How to host a festival-themed event

Pioneer (our adventure and international youth panel) are helping us plan Big Gig. 

From suggesting acts to designing merchandise, Pioneer are busy behind the scenes helping bring Big Gig to life. To get ready for the event, they’re writing a series of blogs to help you to feel confident performing, try some disco-themed crafts and host your own mini gig. 

Whether you’re wanting a festival-themed camp or a summer evening meeting with a difference, Pioneer members have put together their top tips in this blog to help you run your own mini gig.  

How to host a festival-themed event 

Do your group love concerts? Are they big music or festival fans? Or do they want to experience the magic of an event like Big Gig? If this sounds like your group, then maybe planning your own mini gig event would be awesome. 

We've put together some amazing ways to transform your space and create your very own mini festival and give your group a meeting or event to remember! 

We hope these ideas get you grooving, singing and dancing, as well as creating some amazing memories for the girls in your group. 

Music mayhem 

Every mini gig needs some brilliant music to go with it, and your song choices are completely up to you. 

The first step is to build a playlist. Ask your girls for their suggestions on what music they want. Why not gather ideas in one of your meetings? That way your playlist will be tailored to your group’s amazing taste in tunes!  

Next up, consider how you want your girls to experience the music. You could dance to a silent disco, invite in a local band and boogie, or simply party with a speaker.  

Why not have fun trying karaoke? You could put up words up on a projector, print off song sheets or use lyric videos. 

Exciting activities

Apart from obviously singing and dancing along to the music, every fun festival needs incredible activities to go alongside it. What you do is up to you and your group, it's all your choice! 

Some activity ideas include: 

• Crafts, such as tie dye, upcycled outfits or friendship bracelets.  
• Mocktail making.
• Watch a film outdoors.
• Lawn games (such as cornhole, mini golf or hula hooping).
• Doing interest badges.
• Circus skills. 
• Yoga or meditation.
• A dance class.
• Musical instruments, such as drumming. 
• A performer, such as a magician. 
• Ice cream.
• Face painting.
• A campfire.

Find your space and jazz it up 

Mini gigs can be mega fun at your usual meeting place. You could get out of your normal meeting place and use another space, such as a local school, a sports hall or community hall, especially if your meeting up with other units.  

For a festival-feel, you could also head outside, such as a local Girlguiding campsite or school playground. 

Creating different zones is a great way to add a festival feel too. Think about making separate zones for eating, relaxing and activities. 

Try to find out what your group likes and let them make decisions. The girls will know what ‘vibe’ they want to go for and if they have a say in what you’re doing, they’ll enjoy it more. 

Some ideas include: 

• Hang reuseable bunting, ribbon bunting or pom pom garlands (encourage girls to make it before the event).
• Make and put up festival style flags. 
• Paper or card decorations, such as cut-out letters, paper lanterns or streamers.
• Put up different solar lights, such as fairy lights or tealights in jam jars.
• Add some disco balls.
• Put up posters, pictures or even cardboard cutouts of A-list celebrities. 
• Create big signs for stage, toilets and other key locations.
• Have under cover areas that feel cosy, but outdoors, such as marquees, tents or gazebos.
• Use camping chairs for seats.
• Put some picnic blankets, outdoor rugs and cushions, or beanbags on the ground.

Get festival ready 

Encourage everyone to be creative and to come to the mini gig in funky, fun, festival-style outfits. You could give out tickets for invites or create your own lanyards. Remember to give your festival a name, such as Glaston-brownies. 

Accessories, like flower headbands, bracelets and hats, are a fun way to express yourself and dress up your normal clothes without having to get a new outfit. It’s best to encourage people to upcycle things they already have. You could do different hairstyles, have a clothes swap before the event, or use face paint. 

Make sure everyone wears comfortable shoes so that they can dance, and bring some layers or waterproofs for all weathers. You could even spray-paint or decorate your wellies. 

Save the planet 

To make sure that your mini gig is eco-friendly, ditch the single use plastic. It’s best to avoid single-use glitter, glowsticks, bunting, tablecloths or balloons, as they just end up in the bin. There are lots of alternatives. You could: 

• Create your decorations out of paper, cardboard or fabric. 
• Ask people to bring things from home, like camping chairs.
• Use fabric or reuseable tablecloths that can be washed or wiped down.
• Bring reuseable water bottles. 
• Have clearly labelled recycling bins. 
• Use paper or metal straws instead of plastic ones. 
• Use biodegradable, bamboo or reuseable plastic cups, plates and cutlery. 
• If there’s food left at the end, let people take it. 
• You could even go the extra mile and have an eco-themed festival with activities to help the planet, such as planting seeds. It could count towards your Eco award. Did you know Glastonbury has been powered entirely by renewable energy since 2023? 

Capture the moment 

Photos are the perfect way to make sure that your event will never be forgotten. Why don't you set up your very own home-made photo booth and create some photo props? These could include trendy sunglasses or groovy hats that are perfect for posing in. You could buy your unit some disposable cameras, so people can leave their phones at home but still capture all the amazing moments. 

Fun food 

The snacks, drinks and food can be exciting, especially when going to a concert or festival. 

Let your group decide on the menu, but make sure you have a good selection of snacks to suit everyone’s tastes and dietary requirements.  

You could 

• Plan all your snacks around a certain theme or taste, such as Mexican dishes, BBQ food or Bonfire Night themed food.  
• Have lots of different tables with varying food or snack choices, just like food stalls at a festival. 
• Have everyone bring a dish for a buffet to represent a different musician or for an assigned colour (such as just blue snacks).