Consider implementing a theme into a Winterfest event that helps direct other decisions such as decor and activities. You may couple winter fun with educational topics such as reading or feature covers from middle school books with a winter theme, such as "Brian's Winter" or "Winter Room," both by Gary Paulsen, or "Beardance" by Will Hobbs. Other winter themes include "Winter Wonderland," "Winter Sports" or winter movies such as "Mixed Nuts" or "Snow Day."
Use the theme to dictate the event's decorations. Generic winter-themed decorations include items like snowmen, snowflakes or Jack Frost. Make adorable snowmen by covering three Styrofoam balls in cotton batting. Stack the balls and use a dowel stick to connect them in the middle. Embellish the snowman's face with buttons and felt pieces. To make snowflakes, have students glue craft sticks into appropriate designs that are painted and hung from the venue ceiling.
Carnival-type games like a "snowball throw" are inexpensive to create and fun for people of all skill levels. Make snowballs by covering some Nerf balls with glue and cotton batting. Set up some trash cans and let players see how many snowballs they can throw into them.
You may also consider having a winter-themed dance. Designate a portion of the venue for a dance floor and play music such as "Winter Wonderland" and "Skyway" by The Replacements.
Other ideas for a middle school PTO-sponsored Winterfest include giving out winter-themed prizes to game winners. The prizes can be winter gloves or mittens (one size fits all), scarves, window scrapers (for parents), and gift cards to a coffee shop.
Advertise your Winterfest with homemade posters. Get students involved in creating the posters on a computer or by hand on large pieces of poster board. One poster idea is to draw pictures of people and glue fabric scraps to garb them in winter jackets, mittens and other winter gear.