School Christmas Fair - ideas!

[SimplyPut]

DC's school have a meeting on Monday for Christmas fair ideas... I can't think of any .

Help me oh wise mumsnetters... or I may turn to the !

Another vote for pin the nose on Rudolph or Santa - I've seen one where each area of the board apart from the winning spot means they get a small sweet, so they always win a tiny something.

I've also seen a Christmas-themed "Let it snow" game: the player spoons cotton wool balls from one bowl to another; tricky because you're blindfolded! If you get enough in the second bowl in thirty seconds, you win a prize. Afterwards, the balls you did get are poured into a big festive display to look like snow, so each time someone plays, they're contributing to the snow.

We do a Christmas present wrapping room. Kids donate an adult present (normally deodorant set etc) and the kids can buy a present for their mum/dad for £2 which is then wrapped up for them.

We also do a jar tombola (all kids fill up an empty jam jar with sweets, Lego or other small prizes) and you pay ) a pound for a raffle tickets. Those ending in 5 or 0 are a winner.

We also do a wine and chocolate tombola that works the same way and they are our biggest money earners.

Our school had the present shopping for parents room too. DCs apply in advance (so there’s enough presents) and between donations and some shopping, there’s a range of things available to choose. Some “stock” kept boxed for later in the day so reasonable choice no matter when DCs visit. 6th class “Elves” help smaller DCs to choose and wrap/label, and pop into a paper bag to bring home - many surprises are not a surprise we’ll before leaving school!

Elves also on duty to help with Santa grotto.

School “cafe” using staff room (for kettles, microwave, sink) always busy - parents of a designated class in charge (rota basis across the fairs - 2 per year) and it needs a couple of large quiche and a batch of soup, as well as scones, buns, tea, coffee and squash. But makes loads and parents always love the chance to wander through the staff room.

Different take on “water into wine” is a wooden wheel with nuts/bolts and a plastic flipper (end of a spatula!) with each bolt numbered to 40, table numbered to 40 and a bottle on each number. You pay to spin the wheel, and get whatever bottle you land on. Liquid soap, 500ml water, fruit shoots, beer, wine, all sorts. Usually something like €1 for 1 spin, or 6 for €5. Lots of interesting games bottles get donated - I’ve seen the same paint speckled bottle of rose at least 5 fairs in a row!

I presume there’s a books and a toys/games stall, for 2nd hand items? The number of times dd has bought back items she’s donated the week before!

Student entrepreneurs stall for say 3rd class up. They stock it, at least half profits must go to a charity (specified in advance) but they get a chance to stock, set up, and sell, for themselves if they have ideas. Can be groups but not large ones, no more than maybe 4 per group and only say 2 on duty at a time. Lots of DCs want to support their friends too by buying. Only money for pta is the small rent for stall (loads less than any other paid stall you might let to parents or locals with small businesses - but they appreciate the principal) but the kids doing it learn loads!

I suppose it slightly depends whether you’re trying to just make money for PTA or build school spirit and community as well.

Our PTA sets up a bbq outside with a marquee regardless of the weather, very popular. The usual bbq fare, burgers and sausages in rolls & baps. Always sells out.

Does anyone have any ideas for oats, that aren't reindeer food? I've been given two HUGE bags of the things but am sick of the sight of bloomin' reindeer food

OATS

Tie in a muslin bag / square of muslin that has a ribbon to tie under a tap to make a soothing bath, particularly good if you have a CP outbreak.

You can also mix with yoghurt and a drop of geranium oil for a face mask.

YOu could also make flapjacks.

I was going to suggest Flapjacks too. I know there's a recipe by a MNer which is very very good. Soupdragon?

Stick a good handful in your crumble topping to make it crunchy.

Overnight oats

Or porridge

I investigated the oats further...it appears whichever generous soul donated them to my Christmas craft club, mixed glitter into them so not really good for much else :(

tactile lucky dip for small ones? It’s a shame about the glitter

At my school they have a secret present room, where the kids can go and buy a present and wrap it for parents.

Yr 6 bake small Xmas cakes and decorate and then sell them, a young entrepreneurs thing.

Food is mince pies and turkey rolls for sale.

Chocolate tombola always has the biggest queue, along with the bottles tombola.