This Country theme article forms part of series that explores different themes. This series is designed to save organisers of fundraising events from having to reinvent the wheel all of the time – our primary focus here at the Fundraising Directory! You can see other themes here.
Whether you’re having a fete, a fair or a bush dance, choosing a country theme makes it super easy to keep your event family friendly and fun.
See all things Country on our Pinterest Board.
Invitations
Cow print, cowboy boots and hay bales all feature prominently on invitations. There are many sites that you can download invitation templates from (and sometimes even for free!).
There are also sites that have ‘western’ or ‘country’ style fonts available for download as well. If you’re creating your own design, programs like Canva can be really helpful and are easy to use.
Decorations
Did you know that you can buy ‘country’ themed shower curtains?! Neither did I! but these would make a great entry, backdrop for a photo booth or can just add to the atmosphere.
- Hay bales are a MUST! There are heaps of ways you can use these to decorate and they will also double as some extra seating.
- Timber logs can be used as seating as well.
- Anyone got an old wagon wheel (not the chocolate kind!) lying around? You might be able to pick up a second hand one on eBay or gumtree.
- Same with old cowboy boots. Check out second hand stores.
- Got an outdoor event? How about some easy hula hoop chandeliers using fairy lights?
- You can make your own rope letters with glue, corn flour, water and some rope. This can get a bit messy but will look great. Use coloured rope for more stand out signage.
- Bandanas can be used for table decorations or you can tie them together to make bunting.
- Cow print balloons
- A saddle on a hay bale can look great
Costumes
This would probably be one of the easiest themes to put costumes together for! Cowboy hat, check shirt, bandana, jeans and cowboy boots (if you’ve got them) and you’re done. But if you want to get a bit more creative than that, here’s a few ideas:
- Bush ranger
- Lumber jack
- Shearer
- Farmer
- Scarecrow
- Cow, horse or any kind of farm animal
- Gold miner
- Saloon girl
- Saloon bar tender
- Woody and Jessie from Toy Story
- A cactus
- A chili pepper
- Rodeo clown
And if you think you will have people that show up with no costume, set up a ‘costume bar’ with some straw cowboy hats from a cheap shop and some bandanas.
Filler games
- Country Karaoke
- Sack race
- Hobby horse race / steeple chase
- Ring toss – Paint your bottles black and white cow style or throw rings on a cactus cut out.
- DIY a basic wooden horse to use for a lasso game
- Source some old horse shoes and set up a game of ‘horse shoes’
- Tin can toss
- Snake in the hole – cut holes in a piece of cardboard or ply. The idea is the get a rubber snake in the hole. Each hole is worth different points and the most points wins.
Catering
- Hot dogs and fries (with the option of cheesy fries)
- Hamburgers
- Ice tea and home made lemonade in big glass drink dispensers with taps
- Scones with jam and cream
- Lamingtons
- Candy bar
- Chili bar
- Corn on the cob
- Get your slow cookers out and make some pulled pork sliders
- Don’t forget a side of ‘slaw and some baked potatoes
- Create and name your own country themed cocktail
Music/Entertainment
- You can adapt the teacher in jail fundraiser to suit your event and make some extra cash while you’re at it!
- There are a whole range of different styles of photo booths you can set up. The easiest version only involves purchasing some props. These can be bought online or if you’ve got someone creative in your team, maybe they could make one for you. Make it an ‘old time’ photo booth and have the photos produced with a sepia filter to make them look old.
- Bush band. They are surprisingly popular so you might need to book them early.
- Cake competition. Nominate a few different categories eg. Fruit cake, lamingtons, scones, mud cake, apple pie etc … Your judges can pick the best (and/or worst?) in each category.
- Mini side show alley – laughing clowns, face painting, animal farm, craft making, maybe even a dunk tank if you can find a willing volunteer!
- Chilli cook off
- Fire pit (if appropriate) with ingredients for making s’mores
So round your community up and get them along to your hoe-down for a bucking good time!
