When we have "Fall Into Reading" the participating employees dress up like story book characters. One teacher dressed as Bell and got her husband to dress as the Beast! It was too cute. We also had a 1st grade teacher to dress as Junie B. Jones (she was very convincing). Then of course there was Harry and Hermione. It was a blast.

We had a military theme last year. The principal let us use his image for the Uncle Sam "We want you" posters and ad literature. Used camo fabric
and put brown paper on the tables. We had a stamp made that said "Operation: Seton" and covered the tables in that. We went on line to birthday express and ordered binoculars, attache cases etc and made a montage of military supplies into centerpieces. Also ordered camo lanyards for all of the workers to wear that had their names on them. We gave away a weekend at Moody Gardens, that was the drawing you were entered in if you came in camo or military attire. 30-40% came dressed to the nines, some of the grandparents even fit into their old uniforms! We were fortunate to have several parents underwrite a big band and held it in our auditorium. decorated to look like tent interior.
No alcohol was served, but we built a "swamp" type bar from Mash out of cedar and tin. Had dinner, silent auction and live auction. Not a big decorating budget but lots of man/woman hours.

PS used Rosey the Riveter too!

Too fun.

We hold an annual Calendar Party where each class (Pre-K thru 8 plus teachers and PTO) chooses a month and then decorates their table in a theme of their choice and creates a chinese auction basket in that theme also. We also have a lunch and fashion show. We do really well on this fundraiser. It's fun to see everyone's creativity...

Don't always have to conform with holiday themes. 4th of July can be a Patriotic theme or a beach theme, etc.

We also have one person assigned to getting donations for this event and then disperse them among the different grades.

I think themed ideas are so hard to think up. My idea would be "Autumn's Harvest" since it's going to be in the fall. You could do different baskets based on color ( one basket with red items, another orange, etc.) Leaves would be easy to get or make. It seems Fall time means yard work so you can have local businesses donate items related to that or have a student from your school donate his time raking leaves.

Our first auction this year is named "Falling into Winter" which you can use if you want to. It's the name I gave to our auction. We are decorating with leaves, snowmen, and snowflakes on the tables.

"Mystic Breeze" is another one I liked. It sounds very calm and relaxing, and should be easy to do. Fall seems to be a time of change and breezes certainly fit into that category.

Hope these ideas help.
michelle
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Our school has had an auction every fall. We have had various themes over the years. We had done Hawaiian, Mexican, masquerade...to name a few. I would like some fresh ideas, preferable ones that get the parents involved (ie: dress up with the theme)

all ideas are welcome.