How To: Host a community event

A public community event is the next step up from a street party.

An event, such as a market day, concert or fete, is a great way to bring the wider community together and help develop some atmosphere and sense of belonging for people in your local area. It can also be a great way to raise funds for local causes.

But putting on such an event is a significant commitment and requires some planning. Don’t let that put you off, just get a team together and share the load!

• Decide your target audience: neighbourhood, suburb, something bigger?
• Set a date and time, being aware of other events on the local calendar to avoid clashes
• Establish a budget based on the concept. Do you need sponsorship, council support?
• Prepare an event planning list for tasks to be distributed
• Contact the local council to find out if you need approvals, any paperwork etc
• Work out what equipment you will need and do some research on costs
• Consider how to promote the event: posters, flyers, social media posts, signs. Promotion may need to begin 2-3 weeks before the event
• Have a list of contacts to have on hand on the day, i.e. suppliers, stall holders, event team members, emergency contacts
• Prepare a run sheet with details of proceedings on the day. Include a set-up and pack-down schedule so your team knows who is responsible for what
• Have a get-together with your team to debrief after the event. Discuss what worked and what you can do better next time