Candyland

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

This family event was a buffet then a bounty of desserts built around a Candyland theme. This event kept members and staff engaged during a slow time of the year and started the new year off with a fantastic family event.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

We closed off the banquet rooms from the dining rooms and built a life-sized Candyland game board using construction paper as the trail, pool noodles made into lollipops, beach balls and plastic plates wrapped in cellophane to make gumdrops, and used the stripped down Christmas trees and garland to make the Peppermint Forest and Lollipop Woods. We used a chocolate fountain for the Chocolate Mountains, a snowcone machine for Snowcone Sea, and we incorporated cotton candy, gumdrops, peanut brittle, licorice into the other area of the game board. We had a gingerbread decorating station and a giant inflatable Twister game as well. We also had a cakewalk where Candyland board games and cakes were the prizes. Staff were characters such as Grandma Nutt and Lolly. We fed the members in the dining rooms then brought them to the entrance to the ballroom which was closed off so they couldn't see the room, then we unveiled the room to the song Candyman by Sammy Davis Jr and a balloon drop. A playlist of candy/sugar themed songs played throughout. Colored lighting around the room made it even better. The parents and kids were amazed at the detail, creativity and use of the club's space.