7 Ways to Improve your School Fair

School fairs are a great way to bring students, parents and the wider school community together while raising money for a good cause. But with so many school events competing for attention, it helps to give families a few reasons to stay longer and get involved.

You don’t need to completely change your school fair to make it more engaging. A good mix of food, activities, games and entertainment can make a big difference.

Here are seven ideas to help make your next school fair in Perth or Fremantle more enjoyable for students and families.

1. Run a School Raffle

A raffle is a simple way to involve parents, local businesses and the wider community.

Ask local businesses whether they would be willing to donate products, vouchers or services as prizes. You can then sell tickets before the event as well as on the day.

A raffle also gives families another reason to get involved with the school fair without adding a complicated activity to your event schedule.

2. Keep the Food Stalls Simple

Food stalls are a classic part of any school fair or fête and can be a great way to raise extra funds without overcomplicating the day. Keep the menu simple with family favourites like sausage sizzles, popcorn, fairy floss, cold drinks and baked goods, along with a coffee and cake stall for parents. Asking families to contribute homemade cakes, slices or treats can help spread the workload while getting more of the school community involved. If space allows, set up a shaded seating area nearby so parents can relax with a coffee, catch up and keep an eye on the kids enjoying the school fair activities.

3. Bring in Inflatable Entertainment

This is where you can make a school fair feel very different from a normal school day.

We provide a wide range of inflatable entertainment for school fetes, reward days, fundraising events and other school activities across Perth and WA. Options include bouncy castles, obstacle courses, water slides, sports inflatables and interactive attractions.

For younger students, a suitable bouncy castle can provide a simple activity they can enjoy during the fair. For older students, obstacle courses, interactive sports games and more challenging inflatables can add competition and movement.

If you’re planning a summer event, water attractions can also be worth considering. The right choice will depend on the age groups, available space, water and power requirements, and the type of event you’re organising.

For a school with mixed age groups, we can help you put together a combination of attractions rather than relying on one activity for everyone.

4. Organise Live Entertainment

Live entertainment can bring the school community together and give families another reason to stay longer at the fair. Set up a small performance area where school bands, choirs, dance groups or individual students can perform throughout the day.

You could also organise a talent show, teacher performance or short demonstrations from school clubs and groups. Creating a simple schedule of performances gives students a chance to showcase what they’ve been working on while adding atmosphere to the event.

Share the performance times before the fair so parents and families know when to come along and see their children perform.

5. Add a Challenge or Competition

A little friendly competition can keep students involved throughout the day.

Instead of only having traditional games, consider adding an inflatable obstacle course or interactive sports activity.

Obstacle courses are particularly useful for school events because they encourage students to move, compete and work through challenges. Our current school-event range includes obstacle courses and interactive sports attractions suitable for different types of school activities.

You could run timed challenges between classes, organise team competitions or simply allow students to have turns throughout the day.

6. Give Students Something to Look Forward To

A school fair works best when there is something that keeps students interested throughout the event.

You could combine several smaller activities with one or two larger attractions. For example:

• Inflatable obstacle course
• Jumping castle
• Interactive sports game
• Food and drink stalls
• Raffle
• Face painting
• Music
• Cake stall
• Water attraction for a summer event

You don’t necessarily need dozens of activities. It’s more important to choose options that suit your students, available space and budget.

7. Add an Educational Experience

A petting farm, animal display or educational activity can give younger children something different to explore.

If you are considering animals or reptiles, make sure the provider is suitable for a school environment and that the activity can be managed safely with the number of students attending.

The goal is to give children something they can interact with while also creating an opportunity to learn.

Planning a School Fair in Perth or Fremantle?

We work with schools across Perth and WA and can help you plan inflatable entertainment around your event. Our school-event range is designed for fetes, fundraising days, reward days and other school celebrations, with options for different age groups and event sizes.

Before booking, we recommend checking your available space, site access, power requirements and the age groups attending. Our team can also help you work through supervision and setup requirements for the equipment you choose.

If you’re planning a school fair in Perth or Fremantle, get in touch with us and tell us what you’re organising. We’ll help you work through the options that make sense for your school.

FAQs

How do I know which inflatables will suit our students?

Start with the ages or year groups attending, expected number of participants, available space and your budget. Tell us a little about your school fair and we can recommend suitable inflatable options for younger children, older students or mixed age groups.

How much space do we need for inflatables at our school?

It depends on the equipment you choose. Larger obstacle courses and slides require considerably more room than smaller inflatables, and we also need to consider safe operating space and access for setup. If you’re unsure, send us details or photos of the area you’re considering and our team can help you work out what will fit.

What access do you need to set up at our school?

We need suitable access from our delivery vehicle to the setup area. Gates, stairs, narrow pathways, slopes and long distances from parking can affect what equipment can be installed. Let us know about any access restrictions when enquiring so we can recommend suitable options.

What power do we need for inflatable hire?

Inflatables require continuous power while operating. The exact requirements depend on how many inflatables you’re hiring and the equipment selected. If suitable power isn’t available near the setup area, speak to our team about alternative options.

Do we need Monsterball staff to supervise the inflatables?

Not always. Some inflatables can be supervised by responsible school staff or volunteers, while others may require or benefit from trained Monsterball operators. We’ll advise you of the supervision requirements for the equipment you’re considering.

Can you help us choose inflatables if we have a set budget?

Yes. You don’t need to know exactly what equipment you want before contacting us. Tell us your budget, student numbers, age groups, venue and event duration, and we can help you choose a combination of inflatables that makes sense for your school fair.

Can inflatables be set up on our school oval or hard surface?

Depending on the equipment and site, inflatables may be suitable for grass or certain hard surfaces. The anchoring method and setup requirements will vary, so let us know what surface you have when requesting a quote.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of our school fair?

Weather conditions, particularly wind, can affect whether inflatable equipment can operate safely outdoors. If poor weather is forecast, contact our team so we can discuss your booking and the options available based on the conditions and equipment hired.

How far in advance should we book inflatables for a school fair?

It’s worth enquiring as early as possible, particularly for popular school-event periods and larger fairs requiring several inflatables. Booking early also gives you more time to work through equipment selection, site access, power, supervision and setup requirements.