Our school has had the following themes over the years: Olympics (in an Olympics year, naturally); Breakfast at Tiffany's; Roman Holiday; Midnight in Morocco; Hooray for Hollywood; Springtime in Paris; Havana Nights; circus (Cirque de Soleil-type). We have also considered Run for the Roses and the Four Seasons and Mad Men.

Art Gallery or Museum night. Display kids' art projects and auction silent or live. (Use a real auctioneer.) Sell raffle tickets at the event for donated things like wine baskets, teacher babysitting, lunch with head of school, etc. Avoid sit-down dinner. "Heavy" hors d'oeuvres, desserts like mini cupcakes, include a beer or glass of wine per ticket.

Have fun!

We enjoyed a Caribbean themed one recently. Or maybe a French bistro type theme, nautical/cruise, western, Mexican or broadway are all easy themes.

Trivia night, Hollywood

We've had book-themed fundraisers and cowboy style.

I'm curious to hear of any fundraising party themes your school has participated in. DC's preschool hosts a big fundraiser each spring that only parents attend. In the past the theme has been Casino Night, Golf tournament, Disco, Comedy night, blah, blah, blah and all included dinner, dancing and a live auction. We're looking to change things up this year and trying to think outside the box but coming up with nothing. FWIW the school is not in the the Greater DC area, and we have a reasonable budget ($150/head) for approx 150 guests.

I've asked other friends in different areas to see what they do and have heard: poker night for the guys (won't work for this event, needs to be all-inclusive), traditional seated dinner (boring), booze cruise (tempting), wine tasting (not everyone loves wine)...Suggestions?