Events All Year Round: 20 Ideas to Get You Through the Seasons

Making sure your event programme is full year-round can be challenging, but if you want to spread the joy (and income) throughout the year, it’s worth planning your events to cover the full twelve months.

When we think of seasonal event, we instantly jump to Christmas and all the opportunities this presents in terms of event ideas, or summer with outdoor festivals and long lazy days in the sun. But we shouldn’t discount the other seasons of the year, there is potential in all of them to organise fantastic events that will keep your audience coming back for more. 

Summer

Summer is the first season that springs to mind when you think about outdoor events, so if you have a great open-air venue or want to organise a fun day for your community, here are some ideas of events you could run.

Family fun day with inflatables

Hosting a Family Fun Day with inflatables is a fantastic way to bring families together for a day of excitement, laughter, and memorable experiences. Why not create a separate area with smaller, safer inflatables for young children and include more challenging inflatables like obstacle courses or mechanical rides for older kids and teenagers. You can set up classic carnival games like ring toss, duck pond, and bean bag toss and organize sack races, three-legged races, and tug-of-war for some friendly competition. Don’t forget your live entertainment. Hire local entertainers such as magicians, clowns, or musicians to perform throughout the day and have face painting booths and balloon artists to add more fun.

Open air cinemas/theatres

There is nothing more fun than watching your favourite film under the stars with your friends. Open air cinemas and theatres are a great crowd pleaser. Why not arrange for food trucks or stalls offering a variety of snacks and meals, such as hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and ice cream or encourage your guests to bring a picnic whilst they relax and enjoy the show.

Music festival

A classic in British culture, music festivals don’t have to be as big as Glastonbury to be an attraction or popular. You can hire a small stage and get local bands to play on the village green, or if you have the budget and feel up for the challenge, you can have the full festival experience.

Street Fair

Everyone loves food. You could organise a street fair, with food stalls, a small live music stage and a bar. Add in some classic cars and bikes and you’ve got yourself a low effort, fun event for the community to enjoy. Want to make it a bit bigger? Grow your offering of food and have a larger stage to host tribute acts and let the music run all day long.

Talent show

A classic in the school years, but why not organise a community wide talent show and revel in the delights of other people’s talents. You never know what your neighbour, friend or baker can do. 

Autumn

Pumpkin festival

It’s a classic in autumn, but with “fall” becoming more and more popular, lean into the seasonal activities and bring the people what they want. A pumpkin festival is a great way to involve the local community, have some family fun and feel the cozy vibes of autumn. 

Scarecrow festival

Another classic and very popular with families and young children alike, but also with the wider community. Organise it throughout town for the month or have a one-day extravaganza with apple bobbing, cider making, wreath workshops etc to make it a whole day of autumn fun.

Oktoberfest

The association between autumn and Oktoberfest is a good one and one to be capitalised on. Embrace the German tradition and have your own beer and music filled evening.

Harvest Festival

In line with the scarecrow festival and pumpkin festival, this is a great autumn idea that will have your guests wondering when your next event is. Join forces with the food bank, the church and other community groups to celebrate harvest and all things food.

Halloween festival

With the day of the dead celebrations and Halloween there is plenty to keep you inspired during for the event of October events. Lean into traditions or bring a fresh new approach to entice your guests into the frightfully good time. 

Winter

Winter wonderland

Think Hyde Park, but on a smaller scale. Everyone loves a festive event, and winter wonderlands are as popular as ever with people choosing to spend their money on experiences. Get a funfair in, some craft stalls, maybe even a ice rink and you have festive fun at your fingertips.

Light trail/show

These are increasingly popular and a great use of it getting dark earlier on. Whether you organise a trail through a town centre, or round a manor house, you’re guaranteed to pull in the crowds to delight in festive fun. Sell some mulled wine and hot chocolate to bring in some extra cash too.

Christmas market

Who else leaves their shopping to the last minute? Christmas markets are a great way to get that last minute gift for the awkward person in the family. Organise a Christmas market, either a one off or throughout November and December. Add in a small stage, some festive music or choirs and you have yourself a great event that is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Carol Concert

These don’t have to take place in a church, carol concerts can be great around the town Christmas tree, in the local park or at a larger venue. You can get performers of traditional carols or modern takes on them. Your audience will be delighted to participate.

Santa’s grotto

As a standalone event or as part of a bigger event, Santa’s grottos are as popular as ever with families. Get a catering in, some kids craft activities and watch the crowds pour in. 

Spring

Easter celebration

Lean into the religious celebration and organise a fun filled easter celebration, with bunny trails, egg hunts, appearance by the bunny itself. The weather can be unpredictable in Spring but the opportunity is there to organise a great event to continue your all year round programme.

Garden party

Another lovely idea for a community event, a garden party. With traditional games, croquet, picnic tables and food stalls, invite your community to join in the fun. Add a face painter or balloon artist for the kids and you have a lovely spring event.

Charity concert

Charity concerts bring people out in droves and gives the opportunity to bring the community together for a good cause. You can pick a local charity or one close to your heart, then choose your stage and performers for a lovely daytime event.

Spring Craft Fair

A Christmas market but make it spring themed. Most stall holders will have products for the year round, add a small stage for some background music, to add to the atmosphere and enjoy this new season which breathes life into the world after winter.

Fun run

If you’re looking for something more active, there’s nothing better than a fun run. Organise one around your venue or through the town, invite people to sign up and run for their chosen charity, or just for fun. Have an adults and kids race, and make sure there is entertainment for the celebration afterwards, Zumba taster, yoga to stretch or you could even make it into a tough mudder.