Church Fall Festival Ideas: 30 Booths, Games, and a Simple Plan
A church fall festival is an autumn ward or stake activity with game booths, food, and seasonal fun for families. For wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is a great alternative or add-on to a trunk or treat and an easy way to welcome neighbors. Here are 30 booth ideas, a layout, and planning tips.
Thirty booth ideas come first, then a layout and the recruiting plan. The bad-weather plan and budget table at the end are the parts most wards wish they had written down earlier.
What is a church fall festival?
A fall festival (sometimes called a harvest festival) is a carnival-style event with booths run by ward families, organizations, or youth. Typical festivals include games, crafts, a food area, and sometimes a hayride or pumpkin patch. Many wards hold one in the cultural hall and parking lot in October.
The General Handbook lists "celebrations of special occasions, such as holidays" and "cultural arts" among good activities, and asks planners to "reach out to all, especially new members, less-active members, youth, single adults, those with disabilities, and people of other faiths" (General Handbook chapter 20).
What booths should a church fall festival have? (30 ideas)
Classic games
- Pumpkin ring toss. Glow-stick rings over small pumpkins.
- Bean bag toss. A painted board with harvest designs.
- Duck pond. Rubber ducks in a kiddie pool with numbers on the bottom.
- Fishing booth. A sheet hung over a doorway; helpers clip a treat to the line.
- Cake walk. Numbered squares and donated baked goods.
- Bowling with pumpkins. Small pumpkins and plastic pins.
- Ping-pong ball toss into cups.
- Can knockdown. Stack tin cans; throw soft balls.
- Balloon darts alternative. Velcro balls on a felt board (safer for little ones).
- Mini golf hole made from cardboard and pool noodles.
Crafts and creative booths
- Pumpkin painting.
- Leaf rubbing art.
- Face painting (simple designs; check for allergies).
- Pinecone bird feeders.
- Scarecrow building with old clothes and straw.
- Gratitude tree. Kids write something they are grateful for on paper leaves.
- Fall photo booth with hay bales and a frame.
- Cookie decorating.
Active and outdoor booths
- Hay bale maze (low, with clear sightlines).
- Sack races.
- Three-legged races.
- Corn hole tournament.
- Obstacle course.
- Hayride (only with a safe, legal trailer setup and adult driver; see safety below).
Food booths
- Chili or soup kitchen. Pair with our ward chili cook-off guide.
- Apple cider and donuts.
- Caramel apple station (with allergy labels).
- Popcorn machine.
- S'mores station (if fire is permitted and supervised).
- Pie table.
How do you plan a church fall festival?
- Get approval. Work through the ward council (or stake council for a stake festival) and reserve the building and grounds.
- Choose a date and time. Avoid Sundays and Monday evenings. A weekday evening or Saturday afternoon works well.
- Assign booths. Give each organization, class, or family one booth. Youth classes and quorums can run active booths.
- Map the layout. Put the food area in the center, quiet crafts on one side, and active games on the other.
- Decide on a ticket system or free play. Most wards keep everything free. If you use tickets, they are just for flow, not money.
- Plan food and allergy labels.
- Plan safety. First-aid station, lost-child spot, and clear rules for any hayride or fire.
- Invite the community. Flyers and personal invitations from members.
- Open with prayer, enjoy, then clean up together.
Sample fall festival layout
| Zone | Booths | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Greeters, map, guest sign-in | Main entrance |
| Food | Chili, cider, popcorn | Cultural hall center |
| Little kids | Duck pond, face painting, crafts | Primary room or hall corner |
| Games | Ring toss, bean bag, cake walk | Cultural hall perimeter |
| Active | Sack races, corn hole, maze | Lawn or closed-off parking lot |
| Hayride | Loading area | Separate, roped off |
Can a fall festival be a fundraiser?
Only in limited cases. The General Handbook says a bishop or stake president "may authorize one fundraising event each year" to help pay for annual youth camps or camp equipment. It should "provide a meaningful value or service," contributions must be voluntary, and examples of fundraisers that are not approved include "games of chance, such as raffles, lotteries, and bingo" and "activities that are unsafe" (General Handbook 20.6.5). Keep raffles out of your festival, and keep most festivals free.
What safety tips matter for a fall festival?
- Hayrides. Use a safe trailer with rails, a responsible licensed adult driver, slow speeds, and no riders on the edges. This is the highest-risk booth; consider written parent permission for youth riders and check local rules.
- Fire. Only use fire pits where allowed, with adults supervising and water nearby.
- Lost children. Set a meeting spot and announce it at the start.
- Food allergies. Label everything.
- Supervision. At least two adults must be present at activities with children and youth.
- Parking lot. Close off any area where children play.
The General Handbook says leaders should "carefully assess activities to ensure minimal risk of injury or illness" (General Handbook 20.7.6).
If you add a hayride, corn maze trip, or other higher-risk element, you can text parents one Ward Waivers link. They read the details and sign on their phone, and you see who still needs to sign. It does not replace any official form your bishop or stake president asks you to use. Set up your activity. See our Forms & Safety hub.
Fall festival vs. trunk or treat
| Fall festival | Trunk or treat | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Booths, half day | Cars, under an hour |
| Best for | Larger wards or stakes | Any ward |
| Age range | All ages | Mostly young children |
| Combine? | Yes, many wards do both | See church trunk or treat ideas |
How do you recruit enough booth volunteers?
Booths are only as good as the people running them. Start recruiting three to four weeks out, and make the ask specific: "Can your family run the duck pond from 6:00 to 7:00?" is easier to say yes to than "Can you help at the festival?" A few tips:
- Assign booths to organizations. Each Young Women class, Aaronic Priesthood quorum, and the elders quorum and Relief Society can take one or two booths.
- Use shifts. Thirty- or sixty-minute shifts let volunteers enjoy the festival with their own families.
- Prepare booth kits. Put supplies, a sign, and simple instructions in a labeled box for each booth.
- Name a festival lead who floats between booths, restocks supplies, and handles questions.
- Thank volunteers publicly at the end and with a quick note afterward.
What is the bad-weather plan for a fall festival?
- Pick an indoor layout now. Most booths fit in the cultural hall and classrooms: one booth per classroom, games in the gym, food in the kitchen.
- Drop outdoor-only booths. Hayrides and pumpkin rolling go; replace them with a costume parade and a cake walk.
- Set a call time. Decide by noon and send one ward text.
- Cold evening. Add a hot cocoa table at the door and move the line inside.
What does a church fall festival cost?
All figures are estimates for about 150 people in the United States.
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Booth supplies (10 booths) | $80 to $200 |
| Small prizes and candy | $60 to $150 |
| Food (chili or hot dogs, if ward-provided) | $150 to $350 |
| Decorations (hay bales, pumpkins) | $40 to $120 |
| Hayride trailer (if a member does not have one) | Often borrowed; check insurance and local rules |
Printable booth host checklist
- ☐ Booth sign and simple rules
- ☐ Supplies and prizes
- ☐ Two adults if children or youth run the booth
- ☐ Allergy labels on any food
- ☐ Trash bag
- ☐ Stay until cleanup
Frequently asked questions
What are good church fall festival ideas?
Popular booths include pumpkin ring toss, a duck pond, a cake walk, pumpkin painting, a photo booth, sack races, corn hole, and a chili or soup kitchen.
Can a church fall festival include raffles?
No. The General Handbook lists raffles, lotteries, and bingo as examples of fundraising activities that are not approved.
Should a ward fall festival charge admission?
Most wards keep festivals free. Members should not usually pay to participate in activities, and a ward may hold only one approved fundraiser a year for specific purposes.
How long should a church fall festival last?
Two to three hours is typical, with an hour of setup and an hour of cleanup.
Is a hayride safe for a church festival?
It can be, with a proper trailer, a responsible licensed adult driver, slow speeds, and clear rules. It is the highest-risk part of most festivals, so plan carefully.
What is the difference between a fall festival and a trunk or treat?
A fall festival uses booths and games, often indoors and out, while a trunk or treat uses decorated cars in a parking lot. Many wards combine them.
Ward Waivers is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These resources provide general organizational information, not legal advice. Follow current Church guidance, local leader direction, and any required official forms.