Event Signage Ideas for Schools, Churches and Nonprofits
Schools, churches and nonprofits hold events all year: open houses, enrollment nights, festivals, fundraisers, holiday services and community days. Many of the people who come live nearby and decide to stop by because they saw a sign.
Good event signage does three things: tells people the event is happening, helps them find it, and makes the location look welcoming when they arrive.
Before the event: let the neighborhood know
1. Put a banner up a week or two ahead
A banner facing the busiest road near your building, with the event name, date and time, reaches everyone who drives by. Keep the text short enough to read at driving speed.
2. Use your marquee or message board
If you have a changeable sign, update it early and keep the message short: “Fall Festival Sat 10–4.”
3. Add yard signs at nearby corners
Where local rules allow, a few small signs at nearby intersections reach drivers who don’t pass your building.
4. Ask families and members to share
Give families, members and volunteers a simple graphic to post online and a flyer to share at work.
On the day: make it easy to find
5. Mark the entrance from the road
On event day, the entrance should be impossible to miss. Height and color work best: flags, a balloon display or a large “Event Today” sign at the driveway.
6. Guide people from the parking lot
Arrows to the right building and door, especially on large campuses. Volunteers in matching shirts help too.
7. Mark parking clearly
“Event parking” signs, overflow parking directions and accessible spaces.
8. Welcome people at the door
A welcome sign, a greeter and a simple map or schedule make first-time visitors feel comfortable.
Event-specific ideas
School open houses and enrollment nights
- Banners with the date at least two weeks ahead
- Signs at each entrance pointing to the main office or gym
- A display at the front entrance so parents know where to go
Church outreach events and holiday services
- Service times on the street sign, updated for holidays
- A friendly “Everyone welcome” message
- Signs pointing new visitors to the entrance and children’s areas
Festivals and community days
- Colorful displays at every entrance
- A large map near the main entrance
- Signs for restrooms, food, activities and first aid
Fundraisers
- The cause and the goal on the main banner
- A progress sign that updates during the event
- Sponsor recognition signs, which also encourage future sponsors
Practical tips
- Keep it consistent. Use the same colors and logo on every sign so people recognize them.
- Make it readable. Large letters, high contrast, few words.
- Secure everything. Weighted bases, tied-down banners and secured displays, especially on windy days.
- Skip the balloon release. Twelve states now restrict releases. A balloon display that stays put, or a different send-off such as bubbles, avoids the problem. (See Balloon Release Laws by State.)
- Check local rules. Many cities limit temporary signs, especially off-site signs at intersections. (See Curb Appeal That Gets Noticed and Stays Within Your City’s Sign Rules.)
- Collect signs right after. Take everything down promptly, especially off-site signs.
- Reuse what you can. Signs without dates, durable banners and reusable displays save money across many events each year.
The bottom line
Schools, churches and nonprofits draw most of their event guests from the neighborhood. Announce events early with banners facing the road, make the entrance impossible to miss on the day, guide people from the parking lot to the door, and reuse durable signs and displays from event to event.
Balloon Street Media is building durable, reusable outdoor balloon displays for schools, churches and other organizations that need to be seen from the road. Join the list to hear when they launch.