Our fall festival last year was a complete disaster. Ran out of candy in forty minutes, the cotton candy machine literally exploded, and two volunteers just vanished into thin air. Still don't know where they went - maybe they're hiding somewhere until Halloween passes.

This year I'm determined not to repeat that nightmare, which apparently means planning pumpkin events when it's still ninety-five degrees outside.

Today we're talking about how to survive fall festival planning without losing your mind - from booking bounce houses before they all disappear to buying ridiculous amounts of candy to accepting that something will definitely catch fire. Plus why simple games beat elaborate disasters every single time.

If you're staring down fall festival season and already feeling the panic, this one's for you. Fair warning: you'll need way more volunteers than seems humanly possible and the cotton candy machine is probably plotting against you.

For event planners, ministry leaders, and anyone who's discovered that "how hard could a fall festival be?" is a dangerous question to ask.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!