items, tracks sponsors
• 📣 Promotions & Marketing – Designs flyers, carnival program, writes social media posts, handles signs and announcements
• 🎈 Decorations & Setup Lead – Coordinates decor, signage, and flow of traffic
• 🧹 Cleanup Crew Chief – Makes sure teardown goes quickly and nothing gets left behind

💡 Pro Tip: Use a tool like SignUpGenius to organize booth shifts and floaters. That way, no one gets stuck on Ring Toss for three hours straight!

🏷️ Carnival Theme Ideas

While a theme isn’t required, it can make everything more fun and cohesive—from signage and decorations to volunteer outfits and social media posts. It also gives you an easy starting point when you’re feeling overwhelmed by choices.

Here are some easy-to-pull-off, crowd-pleasing theme ideas:

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🎪 1. Classic Carnival
The most popular—and for good reason! Think red-and-white stripes, popcorn buckets, balloons, and vintage-style signs. It’s easy to pull together and instantly recognizable.

🌈 2. Glow-in-the-Dark or Neon Night
Perfect for an evening event or indoor gym setup. Use black lights, glow sticks, neon face paint, and bright signage to make everything pop.

🎠 3. Under the Big Top (Circus Theme)
Similar to the classic carnival, but with more circus flair—add in clown noses, ringmaster hats, and animal-themed booths.

🌻 4. Country Fair or Fall Harvest
Hay bales, plaid tablecloths, pumpkins, and simple rustic games like sack races or cornhole make this one charming and budget-friendly.

🦸 5. Superhero or School Spirit
Let kids come dressed as their favorite superhero, or tie the whole theme into your school mascot and colors. Great for easy volunteer shirts and themed signs!

🌺 6. Luau / Tropical Bash
Grass skirts, flamingos, palm leaves, and tropical tunes create a relaxed, sunny vibe. Bonus: it’s easy to find luau party supplies at discount stores!

🎃 7. Spooky Carnival (October-Friendly)
Great for a fall fundraiser—add in costume contests, “haunted” booths, and themed games like pumpkin bowling or witch hat ring toss.

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💡 Pro Tip: Choose a theme that works with the season and your existing supplies. You don’t have to go over the top—just a few cohesive touches can bring the whole thing together.

🎯 Carnival Game Ideas

You don’t need big fancy inflatables or expensive rentals to have an amazing carnival. A mix of simple, hands-on games is easy to set up, fun for all ages, and keeps the ticket sales flowing!

Here are some classic and creative options that work great at school events:

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1. Ring Toss
Use bottles, cones, or even glow sticks at night. Super simple and always a hit.

2. Duck Pond
Numbered rubber ducks float in a baby pool—kids pick one to reveal a prize or color level.

3. Bean Bag Toss / Cornhole
Classic! Customize boards with your school mascot or theme.

4. Lollipop Pull
Stick lollipops into a foam board—some are marked on the bottom for bigger prizes.

5. Cupcake Walk
Like a cakewalk but with cupcakes! Kids walk to music and win treats when their number is called.

6. Ping Pong Ball Toss
Try to land ping pong balls in cups or bowls—add colored ones for bonus prizes.

7. Nerf Blaster Target
Set up plastic cups, paper targets, or stuffed animals—kids take aim with Nerf blasters.

8. Can Knockdown
Stack empty cans in a pyramid and give kids a few bean bags to knock them over.

9. Spin the Prize Wheel
Let kids spin to win a random prize, candy, or challenge. Great for keeping the energy up!

10. Giant Jenga or Yard Games
Add a few “big kid” games for older students and parents hanging out.

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💡 Pro Tip: Group games into age zones (little kids, big kids, everyone) to make it easier for families to navigate—and reduce wait times at the most popular booths.

🍿 Food and Treats That Make Money

Food isn’t just a crowd-pleaser—it’s one of the biggest money-makers at your school carnival. Whether you’re going full concession stand or keeping it snack-sized, there are lots of tasty options that are easy to prep and sell for a profit.

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🎟️ Easy-to-Serve Best Sellers:

• Popcorn – In bags or cups. Sell it for $1–$2. A popcorn machine rental can be totally worth it.
• Cotton Candy – Eye-catching, fun, and high-margin. Pre-bag it or spin it fresh.
• Sno-Cones – Great for warm weather events. Use 2–3 flavors to keep it simple.
• Hot Dogs – A crowd favorite. Easy to prep ahead and serve with basic toppings.
• Pizza Slices – Grab a bulk order from a local pizzeria and sell by the slice.
• Nachos & Cheese – Minimal prep, big salty snack energy.
• Pre-packaged snacks – Chips, granola bars, juice boxes for a grab-and-go option.

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🍰 Bonus Table Ideas:

• Bake Sale Table – Have families donate baked goods or sweets and sell for $1–$3 each.
• Treat Walk – Like a cake walk, but for cookies or cupcakes. Charge a ticket to play and let winners choose their treat.
• Frozen Treat Cart – Bring back the popsicles and ice cream sandwiches for a cool, repeatable win.

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💡 Food Fundraising Tips:

• Offer meal ticket bundles (e.g. 1 meal + drink + treat for a discount)
• Use bright signage with pricing to keep lines moving
• Keep allergy-friendly options labeled and separate
• Ask a local restaurant or food truck to donate a percentage of profits in exchange for a booth spot

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🎪 Booth Ideas for Activities & Fundraising

While games and food are carnival staples, don’t forget about activity booths—they keep kids engaged, add variety, and offer even more ways to raise funds. These can be simple, low-cost setups that bring in big smiles and big ticket sales.

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🎨 Activity & Attraction Booths:

• Face Painting – Always popular, especially with a few cute stencil options.
• Temporary Tattoos or Stickers – Super easy for older kids to run.
• Photo Booth – Set up a backdrop with props. Use school spirit gear, funny hats, or your theme!
• Craft Table – Let kids make bookmarks, bracelets, or mini puppets. Charge a small materials fee or 1–2 tickets.
• Guessing Jars – Fill a jar with jellybeans, LEGOs, or pennies. Closest guess wins the jar or a prize!
• Dunk Tank – Rent one or DIY with a water bucket version. Great if your principal or teachers are willing to get soaked.
• Balloon Artist or Magician – Consider booking a volunteer entertainer or ask a local business to sponsor one.

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💸 Fundraising Booth Ideas:

• Basket Raffle Station – Display themed baskets and sell tickets to enter
• 50/50 Raffle Booth – One winner gets half the pot, the other half goes to your school
• Prize Redemption Table – Let kids cash in game tickets for prizes (stickers, small toys, candy)
• Sponsor Showcase Booth – Offer a booth space to local businesses in exchange for a donation or raffle item
• Classroom Booths – Assign each class a booth to run—teachers or parents coordinate, and the competition brings in creativity (and ticket sales!)

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💡 Pro Tip: Keep booths well spaced, use signage to explain how they work, and have floaters on hand to help cover any breaks or busy spots.

🎈 Decorations & Setup Tips

You don’t need a party rental budget to make your school carnival look fabulous. With some DIY flair, dollar store finds, and school spirit, you can create a bright, welcoming space that draws people in and keeps the excitement high.

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🎨 Easy Carnival Decor Ideas:

• Balloon bundles at entrances, ticket booths, and prize tables
• Streamers and bunting in school colors or your carnival theme
• DIY signs for each booth (chalkboards, poster board, or printed templates)
• Tablecloths to unify booths and make setup look polished
• Themed photo backdrop – great for Instagram moments and free promotion!
• Directional arrows or signs to help families find the bathrooms, food, and popular booths
• Music – A playlist or portable speaker helps set the vibe (or a student DJ if you’re lucky!)

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🧰 Practical Setup Tips:

• Use layout maps – Sketch out your layout ahead of time (especially important for indoors vs. outdoors)
• Mark booth areas with chalk, tape, or signs so volunteers know where to go
• Reserve tables and chairs early – Check with your school for what’s available
• Keep lines in mind – Leave space for waiting guests at popular stations
• Shade + seating – If your event is outdoors, provide a few shaded spots and resting areas for families

💡 Pro Tip: Save decorations and signs after the event—most items can be reused next year with just a quick refresh.

💵 How to Make Your School Carnival Profitable

Carnivals are packed with fun—but also packed with opportunity. The key to a high-earning event is layering your fundraising strategies, so you’re not just relying on ticket sales alone.

Here’s how to turn your carnival into a money-making machine:

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💳 Ticket & Wristband Sales

• Sell tickets for booths, games, and food (e.g., 1 ticket = $1, most activities cost 1–3 tickets)
• Offer unlimited wristbands for a higher flat fee—great for families with multiple kids
• Use pre-sale pricing to encourage early signups and help with planning

📘 Carnival Program Sales

• Sell printed carnival programs for $2–$5 each—include maps, schedules, prize lists, and more
• Offer ad space to local businesses to cover printing costs and boost funds
• Bundle programs with wristbands or raffle tickets to increase value and drive sales

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🎟️ Raffles & Baskets

• Set up a basket raffle
• Offer a 50/50 raffle—easy to run and no prize costs
• Try a “mystery prize wall” where guests pick a numbered envelope or bag for a small fee

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🍽️ Food & Snacks

• Bundle meal deals or “family snack packs” for better value
• Keep costs low with simple foods (hot dogs, popcorn, chips, drinks)
• Offer dessert add-ons, frozen treats, or a bake sale for bonus earnings

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💼 Sponsorships

• Ask local businesses to sponsor booths or the carnival program, donate raffle items, or provide giveaways
• Offer logo placement on banners, flyers, wristbands, or social media shoutouts
• Create “thank you” signage for sponsor visibility during the event

➡️ This way to read: From Freebies to Fundraising Partners: Making the Most of Local Business Support

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💸 Bonus Revenue Boosters

• Sell school spirit gear or custom merch (t-shirts, water bottles, stickers)
• Run a photo booth with optional print/digital copies
• Add donation jars at booths with signs like “Spare change = extra learning!”

💡 Pro Tip: Track what sells well and what doesn’t—so next year’s carnival can be even more successful (with less guesswork).

📣 Promotion Tips to Get Families Excited

Getting families to show up (and bring their wallets!) starts with clear, fun, and consistent promotion. Start early, stay visible, and make it feel like the event of the season.

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🏫 School Promotion:

• Send flyers home in student folders with key info (date, time, ticket prices)
• Include it in the school newsletter and calendar
• Put up posters and bulletin boards in hallways, near the office, and at pickup points
• Ask teachers to mention it in class or via classroom apps

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📱 Social Media & Email:

• Share sneak peeks of raffle baskets, game booths, or food options
• Post a countdown—“1 week until the big night!”
• Create a Facebook event or Instagram story highlights to answer FAQs
• Tease fun moments like: “Guess which staff member is getting dunked in the tank?!”
  “Check out our glow-in-the-dark face painting booth!”

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🎟️ Pre-Sale Power:

• Offer discounted pre-sale tickets or wristbands
• Run a class competition: “The class with the most pre-orders wins extra game tickets!”
• Send home reminder slips before the deadline to boost last-minute purchases

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💼 Sponsor Spotlights:

• Thank local business sponsors on social media
• Highlight donated raffle items to build excitement
• Include logos in flyers, posters, and email blasts

💡 Pro Tip: Keep the messaging consistent and upbeat—families are more likely to attend (and spend!) when they know it’s a well-organized event packed with fun.

🙌 Volunteer Roles & Shifts

No carnival happens without the magic of volunteers. Whether you have a small-but-mighty crew or a long list of helpers, assigning clear roles and short shifts makes the day more fun for everyone.

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🎟️ Key Volunteer Roles:

• Ticket Table Staff – Handle entry, wristbands, and extra ticket and program sales
• Booth/Game Attendants – Run games, explain rules, and hand out prizes
• Food Booth Helpers – Serve snacks, refill supplies, and manage lines
• Prize Table Helpers – Help kids redeem tickets for prizes or candy
• Floaters – Step in where needed, give breaks, and solve mini problems
• Cleanup Crew – Stay after the fun ends to pack up and restore order
• Emcee or Announcer – Keep energy up, announce raffle winners, and give sponsor shoutouts

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🕒 Scheduling Tips:

• Create short shifts (30–60 minutes) so more parents are willing to help
• Use tools like SignUpGenius to manage signups
• Offer a “Help Set Up but Skip the Event” option for those who want to contribute behind the scenes
• Let teens or older students earn volunteer hours—they’re great at face painting, tattoos, or running easy games

💡 Pro Tip: Offer volunteer perks like a free wristband or raffle ticket to thank your helpers!

🏁 Wrapping It Up + What to Do After the Carnival

Once the last cupcake is eaten and the dunk tank is drained, it’s time to tie up the loose ends—and celebrate a job well done!

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✅ Quick Recap:

Here’s what it takes to plan a fun & profitable school carnival:

• A solid timeline and volunteer team
• A simple, family-friendly theme
• Crowd-pleasing games, booths, and food
• Smart decor that’s festive but budget-friendly
• A few clever money-boosting strategies (raffles, programs, wristbands, sponsors)
• Clear, exciting promotion to get families and donors involved
• A smooth system for volunteer shifts and cleanup

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🎉 After the Event:

• Count your total earnings and celebrate your success!
• Post photos and thank-yous on social media
• Send thank-you notes to volunteers, teachers, and business sponsors
• Share how the money raised will help the school
• Ask for feedback—what worked, what to tweak next year
• Save signage, leftover supplies, and notes for next year’s team (future you will be so grateful)

💡 Pro Tip: Create a quick Google Doc or binder labeled “Carnival 2025” so all your vendor info, supply lists, and booth tips are easy to pass on—or reuse again next year.

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Whether you’re planning your first school carnival or making this year’s even better than the last, now you’ve got everything you need to pull off a fundraiser that’s fun, family-friendly, and totally ticket-worthy.