Tag: fun story

Catering, Event Planning, Food Trucks, Fun Story, Funfair Games

Planning A Family Fun Day For Your Company

12 March 2025
Funfairs For Corporate Events

Planning a family fun day for your company is no small task. It requires creativity, organization, and a keen understanding of your employees’ interests.

The goal is to create an event that not only entertains but also strengthens the bonds within your team. A well-planned family fun day can boost morale, foster a sense of community, and even improve employee retention.

But how do you ensure your event stands out? How do you cater to all ages, from the youngest family members to the adults?

This guide will provide you with a wealth of family fun day ideas. From selecting the perfect date and venue to choosing funfair rides and games, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll also delve into the importance of street food catering and how to engage local vendors.

So, let’s dive in and start planning an unforgettable family fun day for your company.

The Importance of Family Fun Days for Corporate Culture

Family fun days are more than just a day of leisure. They play a vital role in strengthening corporate culture. By hosting such events, companies show their employees that they are valued and appreciated.

This gesture can lead to increased job satisfaction and loyalty. When families are included, it shows commitment to employees’ personal lives. It creates a sense of belonging not just for the employees but for their families as well.

Moreover, these events provide a relaxed environment where team members can bond. New friendships can blossom, and existing relationships deepen outside of the typical work setting.

Ultimately, a well-executed family fun day can enhance communication. It breaks down hierarchical barriers, fostering a community spirit within the organization.

Selecting the Perfect Date and Venue

Choosing the right date is crucial for maximizing attendance. Consider holidays, school breaks, and other community events. Aim for a time when most employees and their families are likely to be free.

The venue sets the tone for your family fun day. Whether it’s an outdoor park or an indoor facility, it should be accessible and welcoming. Ensure the venue caters to your activities and accommodates the expected number of attendees.

Venue selection should also consider geographical convenience. Opt for a location central to most of your staff. This will encourage more people to participate and make travel less of a burden.

Don’t forget to assess weather considerations if the event is outdoors. Have a backup plan ready for unexpected changes. By carefully selecting the date and venue, you can boost engagement and enjoyment.

Traditional Funfair Dodgems Ride
Traditional Dodgems For Hire

Diverse Activities for All Ages

Creating engaging activities is key to a successful family fun day. Attendees of all ages should find something enjoyable. Consider a range of experiences to cater to diverse interests and energy levels.

Here’s a list of ideas:

  • Creative arts and crafts stations
  • Interactive science exhibits
  • Face painting and balloon artists
  • Storytelling sessions
  • Petting zoos or animal interactions

Each activity should be easy to access and understand. Encourage a playful atmosphere that invites both children and adults to participate. The goal is to foster connection and enjoyment through shared experiences. Engaging content keeps people excited and encourages lingering.

Funfair Rides Everyone Will Love

Funfair rides create excitement and joy for everyone. Choose rides that offer thrills but are safe for varying ages. Classic options like carousels and bumper cars appeal to families.

For younger attendees, gentle rides like miniature trains work well. Older kids and adults might enjoy something a bit more thrilling. Ensure that rides are frequently inspected and staffed by professionals.

Consider the layout of rides to minimize lines. Proper spacing ensures that guests can explore freely and comfortably. A mix of funfair rides ensures every family member finds something delightful.

Competitive and Collaborative Funfair Games

Funfair games add a lively spirit to your event. Aim for a mix of competitive and cooperative games. Popular choices include ring toss, bean bag throw, and giant Jenga.

Games that encourage teamwork bring families together. Set up relay races or team challenges where collaboration is key. Winners can be rewarded with small prizes, adding to the fun.

Don’t forget to make instructions clear and equipment plentiful. Easily understandable rules enhance participation and enjoyment. A variety of funfair games ensures everyone can find their favorite way to engage.

Street Food Catering: A Taste of the Funfair

Street food catering brings vibrancy and flavor to the day. Variety is crucial to satisfy diverse tastes and dietary needs. Offer classic fare like burgers, hot dogs, and tacos.

Include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options for inclusivity. Food stalls serving international cuisine can introduce new flavors. Think of Asian dumplings, Mediterranean wraps, or Indian curries.

The smell of food contributes greatly to the funfair atmosphere. Arrange your vendors in a way that creates a bustling, festive environment. Street food catering not only nourishes but also creates memorable culinary adventures.

Gourmet Burger Fire Truck
Gourmet Burger Fire Truck

Safety, Logistics, and Emergency Preparedness

Ensuring safety is paramount for any successful event. Start with a comprehensive risk assessment. Identify potential hazards and plan accordingly.

A well-thought-out logistics plan keeps the event flowing smoothly. Clearly marked pathways and visible signage are essential. They help guide attendees and prevent confusion.

Emergency preparedness includes having a response plan in place. Train staff and volunteers on emergency procedures. Ensure first aid stations are accessible and equipped.

Communication is key during unforeseen events. Establish a reliable communication system for staff. This allows for quick response to any situation, ensuring peace of mind for all.

Branding Your Family Fun Day

Integrate your company’s identity throughout the event. This is more than just logos and colors. Think about how branding can enhance the experience.

Create themed decorations that align with your company’s values. These elements serve as subtle reminders of your brand’s mission and ethos.

Offer branded giveaways that attendees can cherish. Items like custom T-shirts or reusable water bottles make memorable keepsakes.

Remember to capture the event’s essence. Use branded backdrops for photos, providing both fun and future marketing material.

Building Anticipation with Digital Marketing

Start by creating an event hashtag. Encourage employees to share it on social media platforms. This builds excitement and generates buzz.

Send engaging newsletters leading up to the event. Include sneak peeks of activities, featuring funfair rides and games.

Design a countdown campaign on social media. Use captivating visuals to highlight what attendees can expect.

Utilize video content to boost engagement. Short clips of past events or teasers can stir interest and increase participation.

Budgeting for a Memorable Event

Set a clear budget early. Detail all expenses, like venue costs and catering services. This prevents overspending.

Consider sponsorships from local businesses. They can help offset costs and add value to your event.

Prioritize must-haves over niceties. Focus spending on funfair rides and activities that enhance attendee experience.

Seek cost-effective solutions without compromising quality. For example, hire local entertainers to support the community while managing funds wisely.

Measuring Success and Gathering Feedback

Assess your event’s success by setting clear goals beforehand. These could include guest numbers or social media interactions.

Gather feedback via surveys and social platforms. Attendee input is crucial for recognizing areas of improvement.

Encourage sharing stories and photos. This not only spreads brand awareness but also helps gauge participant engagement.

Analyze the data collected. Use insights gained to refine future events, ensuring they resonate more strongly with your audience.

Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of a Well-Planned Family Fun Day

A thoughtfully organized family fun day creates a lasting, positive effect. It fosters stronger connections and improves employee morale.

Such events boost team spirit and build a sense of community. Employees feel valued, enhancing company loyalty and retention.

The memories shared among staff and families strengthen bonds. This fosters a warm, inclusive company culture that resonates with everyone.

Additionally, the event showcases the company’s dedication to its people. This commitment enhances the brand image in the wider community.

Catering, Fun Story, Unusual Restaurants

Unusual Restaurants, Dans Le Noir

22 December 2023

Starting in Japan (where else would a totally quirky theme start), the concept of a ‘blind restaurant’ saw a non profit organisation called SIEN, and Higan-ji, a virtual Buddhist temple created by Japanese monks join forces at Ryokusen-ji, a temple in Asakusa to introduce a blind or ‘black’ restaurant.

The concept is, that dining is carried out in complete darkness. The theory being that with the lack of sight, your other senses are heightened, and becomes more of a sensual experience.

Dans Le Noir

Translating as In The Dark. This is a chain of restaurants spread through Europe and also with some locations in Africa and New Zealand. They offer the experience of dining in the dark, with your serving staff being blind or partially sighted.

The food is typically higher end fare, think 5 star rather than local café. Another benefit is the relationships with your dining companions. You have no idea who you are talking to, so the conversation tends to be without preconceived notions.

This is definitely on our bucket list to try.

In the meantime if you need food you can actually see, then check out our gourmet burgers.

Equipment, Event Planning, Food Trucks, Fun Story

Our Little Red Hot Dog Van

1 December 2023
Our Little Red Citroen Food truck

Looking for a sizzling, scrumptious hot dog experience that’s as unique as it is delicious? Look no further than the Little Red Hot Dog Van, your one-stop-shop for quirky hot dog cravings!

Built onto the chassis of a classic Citroen 2CV van, this just oozes gallic charm. Good food is no longer enough, you need a service that stands out on the ‘gram.’

Also available offering Pimms, Waffles, Hot Chocolate, doughnuts and much more.

Promotional Opportunities

This broad red panels make this ideal for branding if you want to use it for brand activation, exhibitions or other promotional usages.

We can apply simple graphics in house for events, or we have a local graphics company that can add full four colour printing graphics or even a full vinyl wrap.

Hire Our Little Red Hot Dog Van

Check out our other foodtrucks.

Catering, Equipment, Food Trucks

What Are Smash Burgers

19 July 2023

We are continually tinkering with services and ingredients. That’s the reason that where we once offered doughnuts in sugar, we now do a full range of toppings such as Biscoff, Orea, melted chocolate etc.

Since lockdown, burgers have become a big part of our workload. We tried a number of different options before settling on a range of pre made patties. These have had great reviews everywhere we have been, and for some of the larger jobs where we have served upto 4000 guests they have been the only option realistically.

Enter The Smash

We have however always hankered at adding smash burgers to our lineup. For smaller events such as weddings or private parties these would be fine. Instead of pre formed patties we would be using loosely packed minced beef. To take it to the ultimate we could use a mincing machine and use joints of beef, can’t get much fresher than that.

But what, I hear you ask is a smash burger. Well, it is quite simple to make. You take a loose ball of minced beef. Not packed too tight or it doesn’t work the same. You plop it down on a super hot heating surface. Then smash it flat with a weighted iron. Oh, and you need beef with a pretty high fat content, around 20%.

Maillard Reaction

What happens is that the heat and the pressure combine causing the amino acids and sugars in proteins to react. This forms a deep, caramelised, rich crust, which takes the taste to new heights. The higher fat content melts in the burger stopping in from drying out and adding to the taste.

you can generally tell a smash burger from the uneven shape and height of the burger. Pre processed patties tend to be a uniform size and shape.

Fun Story

World Cups, Boxing Matches and Fairgrounds

19 June 2023

Any England fan (football) will tell you of the years of hurt, failed dreams and fantasies of world cups that have come to naught. We seem to get so close, then lose on penalties. To be honest if I was the England manager, I would have my team training consisting of nothing but taking penalties for eight hours a day.

We had one, brief, beautiful bright spot in 1966. Hosting the tournament at home, we started a bit slow, but then hit our stride and as any fan will tell you, beat Germany in the final, which made it all the more satisfying.

What many fans won’t know is the part the fairground played in our victory.

The Charlton Boys

The linchpins of the England team were a couple of Northern lads called Charlton. Bobby and Jackie to be precise. Hailing from the mining town of Ashington, they hailed from a family with deep connection to footballing fame. Their mother Cissie, was from the Milburn family. A number of her cousins played professionally, including the legendary wor Jackie. Jackie Milburn a legend of Newcastle United and England fame.

What has any of this got to do with the fairground industry you might ask?

Well, in 1934 a certain young man named Bob Charlton wanted to marry his sweetheart. Unfortunately with times being hard in the North East he didn’t have the money for a ring. Fortunately for him he wasn’t much of a footballer, but he was a handy boxer. At that time the travelling funfairs had boxing booths, where members of the public could enter, and if they lasted three rounds would win a cash prize.

Bob managed the three rounds, won the money to buy a wedding ring, and proposed to Cissie Milburn. Bob and Cissie went on to have four boys, including Jack and Bobby, who ended up in the England team in 66, and, well the rest is world cup history.

Equipment, Event Planning, Funfair Rides

New Equipment, Spill Kits

29 March 2023

Most of our equipment is powered by electricity. Many items such as the funfair rides can’t connect to a standard household supply, and require generators to run them.

Generators tend to run from diesel fuel. There are a handful of smaller ones that run from LPG tanks, and occasionally a petrol powered example. But by and large diesel is the fuel of choice.

Unfortunately when you have generators containing diesel, and quite possibly additional diesel in storage drums, there is the potential for spillage. When diesel spills it spreads, a lot. A couple of litres can cover a wide area depending on the surface type.

Spill Kits

To insure against the risks of spillages, we have just added spill clean up kits to all of our generators, and a couple of portable units for use with contracted in suppliers.

Fuel Spill Clean Up Kit
Fuel Spill Clean Up Kit

A selection of products are contained, starting with plug and dike putty which is designed to harden on contact with fuel to plug the leaks. A selection of absorbent socks to dam fuel from flowing into drains or watercourses. Absorbent granules and pads to soak up the spill. and a spray containing bacteria that converts oil or fuel into CO2 and sugar to clean the traces of the spill up.

Oh and handy plastic gloves and refuse sacks to keep you clean whilst you dispose of everything. And a handy instruction sheet to allow anyone to use the kit.

Spill Kit Instructions
Spill Kit Instructions

Oh and just in case you are wondering, about step one referring to Fred Miller. Well, he is one of the team who is possessed by the spirit of Frank Spencer of Some Mothers Do Have Em fame. If we ever have a major diesel spill, Fred will be involved somehow. He will have tripped and pulled a pipe off, or pressed the wrong button or something.

Equipment, Fun Story, funfair events, Funfair Rides

Tivoli Park Denmark

18 March 2023

One of the worlds oldest amusement parks. Tivoli dates from 15 August 1843, when Georg Carstensen first opened the park after being granted permission by the King.

Originally it consisted of exotic and enchanting gardens that amongst other visitors so impressed one Hans Christian Anderson that he was inspired to write the fairytale, the Nightingale.

1844 The Tivoli Boys Guard

Constantly on the lookout for new ideas, Carstensen introduced the Honorary guard. From small beginnings this grew to not only become a cultural icon, but also evolved into a musical education centre for children.

Carstensen sadly only ran the park for five years. Leaving in 1848 when he enlisted to fight in the war against Prussia. This led to him being fired by the Tivoli board citing breach of contract. On his return to Denmark in 1857 he founded a rival park at Alhambra in Frederiksberg in competition with Tivoli. He didn’t actually get to see this one in operation, dying from pneumonia at the age of 44.

1874 The Peacock Theatre

Erected in 1874 the current theatre is the oldest building in the park, and protected by law. A bit like our listed buildings. The theatre has the motto “Shared joy with the people”, engraved above the stage in Chinese letters.

Hans Lumbye, the composer was in charge of the music from the start of the park. A violinist and prolific composer, he put together some 800 pieces of music. Known in some places as the ‘Strauss of the North’, he composed the world famous Champagne Galop. Touring with his orchestra during the Winter months, he sadly died the same year the theatre opened.

The Restaurant WIVEL, later called Wivex became a notorious water hole for a group of infamous First World War profiteers. Later the national broadcaster used it to broadcast dinner concerts. Eventually it closed in the 1960’s.

1914 Tivoli Roller Coasters

Tivoli had a roller coaster in 1842, a seven second thrill ride.

In 1914, the new coaster was opened. Called Rutschebanen (or roller coaster in English), this is still operating today, making it one of the oldest wooden coasters in existence. Up until the installation of moderner cars, it actually had brakemen riding in each car to slow it on turns and downhill.

Sabotage

During World War Two, the park suffered two unfortunate instances of sabotage, when pro Nazi Danes snuck into the park after it closed and planted a number of fire bombs. Extensive damage was caused and the park was closed for two weeks whilst the damage was rectified.

1951 Walt Disney Visits

The first Disneyland was opened in California in 1955. Walt Disney, its founder paid a number of visits to the Tivoli park in 1951. He enjoyed the ambience of the park and was hoping to impart something similar to his own park.

Today the park has in excess of four million visitors per year. Making it the second most visited seasonal amusement park in the world, and the biggest in Scandinavia.

Resources;

Tivoli Park

Fun Story

Birth Of The Boda Zapha

23 February 2022

Born from an egg on a mountain top, monkiest, mon…… erm no wait, thats the wrong legendary hero.

Monkey was a popular 1980’s Japanese TV show based on a 16th century Chinese novel. Noted for its dubbing, bad acting and crap prosthetic effects, it was so bad it was a cult hit.

Our here though, Ziggy, had a different birth. We liken it to the super soldier serum used on Steve Rogers to create Captain America. We took the best in anthropomorphic beings and supercharged him to create the Boda Zapha, the new look to our long standing catering company, the leader as we venture into our new incarnation of CRAZY & Co.

Ziggy, a fusion of quirk, crazy and sub zero coolness
Ziggy, a fusion of quirk, crazy and sub zero coolness

Ziggy Is Our Leader

As we move into a post pandemic phase, which has seen a massive increase in the work we are winning, Ziggy will be our main branding on our catering units, photo booths etc. With staff uniforms, vehicle branding, even a bi weekly comic strip starring our hero to spice up our social media.

Catering, Fun Story

Son’s Of Amazon offer a caffeine buzz

29 April 2019

Do you know what the most used drug is? No not marijuana, not cocaine or pills surprisingly but caffeine. It seems that everyone both young and old crave that Caffeine Buzz

I’m sure you’re not unfamiliar with that caffeine buzz, the restlessness, the increased heartbeat, the nausea the sweaty palms and the inability to fall asleep all from one cup of coffee. And if you want a quicker buzz then you go for the espresso option the short black coffee option. But the more you drink the more you build up a tolerance.

Caffeine Buzz

Coffee lovers might remember when they first started drinking coffee and the kick they got from it but now they have to scour the shops to find a blend of coffee that still offers a kick in one cup. The sweet coffee smell the strong bitter taste well the search is finally over. A company called Sons Of Amazon claim to be the owners of the strongest coffee in the UK.

A standard 8oz cup of coffee is said to have around 110mg of caffeine but Sons of Amazon’s coffee blend has four times that amount with their motto reading ‘Strong enough to wake the dead’ you know that this coffee is going to be strong enough to blow your socks off.

The Brains Behind The Coffee

Eric Witham is the brains behind the coffee stating that not only well known for the strength his coffee is also ethically sourced with no chemicals being used to increase the substances in the roasting process. Witham is said to have tested many different coffee beans from different farms before deciding on the best.

Despite being over 100% stronger than the standard cup of coffee it is advertised on the website as being anything but horrifically bitter. After looking at some of the reviews online I am now off to order myself a bag for the long days and nights you face in the event industry I now feel like my body has become too immune to caffeine and I have to have a few cups throughout the day to get the old affect so hopefully this can restore my faith and bring back a caffeine kick experience.

Some customer reviews read;

“Didn’t know what to expect from a coffee claiming to be so strong but I was very pleasantly surprised by what I found. Great tasting coffee with a caffeine kick that will keep you going throughout the day. Will 100% buy again and recommend to friends. “

Whilst another review stated ;

“Surprisingly smooth for something so strong. (There’s definitely a joke in there somewhere…. about liking my men the way I like this coffee) Will definitely buy again.”

You can purchase a packet of these coffee beans on Amazon.

Catering, Fun Story

Crazy Popcorn Pilot

12 April 2019

Pakistan is home to a Crazy Popcorn Pilot who has recently been arrested for testing a homemade ‘flying machine’.

Muhammad Fayaz is a popcorn seller and part time security man. After watching the National Geographic Air Crash Investigation he said to be inspired to make his own aeroplane. Fayaz used all his savings, sold some of his land and took out a bank loan in order to pay for the build. Once the aircraft had been built he then proceeded to test the machine out in front of a crowd of around 500 people without the approval of the proper aviation authorities which then led to his arrest and the confiscation of the aircraft. The aircraft weighed around 95kg and cost an equivalent of £270 to build it was also stated that the plane would fly around 1,000 feet high.

Statement From The Crazy Popcorn Pilot

The Crazy Popcorn Pilot issued a statement that said he had been told to contact the CAA (Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority) in order to be granted permission to test flight his aircraft however he did not do this he also said that he is a patriotic Pakistani who has worked hard to make the aircraft and informed all the correct departments however never heard back from them.

Having attracting large crowds to watch he reportedly used a length of road that was clear and free of any obstacle’s or debris as a runway to test his plane. It was at this event that he was later arrested for building the aircraft without permission, testing it without the proper safety precautions. Fayaz was only taken into protective custody and the aircraft detained in order to protect everyone.  

After The Release

After his release Fayaz told the papers that had decided to make the pane around 4 years ago and spent three years planning the build before taking a year and half to start and finish building it. He also put many months of research into this having visiting local airports multiple times in order to look at their planes, the design they followed and the material that had been used on them. He also researched the function of different parts and how the mechanics work. Fayaz carried out many experiments with materials and engines until he found light sufficient equipment that would be strong enough and powerful enough to use for the plane.

His family were said to have made fun of this ‘crazy popcorn pilot’ idea however did not deter him and supported him. Since his release he has contacted the army and the prime minister to tell them of how he can produce cheap and sufficient planes for them and to the government to help him get his detained plane back.