12 Unique Community Events Daycares Can Host

June 11, 2026

Some of the most effective daycare marketing doesn’t happen online. It actually happens when families see your center actively participating in the community. Community involvement helps build trust, increases brand awareness, and creates opportunities for parents to meet your team in a relaxed, low-pressure setting.

When families repeatedly see your center supporting local events and providing value to the community, they begin to view your program as a trusted resource rather than just another childcare option. Over time, this familiarity can lead to more inquiries, tours, referrals, and enrollments. Not to mention, it just feels good to be a part of the community you operate in!

Here are some fun and unique community events daycares can host. Bonus: These can also double as marketing by helping your center stand out.

Family Fun Days

Host a free family event at your center or a local community space. Local community centres or parks/green spaces are a good and inexpensive indoor option if you don’t have the space at your center. Activities could include crafts, sensory bins, obstacle courses, face painting, bubbles, music, and outdoor games. Team up with other local business owners or creators to offer services and market themselves.

Family fun days give prospective families the chance to interact with your educators, explore your teaching style, and experience the welcoming atmosphere of your center. They’re also highly shareable on social media, helping you extend your reach beyond those who attend.

Seasonal and Holiday Celebrations

Families and children absolutely love holiday and seasonal celebrations of any kind. They are a great way to meet others, and a perfect opportunity to also show off some of your programming with a little “maker station” or “learning lab” hosted by your center. There are so many options, we’ve just outlined some of them below. The sky’s the limit!

  • Fall festivals and pumpkin decorating
  • Winter holiday markets
  • Spring family picnics
  • Summer BBQs
  • Valentine’s Day family craft nights
  • Easter egg hunts
  • Canada Day, July 4th, or community celebration events

These gatherings create positive memories for current families while introducing prospective parents to your center in a fun and engaging way. Again, look to partner with local businesses such as an independent grocery store to supply BBQ items or baked goods; a local face painter; musicians; local churches.

Community Festivals and Local Markets

Many towns and cities host festivals, fairs, and farmers’ markets throughout the year. Renting a booth can be a relatively inexpensive way to connect with hundreds of local families. Set up simple activities or learning labs where kids will want to stop and engage, giving you an opportunity to meet and chat with parents. Parents are often more likely to stop and chat when their children are engaged in an activity, giving you an opportunity to introduce your programs and answer questions.

Set up simple activities such as:

  • Coloring stations
  • Playdough tables
  • Sensory activities
  • Bubble station
  • Prize wheels – Hint: Add in something to do with the center to draw them back in.
  • Children’s craft projects
  • Learning lab with a fun STEM project

Kindergarten Readiness Workshops

Parents of preschool-aged children are always looking for ways to prepare their children for school. You can help get to the forefront of this need by proving your center to be a leader in children’s education. If your center offers before and after school programming, this is also a wonderful way to promote these services to families. Educational events position your center as an expert in early childhood development while providing valuable information to local families.

Offer free workshops covering topics such as:

  • Kindergarten readiness skills
  • Early literacy development
  • Building independence at home
  • Social-emotional development
  • Positive behaviour strategies

Charity and Community Service Events

Supporting a meaningful cause can strengthen your reputation while bringing families together. It allows you to really be a part of something important while connecting with others in the community. Parents appreciate centers that demonstrate community values and social responsibility.

Ideas include:

  • Food bank donation drives
  • Holiday toy collections
  • School supply drives
  • Community clean-up days
  • Fundraisers for local family organizations

Story Time in the Park

Partner with a local library or simply organize your own outdoor story time sessions at a nearby park.

Educators can read children’s books, lead songs and movement activities, and facilitate simple crafts. These events are low-cost, easy to organize, and highly visible to local families who may not yet know about your center. If you have any local authors in your area, think about partnering with them as well. Make it extra fun by doing themes, such as “teddy bear picnic story time” where little ones can bring their favourite teddy or stuffed toy.

Family Resource Nights

Invite local professionals to speak on topics that matter to parents. These events create value for both enrolled and prospective families while helping your center become a trusted source of information. Think about adding in a little snack or a meet and greet at the center, if time and space allows. There is no shortage of subjects, and local experts can help you narrow down the topic as well. Think about some of the following:

  • Child nutrition (Tip: Find a local nutritionist or other professional specializing in children)
  • Speech and language development (Tip: Reach out to a local paediatric speech pathologist)
  • Sleep routines (Tip: Find a local infant/child sleep expert to speak)
  • Child safety (Tip: A local firefighter or police officer can be a helpful resource)
  • Mental wellness for families (Tip: A child therapist or educator specializing in mental health)
  • Parenting strategies (Tip: A local educator or even Director from the center can be a good resource)

Parent & Child Activity Classes

Offer occasional free or low-cost classes that families can attend together. You can host these at the center, giving families and children an opportunity to view your space and become comfortable there. These programs allow parents to interact directly with your educators and experience the quality of your programming before enrolling. Examples include:

  • Music and movement sessions
  • Baby playgroups
  • Toddler sensory classes
  • Family yoga
  • Art workshops
  • Cooking activities for children

Community Partnerships

Build relationships with local businesses and organizations that serve families. It’s a great opportunity to support each other, creating long relationships. A bonus is that these businesses can then refer you onto families, and vice versa. Cross-promotional partnerships can also help introduce your center to new audiences and establish valuable community connections. Consider partnering with:

  • Libraries
  • Recreation centers
  • Pediatric clinics
  • Children’s museums
  • Family resource centers
  • Local schools
  • Local gyms

Host an Annual Open House and Community Fair

Take your traditional open house one step further by turning it into a larger community event. Invite local family-focused businesses and organizations to participate, such as speech therapists, photographers, swim schools, music instructors, and children’s activity providers.

Families appreciate having access to multiple resources in one place, and your center becomes the hub that brings everyone together.

Sponsor Local Youth Programs

Supporting local sports teams, dance programs, community theatre groups, or children’s events can increase visibility while demonstrating your commitment to local families. Even small sponsorships can help build name recognition within your community.

Why Community Events Work

Community events create something that advertising alone can’t: genuine relationships. They give prospective families an opportunity to interact with your staff, experience your culture, and build trust before they ever schedule a tour.

The best part is that many of these events can be promoted and managed through your childcare software. Parent communication tools, event registration features, digital RSVPs, family portals, and automated reminders make it easy to organize successful events while keeping both current and prospective families engaged.

When done consistently, community involvement doesn’t just increase visibility. It also helps position your center as an active, trusted part of the neighborhood, making families more likely to choose your program when childcare needs arise.

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