Planning a community festival takes a lot of work, but choosing a fun theme can get everyone excited about the event. The theme ties all the activities together and gives attendees a sense of what to expect. Consider these five fun theme ideas to liven up your next community festival:
1. Western Theme
Bring the Wild West to your neighborhood with a Western festival theme. Decorate the area with wooden fences, hay bales, and cowboy hats. You can rent a mechanical bull for daring riders to test their skills. Have a best-dressed cowboy/cowgirl contest along with square dancing and line dancing lessons. Set up horseshoe and lasso contests for a chance to win prizes. Offer cowboy grub like chili, barbecue brisket sandwiches, baked beans, and cornbread. This theme is sure to get the community rallied up for some boot-stomping fun.
2. Carnival Theme
Transport attendees to the colorful world of carnivals with this classic festival theme. Set up game booths like ring tosses, balloon darts, and milk bottle pyramids that offer tickets as prizes. People can turn in their tickets to claim fun prizes. Have face painting, fortune tellers and magicians roaming around too. Sell classic carnival foods like popcorn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, and snow cones. You can even rent a pirate ship ride or a few small rollercoasters for thrill seekers. The carnival atmosphere will delight people of all ages.
3. Decades Theme
Take a trip back in time with a decades-long festival theme. Pick a different decade to highlight each year like the 60s, 70s, or 80s. Decorate accordingly with pop culture icons and trends from that era. Have a best-dressed contest for people who dress up in period-appropriate attire. Set up games and activities popular in that decade like hula hoop contests or pop culture trivia. Play hit music from those years over loudspeakers. Offer throwback treats like banana splits, root beer floats, and TV dinners. This theme is flexible and gives the community a chance to reminisce over days gone by.
4. Hawaiian Luau Theme
Escape to a tropical paradise without leaving town by hosting a Hawaiian luau festival. Decorate with tiki torches, leis, hula skirts, and surfboards to set the island vibe. Have a limbo contest and give hula dancing lessons. Set up Hawaiian-themed activities like coconut bowling or pineapple spear tossing. Hold a contest for the best Hawaiian shirt too. Serve luau staples like kalua pork, pineapple bowls, poke, and tropical fruit kabobs. The Hawaiian music and warm atmosphere are sure to transport attendees to the islands.
5. Mardi Gras Theme
Let the good times roll with a Mardi Gras-themed festival. Decorate the grounds with purple, gold, and green streamers and masks. Have jazz bands play lively music all day. Set up Cajun food vendors to serve up jambalaya, etouffee, po’boys, and beignets. Host a parade with floats decked out by local community groups throwing beads and doubloons to the crowds. Make sure to hold the best mask contest so people can show off their creativity and costumes. The festive Mardi Gras vibe will have everyone celebrating together.
The theme possibilities are endless when planning your community festival. Get creative and choose something that fits the personality of your town. Whichever theme you pick, the most important part is having fun activities that bring people together.