What makes a great Summer fate/fayre?

[SantanaBinLorry]

I've come up with a brilliant/stupid idea (delete as you think/read on )

For background...
Money is tight this summer so we're thinking of a few inexpensive thing to do with the kids 11 & 14.
They spent most of their childhood in Spain so have never really experienced the Summer Fate and all its kitch British-ness.
We often talk about some some cultural things they have missed.I know for a fact my kids have never wellie wanged for example! (My youngest didnt know fudge had a name and called it creamy cubes of caramel )
They are the kinda kids who would enjoy a silly little project like this - if I plan it out well enough to begin with. The eldest would probably do a vlog

So, the idea...
We live in N'Wales with loads of little villages/town in a 10/15 mile radius.
I'd like us to go to as many Summer fates as we can over the summer and judge them. I reckon we could hit 3 a weekend easy. Creating categories... something like - Best venue, field, tent, stage
Best Competion/Show, (dog show / giant veg etc)
Best food stalls,
Best scone,
Best Free Pimms etc

Any ideas for categories for judging, or things spotted to maybe score extra points.??? Putting together a score card?

Double points for any Mumsnetter who would like to throw their local fate into the hat for judging. 10/15 mile radius of LL11

You don't think they might be bored, going to 3 per weekend? It sounds slightly repetitive.
I would prefer to go to fewer and just enjoy them for what they are, rather than obsessively scoring each one. Yes, some are better than others.
By the way, it's "fete", not fate.

They might get bored. We can just go home!
Just thinking of ways to get us out the house for an hour or so that won't break the bank.

I looked at 'fate' about 4 times and knew it was wrong 🫣 but my brain wouldn't engage!

Not sure why all my grins are changing to gins 🤷

Well if it was here, rural Scotland, most children sections are entires on the day.

So check the schedules and have fun creating vegetable animals, gardens in a teacup and rock buns.

So a category for most prizes won over the summer?

Borrow a dog and enter it if you don't own one?

Best main ring entertainment. Again we have had everything from human dog agility, tractor pulling and fire engines putting out a car.

There is often childrens sports, again enter on the day.

Best freebie? Often stalls have samples, key rings, torches etc.

Sounds fun to me, it's what you make it.

Enjoy

You won't be getting free pimps!! Ime summer fetes are not a cheap day out.

Pimms!

11 and 14, I'm still thinking but if we are talking little tiny shows like here I bet they could get a slot helping at them and free entry or lunch in exchange.....we are always desperate for helpers.

Again a great way to see the show from both sides and to keep costs down.

A fete is usually a whole day thing - or at least, they're usually on at the same time. Plus they're not exactly cheap...the stalls are there to make as much money as possible, either for the stall holders or for the charities they're raising funds for.

Ideas for best of...best weather (obviously!), best outfit (seen on the other people attending), best car seen in the car park, best freebie they can blag, best conversation overheard, best photo taken on the day by them, best food - that kind of thing?

Summer Fete's defo cheaper than Go Ape! etc
Bit of petrol money, take a picnic, buy a cake/cuppa and the kids have their own pocket money to spend on tat.

Extra points awarded for free booze 😂

I LOVE the idea if borrowing a dog.
One kid loves to help so we could pimp him out 😛

Will check schedule/listing before we set off.

I'm hoping to spot at least two donkies and some birds of prey.

You may have missed most of the summer fetes.
Round here they are all held in June.
I agree it's a fun thing to do, but maybe not one a week.

A band!
Book your local community brass band for it

I’d go with something like

Hot food rating
ice cream queue length
Hollywood Handshake Cakes Rating
Weirdest stall
Extra ten points for Morris dancers / donkey / axe juggling
Stuck in the 50’s rating (eg our local fete has a baking entry specifically for “the man of the house” )
Heat Exhaustion on scale 1-10

it sounds fun!

Oh and booze bottle tombola cost!

Some great ideas here. Exactly what I was after.

Love -
Best Outfit
Best car in car park
Best overheard conversation 😂

I'm throwing in -
Best hat and photo to match.
Bonus points if you can get the best hat wearer to let you wear the hat for a photo 😲😁
(I used to do this when raving back in the day!)

Keep en coming!

Best bit of tat on the White Elephant stall?

Best Tat 👍

Will have to explain what White Elephant stall is 😂
Youngest will defo be expecting a white elephant!

I always found fates expensive.