fete

A fete is a public festival or celebration, typically community-oriented, often held outdoors and featuring entertainment, food, games, crafts, and stalls. Many fetes are organized as fundraisers for schools, charities, or local organizations, with proceeds supporting community programs.

The word comes from the French fête meaning festival or holiday. In English, fete can be a noun referring to such an event, or a verb meaning to honor or celebrate someone. The form with diacritic, fête, is common in French; English usage often drops the accent.

A village fete usually includes stalls selling cakes, plants, crafts, and used goods; games and raffles or tombola; live music, demonstrations, and children’s activities; and refreshments such as tea, buns, or ice cream. Layout is often on a village green or school grounds, run by volunteers.

Fetes have historical roots in religious feasts, harvest celebrations, and medieval fairs; over time they became secular community events, especially in Britain and parts of the Commonwealth. They function as social gatherings that reinforce local ties and support charitable work.

Fetes overlap with fairs, festivals, and carnivals but are usually smaller in scale and more locally focused, with an emphasis on fundraising and community participation. The term may appear in invitations and event names as “fête” with the accent.