Tips and Ideas for Successful Back-to-School Events

As the summer winds down, excitement builds for a new school year. For many, this means planning a memorable back-to-school event that brings the community together and prepares families for the upcoming year. 

So we’re offering four tips and ideas on how to create an event that sparks school spirit and gets kids ready to hit the books: 

1. Host Engaging Activities

Planning back-to-school events means creating a fun and educational environment for the entire family. So, plan a variety of activities that cater to different age groups and interests. For best results, blend learning and play:

• Book Exchange: Encourage reading by asking students to bring a book to trade with their classmates. 
• Carnival Games: Set up fun games like ring toss, bean bag toss, and duck pond. Offer small prizes for winners.
• Craft Stations: Create stations where kids can make their own back-to-school crafts, such as decorating notebooks or making bookmarks. This is a great way to introduce them to their art teachers.
• Photo Booth: Set up a themed photo booth with props and backdrops. It’s a great way for families to capture memories.
• Live Entertainment: Hire local musicians, magicians, or storytellers to perform.
• School Supply Drive: Organize a drive to collect backpacks and school supplies for students in need.
• STEM Fair: Highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math with interactive exhibits, science experiments, and robotics demonstrations.
• Teacher vs. Student Games: Host a friendly competition between teachers and students in games like volleyball, basketball, or dodgeball. Have the P.E. coaches act as officials or referees. 

2. Include Informative Sessions

School brings about new routines for both students and parents. To help prepare families for the change of pace, plan events that expose them to before-, during- and after-school activities and resources:

• Educational Workshops: Offer workshops on topics like homework tips, healthy lunches, or digital safety.
• Health Screenings: Introduce families to the school’s nursing staff and collect students’ health and emergency contact information. If possible, provide eye exams, immunizations, or checklists that help families navigate what to do if their child is sick.
• Meet the Teachers: Arrange meet-and-greet sessions with teachers and school staff.
• Resource Fair: Invite local organizations and businesses that offer tutoring or after-school programing and support to set up booths with information and resources for families.
• School and Classroom Tours: Provide grade-level tours that prepare students on how to navigate the school halls and important rooms and offices.

3. Recruit and Train Volunteers

Volunteers are essential for the smooth running of your back-to-school event. Recruit volunteers well in advance and provide them with clear instructions and training. 

Parents, teachers, teacher-assistants, and older students all make great volunteers. Assign specific and appropriate roles, and ensure they know their responsibilities on the day of the event.

4. Take Advantage of Ticketbud’s Free Ticketing Tools

Whether you’re a school administrator, PTA member, or a community leader, pinning event planning onto a long list of to-dos ahead of the school year can feel daunting. But with the right tools, planning a back-to-school event doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. 

With Ticketbud, you have access to all the tools and resources you need to create a successful and memorable school event. From seamless event creation and ticketing to robust marketing and communication tools and detailed analytics, Ticketbud covers every aspect of event management – all on a collaborative platform where others can help out. 

Start planning your back-to-school event with Ticketbud today, and make it one for the books!