One of the best ways to raise money and seek out new donors is by hosting a table or booth at an event. This gives your group some exposure, a chance to mingle with the public, and educate and make friends with new people. But, where do you find these events? Here are a few ideas…If you are looking for some local community events, you can contact your chamber of commerce and visitor’s/ convention bureau for your area (which might be on the state level) and get their calendars for the year. These will list any and all craft fairs, community festivals and other events coming up in the next year. The chamber can help you get in touch with the coordinators of the events to get your group registered for an event, such as for a parade, or help you determine what permits you might need to sell food items at a festival. Of course, every community seems to have their own special festival. I’ve been to swamp cabbage festivals, sugar cane festivals, onion blooming festivals, and other events that I never thought someone would celebrate– but that’s the main festival for that community! Many places also have Field Days or Summer festivals, health fairs, 4-H fairs and carnivals, music events, and more where you can be a vendor.

Sell food items such as hot dogs to support homeless dogs, or pizza for piggies/ puppies/ parrots, etc. where you sell pizza by the slice. Don’t forget vegetarian options, like blooming onions, candy apples, popcorn, pretzels, potato knish or haystacks. If animals will be at the event, or a LOT of animal loving folks, sell pet treats for dogs, birds, cats, horses, etc. Sell pet-related merchandise such as clothing for humans AND their pets to wear, pet themed home decorations, quotes on magnets, decorated frames, paw paintings, and anything else you can think of. You can sell breed-specific items and things with your group’s logo on them, or just generic “I love animals” sorts of things, like plaques with the phrase “Dogs leave footprints on your heart.”

If you’re looking for pet-specific events, like a Petrock music event, a major pet show, or National Homeless Animals’ Day event, you might need to network with other rescues in your state and neighboring states. A lot of these events travel initially by word of mouth, but then they are also annual events. Keep track of when events were held this year, and plan accordingly for next year and contact the organizers EARLY to get involved! You can also make sure you are on the newsletter lists for ASPCA and HSUS as they tend to mention lots of the upcoming events, particularly national ones that you can celebrate in your own area, like June being adopt a cat month.

Once you’ve attended several functions like this, some festival organizers might actually start looking FOR YOU to participate in their event! Remember that you bring something unique to the table! Whether you are a breed-specific group or a sanctuary full of rescued animals, your group is unique and has a special niche to fill at any event.