Logistics and Funding

Choosing a Location

If you are hosting a Colonial Day for a large group of students, such as all fifth-graders in your district, you may want to seek community support in providing a free or low-cost space for your event. You will want to find spaces that can accommodate large and small group activities. Possible locations may include:

• A county courthouse – Like the State Capitol, many of Oklahoma’s county courthouses provide a great setting for Colonial Day, with their historical architecture and their daily role in American civics. In addition, the courtrooms provide excellent spaces for large group activities like an opening ceremony, Patriot-Loyalist debate or historical character presentations.
• A community center
• A local college or career tech center
• A hotel conference center
• A museum or historical center

Funding Sources

Colonial Day events can be held at a very low cost if you find local sponsors to provide space for your event and get local teachers and community volunteers to present sessions, make costumes or provide supplies. The Oklahoma History Center provides a number of Colonial-themed hands-on history trunks that can be checked out free of charge and even historical interpreters.

Costs that you might incur for Colonial Day would include fees for guest speakers or historical interpreters, meals, supplies for presentations, costumes, postage, awards, student souvenirs, promotional materials or thank-you gifts.

• The Oklahoma Humanities Council provides Opportunity Grants of up to $1,500 for arts and humanities programs.
• Your local public school foundation may be able to assist you in sponsoring a portion of your Colonial Day costs.
• Contact local civic clubs, such as Lions or Rotary, or historical organizations, such as Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution or Sons of the American Revolution, to serve as sponsors or participants in your event.
• Ask local banks, businesses and school supporters to serve as sponsors of your event. Some companies may also be willing to make ”in-kind” donations of products and services needed for your Colonial Day.

Make sure to recognize your donors at your event and in printed programs. At Colonial Day at the Capitol, donors receive traditional colonial ginger cookies and root beer. We add Colonial Day labels to the outside of each bottle.