I am planning a client/employee appreciation cook-out for October. Would like some fun ideas?
April 8, 2010 by
Filed under business group activities
Let me give you some details. My business consists of rental properties to wholesalers. A 140 properties with perhaps 300 attending this event/cook-out. I want to acknowledge my appreciation to them by providing an afternoon of fun and good food. Steaks on the grill, baked potato, the works on the meal…
I want a sorta “Fall Festival” type atmosphere. It will be casual. On a Sunday afternoon between 4 and 6 is the time frame, but may go longer. October weather is mild and still fairly warm here.
I was thinking a “dunk tank” would be fun? With ME (aka Boss) in the tank? But now I am at a loss of what else to do! I want this to be all about THEM having fun! The age group will vary from teen to elderly so I need appropriate activities. Expense is not a problem for these great people. I don’t need party planners or web sites. I would prefer good ideas from working minds.
10 points for your best idea!
You are giving me some great answers, thanks. Yes this is an outdoor event (steaks on the grill) plenty of room (7 acre field with duck pond) for whatever you can think of. The “dunk tank” stays!
There will be a variety of music.
I liked the hay ride idea. Just might do that one!
Well at ours we play bingo for prizes, after you bingo you can’t play anymore to give others a chance….and heck who doesn’t like bingo? It’s always fun.
You are never to old to rent a moonwalk!!! Also, it would be super fun to have a “field day” type event, like we used to do in our early school years. Potato Sack race, egg in spoon race, bobbing for apples, kick ball, dodge ball…. split everyone into teams!!! I wish my employer would do something FUN like that!
& Bingo would be great for those less active employees!
Karaoke. Might cost but could be a real hoot.
Speaking from experience, let me first advise you NOT to do a Dunk Tank. It is one of those things that always sounds like a great idea, but it goes over like a ton of bricks. That’s just the way it is. I would also suggest having a DJ if you haven’t already thought of that.
Now, I am a former picnic event planner, BUT I did read your entire question, so I’m not going to speak in generalities any more. Let me give you some specific ideas:
In keeping with a “Fall Festival” theme, try doing a hey ride if you’ve got the land to do it. I know they normally are more effective at night, but as long as the weather isn’t too warm or humid, it will still be a blast.
I remember one thing I did once that was just great. I went to a kind of museum (more of an outdoor farming experience), and they brought volunteers up from the audience show who had never milked cows to give it a shot. Having never done that, I thought it was an absolute blast. Try doing something with that, like maybe a milking contest. Really, anything dealing with farm animals would fit into a “fall festival” atmosphere, like maybe a piglet chase with a sizeable gift certificate awaiting the winner.
Having no idea where you live, if there is some kind of popular rural music in your area (bluegrass, appalachian, etc), why not have a decent local band (or maybe even a regionally popular one) come play at your event.
Since you already know that food is a big winner, you could put together a kind of “goodie-bag” for your guests, that could start with some homemade molasass, or other country-style homemade delectables that people could possibly buy in a store but would appreciate in a more rural environment.
Hope at least one of those spark a good idea.
A Country Western theme is great all year round. How about an old fashion picnic: barrel race, three legged race, egg or water balloon toss, checkers, croquet, yard darts, scavenger hunt, Pony and Hay rides give everyone that physical attraction of the country environment. Tables could be covered in red and white table covering . Guests can be bucked off a mechanical bull, throw horseshoes, wear country western outfits, line dance and just clown around.