12 Fun Fall Event Themes For Your Fundraiser
Fall is the perfect season to bring your community together and raise funds for your organization. With cooler weather, cozy vibes, and plenty of seasonal inspiration, autumn offers endless opportunities for creative and fun events. Start planning your fall fundraiser with these 12 ideas to draw inspiration from!
1. Pumpkin Patch Party
Nothing says fall like a pumpkin patch, so hosting a community pumpkin patch event where attendees can pick out their favorite pumpkins is a great way to usher in the fall season. Pair this theme with pumpkin carving contests, a pumpkin decorating station, and a pumpkin-themed bake sale featuring pies, muffins, and lattes. Adding a small entry fee or charging for certain activities can make this fundraiser both fun and profitable.
2. Harvest Festival
A harvest festival is a classic fall favorite. Have fun decorating your venue with hay bales, corn stalks, and vibrant autumn leaves. Include carnival games, food trucks serving seasonal items, and live music to create a festive atmosphere. Hosting a silent auction with fall-inspired travel packages or items can be an excellent way to bring in additional funds.
3. Autumn Artisan Fair
Showcase local talent by organizing an artisan fair that features handmade crafts, fall-themed artwork, and seasonal goods. Rent booths to vendors and offer attendees the chance to purchase one-of-a-kind items. Incorporate workshops such as candle-making or autumn floral arrangement classes to engage the crowd further while raising extra money for your cause!
4. Costume Party Or Parade
Take advantage of the Halloween season by hosting a costume-themed event. Have different categories to enter such as "best DIY costume,” "best pet costume,” or “most creative group costume," and give the winners a small prize. Charge an admission fee or sell tickets for food, drinks, and activities like face painting or a haunted maze.
5. Apple Picking & Cider Tasting
A fun fall theme would be to organize an apple-picking event at a local orchard. Pair this with a cider-tasting station, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Collaborate with local businesses to sell apple-baked sweet treats.
6. Fall Movie Night Under the Stars
See if your local Parks and Recreation Association would allow you to transform part of the park into an open-air theater. Show classic fall movies like Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown. Provide cozy seating with hay bales or blankets, and offer popcorn, cider, and s’mores kits for sale. Charge a small admission fee, and encourage guests to bring their own lawn chairs to keep costs down.
7. Corn Maze Challenge
Hosting an event at a local farm with corn maze⎯if you have access to one, is a great way to entertain a large crowd. Create a fun challenge by timing participants and awarding prizes to those who complete the corn maze the fastest. For added fun, have a scavenger hunt within the maze to make the experience even more interactive. Offer ticket sales as individual or as a group discount to appeal to people to bring friends and family.
8. Chili Cook-Off
Bring warmth and flavor to your fundraiser with a chili cook-off. Recruit local chefs, restaurants, or amateur cooks to enter their recipes into a competition, and charge guests an entry fee to taste and vote for their favorites. You can also sell bowls of chili or cornbread as additional sources of revenue. Plus the cozy, family-style atmosphere makes it a perfect fall event.
9. Haunted House Experience
Give your fall fundraiser a spooky twist by transforming a local venue into a haunted house! You can sell tickets online or at the door with an option for attendees to purchase “fast passes” for those who want to skip the line. This is a fun event for everyone and you can also be creative with donor engagement. You could have a “Donor Lounge” where top supporters can take a break from the scares and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks in a cozy, exclusive space.
10. Scarecrow Decorating Contest
This fun and easy fundraiser is all about creativity: participants build their own scarecrows using provided materials or items from home. Once complete, the scarecrows are put on display for a festive community showcase. Schools can join in as part of a classroom project, and local businesses might get involved by sponsoring a scarecrow—adding an opportunity for branding.
11. Fall Wreath Making
Get creative with your fundraiser by hosting an autumn wreath workshop. Invite participants to craft their own fall-themed wreaths using seasonal materials like dried leaves, pinecones, mini pumpkins, and ribbon. You can charge a registration fee that covers supplies, offer light refreshments, and even bring in a local florist or crafter to lead the session. It’s a great way to bring the community together, celebrate the season, and raise funds, all while attendees go home with a beautiful handmade decoration.
12. Pumpkin Paint & Sip
Guests can enjoy a relaxed evening of painting pumpkins while sipping on cider, wine, or seasonal mocktails. Provide mini pumpkins and all the decorating supplies—paints, brushes, glitter, stencils, and more. Charge an entry fee that covers materials and refreshments, and consider offering a VIP ticket that includes an extra drink. This would also be a great event to host a mini live auction and auction off amazing experiences and luxury travel packages.
Hosting A Successful Fall Fundraiser
With the right theme, your fall fundraiser will draw a crowd, generate excitement, and help you reach your fundraising goals. Pick the one that fits your mission best, add a personal touch, and get ready to make this fall your most successful season yet!
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