RAG MusicSchool Festival
Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[Non-food] Cultural festival attractions: from classroom exhibits to stage events

Are you struggling to decide what to do for your school festival booth—other than food? Let’s energize the venue with unique ideas that are a bit different from the usual food stalls! From hands-on attractions like those at amusement parks, to photo spots, to performances your whole class can take on together, this article is packed with ideas that will win over your visitors.

We’ll also share helpful tips from preparation through day-of operations, so use this as a guide to create a booth that’s uniquely yours.

Exhibits (11–20)

balloon arch

Create a photo spot with a balloon arch
balloon arch

A balloon arch, which uses balloons to form an arch, is a common sight not only at cultural and school festivals but also as a decorative item for entrance and graduation ceremonies.

By installing colorful arches in various locations, you can create a festive atmosphere for your event.

In recent years, many people post photos on social media like Instagram, so creating a stylish balloon arch that becomes a photogenic spot will likely excite the students who visit.

In any case, since it’s an exhibit where your sense of style is key, it’s something you’ll want to refine repeatedly as you work toward completion.

Independent film screening

[School Festival] [Short Movie] As part of our school festival project, high school students made a serious short film. [High School Students] Debut work
Independent film screening

It’s a straightforward idea: just have your class screen a film you made yourselves.

The prep work can be tough, but on the day, you only need to run it at the scheduled time, so it’s nice that you can relax during the event.

There’s a wide range of ways to approach it—parodies of existing movies or an original script—so it’s important to meet and decide which direction to take.

If you decorate the screening space to match the movie’s world, the audience will enjoy the experience even more.

MV-style lyric video

[School Festival] Class 3-1 Made Memories with 'Ao to Natsu' by Mrs. GREEN APPLE! [High School Students]
MV-style lyric video

A music video-style film made with songs popular among students or hit tracks everyone knows makes for a performance full of originality that easily brings out the unique character of a class or club.

Key to its success is adding touches that let even those unfamiliar with the song enjoy it—such as scenes and atmospheres that match the lyrics, or projecting the lyrics in sync with the music.

While the preparation period is more demanding than the actual day of the cultural or school festival, once it’s finished, a great perk is that you can focus solely on enjoying the festivities.

This stylish act is recommended not only for cultural and school festivals, but also for welcome and farewell parties.

Exhibition (21–30)

Large stationery exhibition

If you want to stand out with a truly unique flair, a large-scale stationery exhibition is the way to go.

Create oversized versions of everyday items like pens and rulers and put them on display—you’re sure to capture visitors’ attention.

Add some creativity so people can take photos with them, and guests will leave with striking shots and fun memories.

These kinds of Instagram-worthy, humorous exhibits generate tons of buzz! Let’s liven things up with a wildly imaginative display that fills the classroom with smiles.

Stop-motion video

Stop-motion movie (stopmotion) ~Kitako DIARY~
Stop-motion video

Stop motion is a technique that makes a sequence of still photos appear like moving images.

It’s mainly used in animation, but incorporating it into live action allows you to reproduce movements that are impossible in reality—like floating in midair or disappearing—which is the key appeal.

You’re free to choose the style of video you create, but making a parody of the worlds of popular anime or games could boost relatability and audience interest.

Because the video is made from consecutive photos, perseverance in taking a large number of shots is essential to complete it.

School Introduction Video

[Official] Kaiyo Academy School Introduction Video 2016
School Introduction Video

How about shooting a short movie with your school—the place you go to every day—as the theme? You’ll feel even more affection for your school, and it’s sure to become a lasting memory! Consider capturing highlights such as a day in the life of students, your school’s standout facilities, a tour of different areas on campus, classroom scenes, and introductions to clubs.

Just be careful not to cram in too much.

If the content gets too dense, the runtime will get long and viewers may lose interest.

Try to keep it concise and on-point within a short timeframe!

In conclusion

For those unsure about what to present at the school festival, we introduced a variety of ways to have fun beyond food.

With decorations and interactive elements that are a bit different from the usual, and plans full of originality, let’s create a festival space that will leave lasting memories.

Work together with your classmates and take on a project that will light up the faces of your visitors with smiles.