I will be chairing our Fall Carnival this year, for the first time. I need help w/planning, games, volunteers, etc. Our school has about 560 students from pre-k to 8th grade. In previous years we have had a haunted house, but I would like to do away with it. Is there something I could have in replace of it. I'm desperate, the carnival is about six weeks away

We have a laser room for those not brave enough for the haunted house. LOL! It is really not appropriate for everyone and the Laser Room is great for smaller kids, shoot I like it myself. .25 for 5 minutes of dancing like wild people in a room full of disco lights. The kids love it.

As for planning, my suggestion is to have 1 giant committee and break that down into sub committees. Have someone be in charge of volunteers, another with the game planning, etc.

Hey cbrooks,
What kinda music do ya play in the laser room?? After the date change they pulled on me I decided to do one of them instead. I want to do a mixture dating back to the 60's of dance songs. Also do you decorate the room or just do lights.Just so you know. I ordered lots of lights and a bubble machine out of their puny budget cut. If we don't have enough prizes they can explain it cause I had all the stuff to do the haunted house. OK, I'm being bitter, but the kids were really looking forward to the haunted house. I hope I can make a laser room that is just as much fun.

There is the ever popular cake walk. You can also do a photo-op, Corn stalks and hay to sit on, where you can have someone taking pictures or BYOC.
You can do a scavenger hunt and pass out the lists at the entrance, so it's an ongoing game.

I am curious though, why do you want to eliminate the haunted house. I know that some kids may not like it but there are others whose favorite part is that. Is there specific issues that make it a bad choice?

We also have a fall festival that I have been in charge of for two years. Depending on your budget, there are great inflatable "rides" that you can rent. We have had obstacle courses, bungee runs, and a bungee bull, to name a few. We also have a petting zoo (donated by a school family), donkey rides, rock climbing wall (a favorite with the kids) and hayrides (also donated by a school family). We contact businesses associated with the school for donations to help with the cost. I hope some of this is helpful.

What is a bungee run and bungee bull. We pushed our festival back because we needed more planning. Last year we had all kind of things for the elementary kids, but nothing for the middle schoolers. (We're K-8).

Would they be something older kids would like?

We are a first year PTO & no funds right now, so we need to do very inexpensive things.