Carnival Games

by Barb Stephens

Carnival games are really quite simple to make. Here are some basic ideas for a good variety of games. Still others can be devised and included in your carnival. Just remember to keep them safe and keep them fun!

Ring Toss

This is always our most popular event. Cut a 4' x 4' x 1/2" sized board. Drill 1/2" holes through the board at about 6" - 8" intervals. Paint or stain it. Cut this board in half and connect the two sides with 2 or 3 small hinges - folded, it's easier to tote.

Cut some 1/2" dowels into 6" length pegs. Sand the ends and paint these. They are removable for ease in toting and storing. You can use lots of different colors and reward prize tickets according to color. We made 8 silver pegs that counted for bonus prize tickets as opposed to the other colored pegs.

Make rings out of rope or whatever you have handy. I had access to computer round reel tape "write" rings. These are 4" diameter plastic rings in a variety of colors. The different colored sets of rings make it easy to let more than one player play at a time.

The pegs and rings store easily in a small box.

Football Toss

Secure an old tire to a wooden sawhorse with a couple large nails. Find some same-sized footballs. Try to set this up in front of a fence or other structure to keep the balls from rolling off too far. Assign two workers to this game if you can.

Golf

We made a putting green by laying a 3' wide piece of 1/2" plywood board on a pair of 2" x 6" boards sloped-cut except for the last 3 feet which is left "whole." A 3" diameter hole was cut in the center of a 3' x 3' x 1/2" piece of plywood that was nailed to the top of the 2" x 6" boards. We covered this with some leftover outdoor patio carpet and inserted a PVC pipe (cut to fit) in the hole. Be sure to extend the carpet further than the slope - for the "tee" area. We added 1" x 10" boards around the whole structure and painted it to match the carpet.

Find some old golf balls and an old putter.

Basketball

Another sports game... We have a child's variable height basketball game. Place a board or some marker at whatever distance from the hoop you want. Be sure to have a couple balls for the contestant to shoot since balls from missed shots can veer off quite far. It would be nice to have a helper to run after the balls.

Shooting Gallery

Cut out four or five "birds" (different heights and widths and profiles) from 1" x 4" plywood (make them no larger than 6" high). Paint them bright colors and attach a small hinge to the back bottom side of each. Affix these birds to a 2' or 3' long crossbar (1" x 4" board). Then mount this board on its own frame or a sawhorse.

Make bean bags using old socks filled with dried beans or popcorn and tied off securely. Devise your own scoring system for knocking down the birds with the bean bags.

Darts

Connect four 1" x 4" boards to make a "flat" 4 foot square frame. Secure two 2' x 4' ceiling panels to this. You may want to add another board behind the "seam" for support. We duct taped the outside edge of the panels and the frame to protect the panel edges. This board is just the right height when placed on the bench of a picnic table.

Blow up some balloons (4-5" diameter) and attach them to the board with push pins. Try to blow up all your balloons before the carnival begins and store them in large garbage bags. Get some darts and you're set!  

Bumper Car

Attach a 1" x 2" board to each side of a 1" x 10" x 6' board. At each end, nail upright boards. These boards must be solidly attached so they don't "cave in" from the pull of the rubberbands that go over them. Paint this structure different colors.

Buy a child's plastic car or truck with smooth moving wheels that will fit inside the 10" track. Buy a lot of large rubber bands to secure over each set of end posts at the level of the rolling car/truck bumper. (The rubberbands can break easily.)

The contestant must push the car so it bounces off (at least) one end of the track and prize tickets are awarded according to the color with which the car's front axle is aligned.

Fish Pond

String up an old sheet or tarp for the "pond person" to sit behind. Tie a "spring" type clothespin to a rope that is tied to the end of an old fishing pole. Another worker in front helps the contestant "cast" their line over the sheet and the "pond person" attaches a small "catch." We used little toys, but I guess you could award prize tickets too. I think the little kids like the immediate reward of a toy better.

We used color coded clothespins to help the "pond person" award the more "gender-specific" prizes.

Duck Pond

Fill a wash tub half full of water, add some blue food coloring and you have the pond. Then number some floating rubber ducks on the bottom or purchase some plastic ones at a game store and number them. Have a separate bin of toys for each number your have and award the toy right away rather than prize tickets. This is another games the little kids gravitate to.

Lollipop Tree

Cut two tree shaped structures out of 1/2" plywood. Make the "leaf" portion of the tree about 12" in diameter. Glue these togehter. When dry, drill small holes randomly in the "leaf" portion of the tree. Secure the "trunk" of the tree between two 2" x 4" blocks. Paint it appropriately.

Alternatively you could make a lollipop lawn. We used a piece of 2" thick styrofoam painted green. (Be sure your paint doesn't "melt" the styrofoam!) Then no holes had to be drilled. You could also use a painted piece of 2" x 4" board and drill holes.

Buy small lollipops. Color the bottom tip of a small percentage. Each contestant gets to keep the lollipop they choose. Those who select a colored tip lollipop also receive a/some prize tickets.