School Gala Ideas NZ

A gala is one of the best days on the school calendar and a big fundraiser rolled into one. Here are the stall ideas that work for NZ schools, plus tips to run the day well.

A gala, fair or fete brings the whole community together for an afternoon of stalls, games and food. No single stall has to raise a fortune. Each one earns a bit, and once you add up the cake stall, the sausage sizzle, the raffle and everything in between, the total mounts up fast.

The best galas mix things kids love with things parents will happily spend on. Pick a handful of stalls from the list below, give each one a lead volunteer, and you have the makings of a great day.

Stall ideas for your gala

Cake stall

Ask families to bake at home and sell slices, biscuits and whole cakes. Cheap to stock and always popular.

Sausage sizzle

The classic gala earner. A barbecue, bread, sausages and onions keeps the queue moving all day.

Lucky dip

Wrapped mystery prizes for a set price. Easy for young kids and a reliable little money-spinner.

Plant stall

Seedlings, cuttings and potted colour donated by green-thumbed families. Low cost, good margin.

White elephant / second-hand goods

Sell donated toys, homeware and bric-a-brac. Nothing to buy in, so almost every dollar is profit.

Book stall

Pre-loved books, puzzles and games at a gold-coin price. Collect donations in the weeks beforehand.

Face painting

A few sets of paints and some willing parents. Kids love it and it draws families to the whole event.

Games (bean bag toss, chocolate wheel)

Simple games like a bean bag toss or a chocolate wheel charge a small entry for a chance to win.

Lolly jars

Guess how many lollies are in the jar, or sell filled jars outright. Kids can help make them.

Produce stall

Home-grown veges, eggs, jams and preserves from families. Great for a school with keen gardeners.

Coffee cart

Hire a cart or set up an urn for coffee and tea. Parents happily pay for a hot drink while they browse.

Raffle table

Sell tickets for donated prize hampers and draw the winners late in the day to keep people around.

Tips to run a great gala

Pick a date early

Lock in a date well ahead so families can plan and you avoid clashing with other local events. Late spring and autumn weekends usually draw the biggest crowds.

Recruit stall volunteers

Give each stall a lead parent and a small roster. Sharing the load means nobody is stuck behind a table all day.

Promote widely

Use the school newsletter, class group chats, local Facebook pages and a banner at the gate. The more people who turn up, the more every stall makes.

Arrange floats and payments

Sort out cash floats for each stall and add eftpos or online payments so nobody misses a sale because they only have a card. You can even take pre-sales and donations online with a tool like Raised.

Plan for weather

Have a wet-weather plan, whether that is the hall, a set of gazebos or a back-up date. A bit of shade and cover keeps the day running whatever happens.

Taking money online for pre-sales, raffle tickets and donations means you bank some of the total before gala day even starts. See how Raised works.

Related fundraising ideas

Sausage sizzle fundraiser

The gala favourite in its own right. See how to run a sausage sizzle that sells out.

Read the guide

Raffle fundraiser

Pair your gala with a raffle. Prizes, ticket prices and the rules for running one in NZ.

Read the guide

High-profit fundraising ideas

The fundraisers that earn the most for the least effort, all in one place.

Read the guide

School gala ideas: common questions

What is a school gala?

A school gala, sometimes called a fair or fete, is a whole-community event with lots of small stalls, games and food. Each stall raises a little, and together they add up to a big day for the school.

What are the best stalls for a school gala?

A cake stall, sausage sizzle, lucky dip and white elephant stall are the reliable earners because they cost almost nothing to stock. Add a coffee cart, face painting and a raffle to keep families on site longer.

How much can a school gala raise?

It depends on the size of your school and community, but a well-run gala can raise anywhere from a few thousand dollars to five figures across all the stalls, food and raffles combined.

How do we take payments at a gala?

Give each stall a cash float and set up eftpos or a payment app so people can pay by card. Selling raffle tickets or gala pre-sales online ahead of the day, with a tool like Raised, brings in money before the gates even open.

More ways to raise money for your school

Browse the full directory of fundraisers for NZ schools and find the ideas that suit your community.

Most profitable fundraisers All fundraising ideas

Last updated: July 2026

Stall ideas for your gala

Cake stall

Ask families to bake at home and sell slices, biscuits and whole cakes. Cheap to stock and always popular.

Sausage sizzle

The classic gala earner. A barbecue, bread, sausages and onions keeps the queue moving all day.

Lucky dip

Wrapped mystery prizes for a set price. Easy for young kids and a reliable little money-spinner.

Plant stall

Seedlings, cuttings and potted colour donated by green-thumbed families. Low cost, good margin.

White elephant / second-hand goods

Sell donated toys, homeware and bric-a-brac. Nothing to buy in, so almost every dollar is profit.

Book stall

Pre-loved books, puzzles and games at a gold-coin price. Collect donations in the weeks beforehand.

Face painting

A few sets of paints and some willing parents. Kids love it and it draws families to the whole event.

Games (bean bag toss, chocolate wheel)

Simple games like a bean bag toss or a chocolate wheel charge a small entry for a chance to win.

Lolly jars

Guess how many lollies are in the jar, or sell filled jars outright. Kids can help make them.

Produce stall

Home-grown veges, eggs, jams and preserves from families. Great for a school with keen gardeners.

Coffee cart

Hire a cart or set up an urn for coffee and tea. Parents happily pay for a hot drink while they browse.

Raffle table

Sell tickets for donated prize hampers and draw the winners late in the day to keep people around.

Tips to run a great gala

Pick a date early

Lock in a date well ahead so families can plan and you avoid clashing with other local events. Late spring and autumn weekends usually draw the biggest crowds.

Recruit stall volunteers

Give each stall a lead parent and a small roster. Sharing the load means nobody is stuck behind a table all day.

Promote widely

Use the school newsletter, class group chats, local Facebook pages and a banner at the gate. The more people who turn up, the more every stall makes.

Arrange floats and payments

Sort out cash floats for each stall and add eftpos or online payments so nobody misses a sale because they only have a card. You can even take pre-sales and donations online with a tool like Raised.

Plan for weather

Have a wet-weather plan, whether that is the hall, a set of gazebos or a back-up date. A bit of shade and cover keeps the day running whatever happens.

Taking money online for pre-sales, raffle tickets and donations means you bank some of the total before gala day even starts. See how Raised works.

Related fundraising ideas

Sausage sizzle fundraiser

The gala favourite in its own right. See how to run a sausage sizzle that sells out.

Read the guide

Raffle fundraiser

Pair your gala with a raffle. Prizes, ticket prices and the rules for running one in NZ.

Read the guide

High-profit fundraising ideas

The fundraisers that earn the most for the least effort, all in one place.

Read the guide

School gala ideas: common questions

What is a school gala?

A school gala, sometimes called a fair or fete, is a whole-community event with lots of small stalls, games and food. Each stall raises a little, and together they add up to a big day for the school.

What are the best stalls for a school gala?

How much can a school gala raise?

It depends on the size of your school and community, but a well-run gala can raise anywhere from a few thousand dollars to five figures across all the stalls, food and raffles combined.

How do we take payments at a gala?