Carnival games add a festive and entertaining element to various events, but the cost of renting them from event companies can be high. Fortunately, many popular carnival games can be created inexpensively. Whether you’re organizing a trunk or treat event, a school fundraiser, or a family festival, these homemade carnival games are not only easy to make but also enjoyable for participants of all ages.
01. Pick a Duck
In the “Pick a Duck” carnival game, participants select a rubber duck from a pool of water. If the duck has a colored dot on the bottom, the contestant wins a corresponding prize. This DIY game requires small rubber ducks, colored markers, a plastic swimming pool, and water.
02. Water Coin Drop
The “Water Coin Drop” game involves placing a glass with coins at the bottom of an aquarium tank filled with water. Participants drop coins into the water, aiming to land them inside the glass to win. All you need is a tank, a glass, coins, and water.
03. Balloon Pop
For the “Balloon Pop” game, balloons are attached to index cards on a wall, hiding prize descriptions. Participants throw darts at the balloons to reveal the prize. Set up requires index cards, balloons, pins, darts, and a wall.
04. Gone Fishing
Using a child-sized fishing pole with a binder clip at the end, or a DIY version with a stick, rope, and binder clip, participants “catch” prizes hidden behind a wall. Attach small prizes to the clip, and let kids experience the excitement of fishing.
05. Dino Dig
Create a messy but enjoyable “Dino Dig” by burying plastic eggs filled with stickers or small prizes in a container of sand. Children use plastic shovels to dig for eggs, revealing their hidden treasures.
06. Bobbing for Apples
A classic fall game, “Bobbing for Apples,” can be made hygienic by hanging apples from strings or using nets to catch apples in a water-filled bucket. This adds a fun twist to the traditional bobbing for apples experience.
07. Bean Bag Toss
Create your own bean bag toss game with boards featuring different holes, each representing a prize tier. Participants aim to get the bean bag through specific holes to win corresponding prizes, with different colors or rings indicating prize levels.
08. Spin the Wheel
Craft a spinning wheel with various sections, each depicting different themes or prizes. Participants choose a theme or number, and if the wheel lands on their selection, they win a prize. Add an extra element by using numbers for a candy pot, making it engaging for participants to guess and win candy.
09. Find the Ball
This classic game involves hiding a ball under one of three cups, then moving the cups around. Participants must guess the cup containing the ball. Alternatively, hide the cups under a piece of cardboard, and players guess the cup without any movement.
10. Lollipop Pull
Set up a lollipop pull with lollipops placed in hay, colored at the bottom with markers. Participants pull a lollipop and receive a prize based on the color of the stick. Adjust difficulty by coloring only a few sticks or all of them, designating separate prize tiers.
11. Milk Bottle Toss
For the milk bottle toss, stack heavy-bottomed bottles on a table. Participants throw balls from a designated line, aiming to knock down the bottles. The one who knocks down the most bottles wins.
12. Ring Toss
In the ring toss game, participants aim to get rings around the tops of bottles. Set up a crate, fill it with bottles, and provide rings. Players throw rings towards the bottles, and the one with the most successful tosses wins a prize.
13. Water Gun Spray
Engage participants in a head-to-head competition with water guns, lightweight balls, and golf tees. The goal is to knock the ball off the tee using the water gun spray before the opponent does. Vary the difficulty by adjusting ball weight or using a larger ball stand.
14. Donut Eating Game
Create a hilarious and crowd-friendly game by hanging donuts on strings between two sturdy points. Participants stand under a donut and attempt to finish it without letting any part fall to the ground, all without using their hands. Adjust string lengths for different heights and replace strings between rounds for cleanliness.
15. Tin Can Bowling
Set up a fun and simple tin can bowling game using recycled tin cans stacked in a pyramid shape. Participants roll a round ball, such as a soccer or basketball, to knock down as many cans as possible. Vary the difficulty by adjusting the distance for different age groups.
16. Plinko
Craft your version of the classic Plinko game using plywood, nails, and a circular item. Hammer nails into the plywood, leaving spaces for the item to navigate. Assign point values to different lanes, and players aim to get their piece into a selected number. The randomness adds excitement and challenge.
17. Coin or Penny Throw
Cover a table with paper and draw circles with varying sizes and point values. Participants take turns throwing coins or pennies across the table, aiming to land them in circles with higher values. Adjust the difficulty by changing circle sizes and distances.
18. Guess How Many
Set up a classic guessing game by filling a jar with small items like beans or candy. Participants make their best guess for the number of items in the jar, writing it down on paper scraps. The person with the closest guess wins the jar and its contents.