A bonfire night is a proven fundraiser format for schools, church youth groups, scout troops, and community organizations because it combines a low cost venue (an outdoor fire, folding chairs, and a sound system) with a genuinely fun evening that families want to attend. The event itself raises money through tickets, food sales, and a silent auction or raffle. Adding a branded shirt table is the easiest way to add a second revenue stream without adding much to the planning list. Here is how to plan the games and food side, plus where a shirt table fits.
For organizers: extra firewood, folding chairs or blankets for seating, a portable sound system for announcements, and enough volunteers staffing the food, game, and shirt tables at the same time. For attendees: layered clothing for a temperature drop after dark, cash or a phone for contactless payment at the shirt and food tables, and a blanket for ground seating. Building the packing list into the event flyer cuts down on last minute questions from families.
A shirt table works best placed near the entrance or the food line, where every attendee passes it at least once. Unlike the food and game budget lines, a shirt table with no minimum order carries no leftover inventory risk, a group can display a sample of each size and color and let a Bear Grips Pro Shop at shops.beargrips.com/for/pta-fundraiser handle the actual print and ship after the event, rather than pre-ordering a guessed quantity. See the shirt design ideas guide for what to put on the design itself.
Groups that turn a single bonfire night into an annual gala tradition see the shirt table compound over time, last year's design becomes a recognizable in group signal, and new attendees ask about it before the event even starts. Keeping the shop open year round rather than closing it after the event means the design keeps earning between bonfire nights, not just on the one evening it launched. See more creative fundraiser ideas for pairing a bonfire night with other formats through the year.
No pre order guessing, no leftover inventory. Display samples at the event, let supporters order their size after.
Start FreeA simple s'mores bar or hot cocoa station runs low per person cost compared to a full meal, which is part of why bonfire nights are a popular lower cost fundraiser format.
No. Display samples at the event and let attendees order their own size and color from the shop afterward, which avoids guessing on inventory.
Most bonfire nights build in a rain date or a covered pavilion backup. The shirt shop stays open regardless of weather since it does not depend on the physical event date.
Yes, or a group can add a new year or date to the same design. Either way, there is no minimum order or setup fee to update it.
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