11 Themes for Your Next School Holiday Shop

By Coryn Diehl on March 19, 2025 / Holiday Fundraising

11 Themes for Your Next School Holiday Shop

Everyone is excited for the annual school holiday shop – shopping for the kids, volunteer opportunities for staff, a way to bring the community together, and surprise gifts for parents. It’s a countdown every year!

Some years, however, the annual school holiday shop needs a boost. If you’re not promoting your school holiday shop with a theme, you’re missing out. Themes help grab attention, make the shop seem fresh, encourage donations, and help everyone get into the spirit of the season.

If you’re stuck on what themes to plan your school holiday shop around, we have you covered. Kids Kastle has been providing school holiday shop services for years and with our experienced staff of PTA members, we know what will work best to promote your school holiday shop this year.

Boost your school holiday with a new school holiday shop theme that is easy, family-friendly, and will get everyone excited. Take a look below or contact us to begin – we’re ready, it’s never too early to start planning.

Themes for Your School Holiday Shop

Winter Wonderland

Step into a sparkling Winter Wonderland filled with shimmering blues, silvers, and whites for this year’s school holiday shop.

Snowflakes dangle from the ceiling, and twinkling lights make everything feel magical. Icicle decorations line the tables, making kids feel like they’re shopping inside a snowy palace. Opt for silver, blue, and white wrapping paper and gift bags with snowflake stickers and gift labels.

At the end, students can sip hot cocoa after choosing their gifts and pose for a picture in a “snow globe” photo booth!

Santa’s Workshop

Welcome to Santa’s Workshop, where kids become honorary elves for the day at this year’s school holiday shop theme!

The shop is decked out in bright reds and greens, with toy-making stations and oversized candy canes. Santa’s “nice list” is on display, and children can write letters to Santa at a special holiday mailbox.

Volunteers for the school holiday shop can dress as elves to help little shoppers find the perfect gifts for family and friends. To bring the community together, invite a local toy drive to set up a collection box.

Animal Kingdom

The holiday season isn’t just for people—it’s for polar bears, penguins, and reindeer, too! If you’re looking for the perfect kid-friendly school holiday shop theme, Animal Kingdom is the perfect pick.

Your holiday shop is transformed into a snowy forest filled with twinkling trees, woodland critters, and frosty fun. Kids can follow paw prints on the floor leading to different gift sections, making shopping an adventure.

Choose gift bags and wrapping paper with penguins, polar bears, and reindeer. Have the kids craft their very own animal headband at the end to wear home or while they shop.

North Pole

Step into the heart of the North Pole, where Santa and Mrs. Claus are busy preparing for Christmas!

Your holiday shop decorations include snowy cottage cutouts, festive streetlights, and a magical toy shop to set the scene. A big red mailbox lets kids send letters straight to Santa, and every shopper gets a special “North Pole Passport” stamped at different gift stations.

Gingerbread Village

The Gingerbread Village is alive with candy-covered houses, gumdrop-lined walkways, and peppermint swirls everywhere! A true delight to walk into, a Gingerbread Village is a very popular school holiday shop theme for kids of any age.

Giant lollipop decorations make the shop feel like a page out of a holiday storybook. A “decorate your own gingerbread cookie” station keeps kids entertained, and shoppers can follow “candy cane signs” to different gift sections. If you want to get parents and students involved in more community events, they can join in a “Sweet Treats Exchange”, bringing homemade goodies to share and spread holiday cheer!

Holiday Express

All aboard the Holiday Express, where trains chug through snowy landscapes and take shoppers on a magical journey! If you’re looking for a school holiday shop theme that brings together every winter holiday, this is the match.

Mini train tracks weave through the shop, leading to different themed gift stations. Snowy railroad signs and station stops like “Reindeer Junction” and “Candy Cane Crossing” make shopping even more fun. Have volunteers wear conductor hats and ask kids to write on a community board their favorite place to visit in the winter — real or fictional!

12 Days of Christmas

Turn your school holiday shop into a 12 Days of Christmas countdown with decorations inspired by the famous song!

Each gift section can be themed around “five golden rings”, “four calling birds”, and even “a partridge in a pear tree”. Wrapping paper and gift bags feature playful images of drummers drumming and swans a-swimming. Parents and kids can take part in a “12 Days of Kindness Challenge”, completing fun holiday-themed good deeds together, like donations or writing thank-you notes to teachers!

Cozy Cabin

Imagine curling up by the fireplace with a cup of cocoa, watching the snow fall outside—welcome to the Cozy Cabin holiday shop!

Plaid tablecloths, rustic pine decorations, and twinkling fairy lights create a warm and inviting feel. Skating rink decorations and “log cabin gift stations” bring the winter magic to life. Put together a hot cocoa station to celebrate the end of shopping and allow students and staff to relax together after all the hard work.

Jingle Bells

Get ready to jingle all the way with a school holiday shop theme filled with holiday tunes and festive fun!

Musical notes decorate the walls, and gift sections are labeled after classic carols like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night”. The school’s music department can perform live holiday songs, creating a joyful atmosphere. Ask kids to share their favorite holiday song and include lyrics in their notes to families and friends who they have bought gifts for.

Candy Cane Lane

Take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane, where everything is red, white, and delightfully pepperminty!

Striped tablecloths, twinkling fairy lights, and oversized candy canes line the shop’s path. Each section of the shop can have a fun candy-themed name like “Peppermint Presents” or “Chocolate Cheer”. Use peppermint gift tags and red and silver bows for the wrapping station.

Include a game like “Guess the Number of Peppermints” to keep kids engaged and allow them to win a small holiday present.

Merry and Bright

Get ready to shine in the Merry & Bright holiday shop, where colorful lights and glowing decorations set the scene!

String lights twinkle above, and neon holiday signs make everything feel extra festive. Each gift station glows with rainbow colors, and children can create their own “Light Up a Wish” holiday cards to spread cheer. Staff can wear illuminated necklaces or headbands and you can include a festive holiday outfit contest to encourage everyone to dress up.

Make Your School Holiday Shop Memorable with a New Theme

Themes are a great way to get everyone involved in the holiday spirit and bring your school holiday shop to life. Embrace the cozy cabin, travel on a holiday express, or indulge your favorite holiday tunes to get everyone in the spirit.

These school holiday shop themes are designed to make the School Holiday Shop more than just a place to buy gifts—they create an experience that brings kids, parents, and the whole community together in the holiday spirit!

Need more tips? Check out top trends for school holiday shops in 2024-2025.

How To Plan Your School Holiday Shop Timeline

By Coryn Diehl on February 13, 2025 / Holiday Fundraising

Planning Your School's Holiday Shop Timeline

Like any large, school-wide event, a school holiday shop takes planning and time to be successful. While school holiday shop companies like Kids’ Kastle make it easy to dive in with packages and product samples, the more time you give yourself, the better your school holiday shop can be.

Putting together a school holiday shop takes time, teamwork, and a little bit of magic. But don’t worry—it’s totally doable, and the results are worth it!

With our holiday shop timeline guide, get a complete breakdown of when to start planning, what tasks need completed, how to ask volunteers, where to host your holiday school shop, and how to market this holiday shop event.

With the right plan in place, your holiday shop will be a fantastic event full of smiles, surprises, and holiday cheer. Let’s dive in and make it happen, see the best timeline for planning a school holiday shop and what items to check off your to-do list each week.

3-4 Months Before The School Holiday Shop

The best events don’t just happen overnight—they take a little planning! That’s why, even though the holidays may seem far away, the start of the school year is the perfect time to begin preparing for your school’s holiday shop.

Getting these big pieces in place now will make the rest of your holiday shop planning a breeze. Stay ahead of the game, and your school will be ready for a magical and successful event!

First things first: find a holiday shop provider. Companies like Kid’s Kastle make it super easy to host your own school holiday shop by offering no-count inventory (which means you only pay for what you sell). They also provide a wide selection of gifts that students will love and aren’t just clutter clogging up the house. Plus, the price is right, at most gifts under $10!
At the start of the school year, you also want to decide where your holiday shop will be set up. Will it be in the library? The gym? A classroom? Picking the perfect location now helps avoid last-minute scrambling. You can appropriately order any tables, banners, or any other accommodations and ensure the space is available for use.
It’s never too early to start recruiting volunteers. A holiday shop is way more fun (and much easier) with a great team! Parents, teachers, and even older students can help with setting up, running registers, and assisting shoppers. By promoting the need for volunteers ahead of time, parents are more able to free their schedule and be involved.

4-5 Weeks Before the School Holiday Shop

The holiday shop is getting closer and you want to finalize some of the larger details to ensure a smooth experience. Now is the time to start bringing all the pieces together so your event is a big success with as little stress the day of as possible.

Now is the time to get the location set, volunteers lined up, and start promoting the buzz around school.

Step 1: Confirm Your Location & Time – Double-check where your holiday shop will be set up. Will it be in the gym, library, cafeteria, or a classroom? Decide if the shop will be open during school hours, after school, or both! Having this all set now helps everyone plan ahead and you can reserve the space so no other events overlap.

Step 2: Round Up Volunteers – It’s time to reach out to parents, teachers, and even older students to help run the shop. You’ll need people to set up, assist shoppers, handle checkout, and clean up. Send reminders so everyone knows their role! Now is when to gather confirmations from everyone you talked to at the start of the school year.

Step 3: Start Promoting! – Now’s the perfect time to build excitement! With all the details in place, you can begin promotion. Many holiday shop providers, like Kid’s Kastle, provide posters, banners, and flyers to help spread the word. Hang them in hallways, classrooms, and near the front office so every student knows when and where to shop! Make sure to send them home with students so parents are prepared.

2-3 Weeks Before the School Holiday Shop

Your holiday shop is just around the corner, and things are getting exciting! Now it’s time to focus on logistics—making sure everything is set up so the event runs smoothly and every student gets a chance to shop.

With a solid plan in place, the holiday shop will be a magical experience for students, parents, and staff. The countdown is on!

To-Do:

Plan Classroom Visits – Work with teachers to create a schedule for when each class will visit the shop. This helps avoid crowding and gives students plenty of time to pick out the perfect gifts. Decide if students will visit during class time, recess, or another designated period.

Set Up the Shop Layout – Think about how gifts will be displayed. Will there be sections for different price ranges? A checkout station? A gift-wrapping area? Arranging the shop in an organized and easy-to-navigate way will make shopping fun and stress-free for students.

Spread the Word – It’s time for the final round of promotions! Send take-home flyers with students so parents know about the event. Post reminders in school social media groups to get families excited. Make announcements during morning messages or assemblies to build up the hype!

1 Week Before the School Holiday Shop

The holiday shop is almost here—just one more week to go! Now’s the time to double-check everything so the event runs smoothly and everyone is ready to shop. Get ready for a week full of holiday cheer, happy shoppers, and an unforgettable event!

Remember!

Finalize the Classroom Visit Schedule – Make sure every class has a set time to visit the shop. Share the final schedule with teachers so they know when to bring their students. If parents are allowed to shop too, confirm after-school hours so families can plan ahead.

Confirm Volunteer Assignments – Check your volunteer list and make sure each person knows their role. Some helpers will be at the checkout station, others will assist students at the school holiday shop, and some may be in charge of restocking gifts or wrapping presents. Send out reminder emails or texts to keep everyone on track!

Daily Reminder Events — Morning announcements are a fun reminder each day to build anticipation. Social Media Posts can share countdown posts, sneak peeks of gifts, or reminders about pricing. And include emails to families with details on when and where to shop.

Let Kid's Kastle Help Your Next School Holiday Shop Be a Success

With the right planning, a great team of volunteers, and plenty of excitement, your school’s holiday shop is sure to be a huge success! By following this timeline, you’ll create a fun and stress-free shopping experience where students can find the perfect gifts for their loved ones.

To make your holiday shop even easier, choosing the right provider is key! Kid’s Kastle offers everything you need for a smooth and successful event: no count inventory, wide variety of gifts, the right price point, and promotional materials.

By partnering with Kid’s Kastle, you’ll have all the tools and resources to make your holiday shop the best one yet. Now, let’s bring on the holiday cheer and make this event unforgettable!

9 Easy Ways to Promote Your School Holiday Shop

By Kids' Kastle Holiday Shoppes on November 15, 2024 / Holiday Fundraising, School Fundraising Tips

9 Easy Ways to Promote Your School Holiday Shop

At Kids’ Kastle, we know how exciting (and a little overwhelming) planning school holiday shops can be! Whether you’re a seasoned PTA member or new to organizing school fundraisers, promoting your holiday shop is key to its success.

Don’t worry— promoting your school holiday shop can be simple, effective, and achievable for every school. Dive in to 9 ways to promote your school holiday fundraiser that will make it the talk of the school!

1. Spread the Word About Your School Holiday Shop Early

The earlier you promote your school holiday shop, the better! Start sharing details 4–6 weeks before the event, if not sooner. Send home flyers in backpacks, include announcements in your school’s newsletters, and post updates on the school’s website.

Early communication ensures parents and students can mark their calendars and get excited about shopping for gifts! Get the hype going on social media and with posters on the windows so no one can miss it when they come to visit or pick up their child.

2. Leverage Social Media for the Best School Holiday Shop Promo

Social media is one of the easiest ways to promote your school holiday shop in 2025. Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X to share posts, countdowns, and sneak peeks of the items students can buy.

You can also create a Facebook event for your holiday shop to keep everyone in the loop. Encourage parents to share posts with friends and family to spread the word even further. Make your posts sharable, have easy to read graphics, and don’t be afraid to tag people who are interested.

Bonus: partner with local businesses so they will cross-promote your school holiday shop fundraiser on their feeds.

3. Send Reminders Regularly with School Holiday Shop Details

Life gets busy, and sometimes parents need a little nudge. About a week before the holiday shop, send a friendly reminder email or text blast. Mention the dates, times, and location of the shop, and include a brief list of the items available. Make this a weekly reminder during the final month countdown – we all know how easy the holidays can distract us!

Tip: Attach a budget envelope or shopping checklist for students to bring to the event. Parents will appreciate the extra help in planning.

4. Promote Your Holiday Shop with Eye-Catching Posters

Bright, colorful posters are a great way to capture attention in hallways, classrooms, and common areas. Include the shop’s name, your theme for the year, dates, times, and a brief description, like: “Find the perfect gifts for family and friends at affordable prices!”

You can even make this a fun project by involving students in designing the posters. The more involved students and the PTA are, the more word of mouth your holiday shop will get. Plus, local businesses may be willing to pitch in supplies or help promote the shop.

5. Host a Kickoff Event to Get the Holiday Shop Started

Why not start your school holiday shop with a little fanfare? Host a kickoff event or assembly to build excitement. You could show off some of the gift items, explain how the shop works, and highlight how this school fundraiser supports the school.

A kickoff event is a fantastic way to answer questions and get everyone looking forward to the big day. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to ask their questions and prepare so there are fewer hiccups or confusion the day of – win-win!

6. Holiday Shops Should be Reminded During Morning Announcements

Morning announcements are perfect for quick reminders about your school holiday shop. In the days leading up to the event, share fun facts about the shop, highlight popular gift ideas, or give a shoutout to volunteers helping to make it happen. Mix it up so students and faculty don’t just tone it out, but find new reasons to get excited.

For example:
“Good morning! Don’t forget, the Kids’ Kastle Holiday Shop opens this Friday! Come pick out amazing gifts for your family and friends! Our theme is ‘winter wonderland’ so dress your winter best while you shop!”

7. School Holiday Shops Should Be Festive

Set the scene by decorating the holiday shop area in your theme of the year. Festive decorations like string lights, garlands, and holiday music can make the shopping experience feel extra special for students.

Parents and volunteers can also dress up in holiday attire to add to the festive atmosphere. When students have fun, they’ll want to spread the word to their friends. Pick a theme to easily get attention and one that is friendly for every winter holiday celebration.

8. Engage Volunteers - They Are the Magic Behind the School Holiday Shop

Your school holiday shop will shine with the help of parent and teacher volunteers. Ask for their support early, and encourage them to help promote the event. Volunteers can talk it up during parent-teacher meetings, sports events, or even while chatting in the carpool line.

More buzz means more shoppers, and more shoppers mean a more successful school fundraising promotion! Ask your volunteers what they need and make it easy for them to get involved.

9. Partner with Local Businesses As an Added Bonus to School Holiday Fundraiser

Team up with nearby businesses to promote your school holiday shop. Ask local coffee shops or stores to hang up posters or include your event in their community bulletins. Some businesses may even donate small items or services to support your school fundraiser. It’s a win-win situation that benefits everyone in the community!

Need more ideas? Check out how to promote your school holiday shop entirely online: How to Promote Your Virtual School Fundraiser

Make Your Holiday School Fundraiser a Success

Promoting your school holiday shop doesn’t have to be complicated. With these nine tips, you’ll create excitement, boost attendance, and maximize your fundraiser’s potential. At Kids’ Kastle, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Together, let’s make this year’s holiday shop one to remember!

Promoting your school holiday shop may seem like a big task, but with these easy steps, success is within reach. Kids’ Kastle is cheering you on—happy planning!

FAQs About Promoting Your School Holiday Shop

How far in advance should we start promoting our school holiday shop?
We recommend starting 4–6 weeks before the event. This gives everyone plenty of time to plan and get excited.

How can I get parents more involved in promoting the event?
Involve parents by asking them to volunteer, share social media posts, or spread the word at school events. Sending emails and providing flyers can also encourage participation.

What if our school doesn’t have a large budget for promotions?
No problem! Many promotion strategies, like social media posts, morning announcements, and DIY posters, are completely free. Focus on creativity and enthusiasm to make a big impact.

How can I make our shop stand out from others?
Make your shop festive and fun! Decorations, music, and friendly volunteers create an inviting atmosphere. Highlight unique or popular gifts in your promotions.

What if parents ask about the quality of the gifts?
Reassure them that Kids’ Kastle carefully selects affordable, high-quality items that kids and parents will love. Share sneak peeks of the products to build excitement.

Can we promote the shop during other school events?
Absolutely! Mention your holiday shop during PTA meetings, parent nights, and school assemblies to reach a wider audience.

What should I include in social media posts?
Share the shop’s dates, times, and highlights. Include photos of the gift items or past events. Be friendly and engaging—let your enthusiasm shine!

How can we make students excited about the shop?
Host a kickoff event, show sneak peeks of the items, and let students decorate the posters. When students are excited, they’ll encourage their parents to participate.

What’s the most important thing to remember when promoting a holiday shop?
Keep it simple and fun! Enthusiasm is contagious, and a well-promoted holiday shop can be a highlight of the school year.

Holiday Fundraising