Spring Fair

The CLES spring fair is the largest fundraiser of the year for the PTA. Please consider donating your time and money towards this event. The spring fair is open to the Ellicott City community so encourage your friends and neighbors to attend.

The Spring Fair is typically held on a Saturday morning in May or June from 11 am - 3 pm at CLES. Tickets may be purchased prior to the fair at a discounted rate. Tickets may also be purchased at the fair. When you enter the school you may purchase tickets to participate in the many fun activities that take place at the fair. There is another area to purchase tickets behind the school in the grass area. Children then use these tickets to play games and buy items at the bake sale. There is an option to purchase a wrist band at this time that gives a child the ability to participate in almost every activity at the fair. The wrist band allows one time participation in some activities and some unlimited participation in other events. There are some activities that the wrist band does not include.

There is an option to purchase spring fair tickets and a wrist band prior to the spring fair at a discounted price. Look for a flyer the Take Home Folder in the weeks prior to the spring fair to pre-order discounted tickets and wrist band. Of note, occasionally the spring fair is rescheduled to the subsequent weekend due to inclement weather. Please keep this in mind when pre-ordering your tickets.

Food: There is food to be purchased at the spring fair including lunch items in the cafeteria (chick fil-a sandwiches, pizza, hog dog, ice cream, chips, soda, water), bake sale in the cafeteria (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and sweets), and quick snacks on the black top (pizza, drinks). Food items range from 1-6 tickets. There may also be food trucks at the school. These food trucks do not take tickets.

Games: There are carnival type games located behind the school on the grass field. Children may participate in these games to win prizes. Games are in the style of knocking down objects with a ball, catapulting objects into a target, hitting an falling object with a bat, covering a spot with five discs etc. There are also moon bounces - large inflatable structures filled with air that children can jump in and on. Carnival games cost 1 -2 ticket, bounce house costs 2-5 tickets.

Crafts: There is a craft table where children may create a craft. Previous spring fair crafts include coloring a piece of paper to be made into a clip on button, jewelry making, painting. There is also face painting where children may have a design painted on their face and an area where they can have a temporary tattoo placed on their skin. Cost of these crafts range from 1-5 tickets.

Photo Opportunities: Characters from Star Wars are often present to meet and share a photograph. (free)

Cake walk: Contestants walk in a circle along some numbered spots on the ground. Participants walk along the circular path and when they are told to stop the person standing on a special spot wins a free cake. Each round of the cake walk is 1 ticket.

Book Sale: A collection of used books may take place prior to the spring fair and these books go on sale at the fair. Children and adults may browse these books and purchase them with tickets. The cost of these books range from 1-2 tickets.

Little Dolphins Table: There is a special table at the spring fair for pre-schoolers that will eventually attend CLES. This table has special activities that upcoming students can participate in throughout the fair. When the tasks are completed they win a special prize.

Auction: An opportunity to bid for an item. At the end of the auction, the highest bidder (person willing to pay the highest amount) wins the item. Each CLES student is given a book in their take home folder the week prior to the Spring Fair. Each item that will be up for bid is described in this book. Here is an example of the book from a previous spring fair. Note these items will not necessarily be offered at any specific spring fair.

1. Silent Auction: In the CLES gymnasium there are tables set up with items donated by the community and families. Patrons at the spring fair go to the head table and obtain a bidding number. Then they walk and view the items up for auction on the tables. Examples of these items are: gift certificates, tickets to events, clothes, jewelry, and baskets. When in person, each item has a bid sheet next to it. The bid sheet outlines the minimum bid for the item (the minimum price one would pay for the item) and the increment that the bids must go up. Using your specific bid number, you may write bids on the paper associated with the item. You may bid higher than the current bid by increments indicated on the bid sheet. At the end of the silent auction, the highest bidder wins the item. Items paid for (cash, check, or credit card) and collected at the end of the spring fair.

When the Silent Auction is online, the website will go up approximately one week before the fair. Pictures and descriptions of each item are posted. Bids are submitted online via credit card. Items are still on display at the Spring Fair. When the auction closes, no more bids will be allowed, and winner's credit card will be charged. Winners will be notified by email and pick up their items at the end of Spring Fair.

2. Live Auction: During the spring fair during a designated time located in a tent outside there might be several large items that are up for auction in a live bidding setting. An item is brought up for auction (ie tickets to a sporting event, tickets to an amusement park, vacation packages) . In order to participate in the auction of these items you would obtain a bidding card before the auction begins. An announcer (auctioneer) specifies that the auction for a particular item is open. The auctioneer states a price for the item. If you want the item and are willing to pay the stated price you hold up your card. The auctioneer will then ask if anyone is willing to pay a higher price amount . Another bidder may hold up their card for this higer price. The bidding continues until no one is willing to pay a higher price. The person with the highest bid wins the item.

3. Buy it now board: in the CLES gymnasium there is a cardboard display entitled buy it now board. Certain gift cards and tickets may be bought from this area immediately for a stated price.

4. Raffle: Children may enter a raffle for baskets. Baskets contain items such as money, video games, toys, electronics. The raffle baskets are sponsored by parents in each grade of the school. Children place their raffle ticket in the container for the item they wish to win. At the end of the spring fair, one ticket is drawn for each item for a winner. There may also be hourly drawings for a large stuffed animal.

Volunteering: As a member of the CLES community you can contribute to this fundraising event on several levels.

1. Consider attending the spring fair and participate in the activities for the day and purchase items up for auction.

2. Consider contributing money towards the raffle basket (each grade sponsors a raffle basket and a flyer is sent home in the Take Home Folder to contribute money towards your child's grade's basket).

3. Consider volunteering your time at the spring fair to run a game booth, sell books, sell food, or work at the auction. (A link to a Sign Up Genius is sent via email in weeks prior to the event).

4. Consider donating an item for the spring fair (a flyer to donate items comes home in the Take Home Folder in the month prior to the spring fair)

Used books are collected at the CLES lobby in the weeks prior to the event

Do you have season tickets to a sporting event? Consider donating tickets to the spring fair

Do you on a restaurant or business? Consider donating a gift certificate or services.

5. You may join a spring fair committee and help organize events for the day.

6. You may become a spring fair sponsor - organize your community or make a personal monetary donation. Each outdoor activity (booth) has a sign with its sponsor. Booth sponsorships range from $100-$500. A flyer to become a sponsor comes home in the Take Home Folder in the month prior to the spring fair.

Get involved and consider contributing towards our wonderful community.