Need event ideas for your martial arts school, gym, community group, or another organization? With autumn approaching, you’ll have lots of opportunities to plan around seasonal delights. So be ready to pull up your schedules and start filling out your calendars.
1. Back to School/Autumn Pancake Breakfast
Celebrate the turn of the season with a themed breakfast! Use it to commemorate the start of school or the beginning of autumn. Pick your favorite breakfast place in town, or make it special with an apple pancake or pumpkin pancake recipe that you can share with your attendees later. Martial arts schools or gyms: use this fall breakfast as a way to engage prospects.
2. Costume Contest
Dress up at your office, school, team, exercise class, or classroom Halloween party. If you’re a coach or martial arts instructor, have fun with your students by creating a contest that is sport specific. Create a giveaway prize with a Halloween trick or treat bag with items that your group will enjoy.
3. Pumpkin Carving Party with Contest & Prizes
Get in this family-friendly activity by using a twist: pick categories for your pumpkin contest, like the funniest, most creative, and most unexpected. Winner gets a gift card to Amazon or a favorite local restaurant. Make sure you take lots of photos to post to Facebook and Instagram to engage your online community.
4. Fall Bike Tours
Get a group together for a fun time on two wheels as the weather begins to cool. Explore the earthy, changing colors of the trees for a weekend camping trip or day trip. If you want to accommodate all levels of cyclists, try enjoying a rail trail.
5. Astronomy Night
Make this an educational after-school event for a student science club, field trip, or as a way to build community in your young athletes. Visit an observatory, planetarium, or go outside with chairs, blankets, and a campfire. If it’s local to your location, plan a walk or jog to the destination.
6. National School Success Month
Host a seminar series for students and/or parents on good academic habits. This is a great opportunity for coaches and martial arts school owners to talk about how students can use the discipline that they learn in their sport to excel in the classroom. Offer study time, tutoring, or a way to connect students with peer study groups.
7. Museum Field Trip
Local or big city museums, in addition to their usual exhibits, usually have seasonal or special exhibits. While art museums are popular, science museums are great for kids who want a more tactile, interactive experience.
8. Ultimate Frisbee Game
Get everyone outside with an adult office league or a team at your gym. Being outside is not only fun, but it significantly impacts the way you decompress.
9. Themed Paint Nights
Create a fall or Halloween-themed paint night for kids, adults, or both. Make it fun for kids with finger painting or adult-friendly with drinks.
10. Bonfires/Seasonal Cookout
Have your group submit their favorite seasonal recipes anonymously and have everyone pick their top five favorite. Majority says what will go on the fire.
11. Plan A Farm Visit: Pumpkin patch, hot cider, hay rides
Cliché but a classic. And hot cider always tastes better in season.
12. Haunted House Visit
Get spooky with a haunted house or trail. Expert tip: make group t-shirts so you can keep track of your group.
Author: Jenn Miller, Marketing Specialist