Spring Fair
Every spring, the Whiting Lane community comes together for one of the most beloved traditions at our school: the Whiting Lane Spring Fair. It's an evening of laughter, games, food, and fun — and it truly is a celebration of everything that makes our school community so special.
The Spring Fair is the largest community event of the year at Whiting Lane, and it takes a village to make it happen. Whether you're coming as a family, donating, or volunteering your time, your participation is what makes this event so memorable year after year.
What to Expect
The Spring Fair takes place in the courtyard, blacktop, and grassy area behind the school and there's something for everyone. Here's a taste of what you'll find:
Games and Inflatables Kids of all ages love the bounce houses and inflatables that take over the schoolyard each year. It's high-energy, high-fun, and always a crowd favorite.
The Cake Walk One of the most popular games at the fair, the Cake Walk is a beloved tradition. Participants walk for a chance to win delicious baked goods donated by our very own community members.
Raffle Baskets Beautifully themed baskets filled with goodies are up for grabs each year. Baskets are organized by grade, each with its own fun theme, and make for some seriously exciting prizes.
Food and Drinks Grab a bite and enjoy the evening! The fair features crowd-favorite eats like pizza, cotton candy, snow-cones, and popcorn. Food is available for purchase, and food bracelets offering unlimited servings are a great value for hungry families.
And more! Every year brings new surprises. Come ready for a great time.
Admission and Tickets
Entrance to the Spring Fair is FREE for everyone. Tickets are available for purchase at the fair for food and raffle baskets, and pre-sale tickets are often made available before the event a great way to save money and skip the lines. Keep an eye out for pre-sale announcements from the PTO.
Please remember to bring a refillable water bottle with you, it goes a long way on a busy fair evening!
Raffle Baskets — Donations by Grade
One of the highlights of the Spring Fair is our raffle basket collection, which is assembled with donations from across the school community. Each grade has its own theme, making it easy for families to contribute something meaningful. Here's a look at the current themes by grade:
ELC (Preschool): Preschool Fun — small toys, activity sets, bubbles, sidewalk chalk
Kindergarten: Arts & Crafts — art kits, markers, paint, paper, construction paper
1st Grade: Outdoor Fun — lawn games, sidewalk chalk, outdoor toys
2nd Grade: Fun Around Town (Staycation) — local museum passes, gift cards to local businesses and restaurants, movie night supplies
3rd Grade: LEGO — LEGO sets of any size
4th Grade: Family Game Night — card games, board games, travel games for all ages
5th Grade: Gift Card Tree
Every donation makes a difference — big or small, it all adds up. Donations can be sent to school with your child to give to their teacher.
How to Volunteer
The Spring Fair simply cannot happen without volunteers. From running games to supervising inflatables to helping with cleanup at the end of the night, every set of hands makes a real difference. Even a single 30-minute shift goes a long way!
Here are some of the key volunteer roles each year:
Inflatable Supervision — Sign up for a 30-minute shift to keep the inflatables running safely and the kids having a blast. This role is critical — without enough volunteers, inflatables may not be able to stay open the whole evening.
Cake Walk Donations — Love to bake? (Or love your local grocery store?) Donate any baked good — cookies, brownies, cupcakes, a cake, store-bought treats, anything goes! All donations are welcome and every item goes toward one of the kids' all-time favorite games.
End-of-Fair Cleanup — Help us wrap up the evening and leave the schoolyard sparkling. It's a quick but hugely appreciated effort.
All proceeds from ticket and raffle sales go directly toward funding programs and resources for Whiting Lane students. When you participate, you're investing directly in our kids.
Get Involved
The Spring Fair is a true community effort, and there's a place for everyone — whether you're donating, volunteering, or just showing up and cheering the kids on. Watch for communications from the PTO about volunteer sign-ups, pre-sale tickets, and basket donation details as the event approaches each year.
We'll see you on the blacktop!