at the races

Make a "racetrack" with six lanes. You can make a sturdy track out of wood and paint the lanes on, or just use a long sheet of the wide paper used to cover bulletin boards and draw the lanes on with a marking pen. Divide each lane into about 8-12 spaces, as shown below. 

You can have up to six players at one time with this game. The player places their horse (or vehicle, animal, etc.) on a lane. The operator throws a die (the jumbo foam ones work well for this) and the player whose lane number comes up gets to move forward one space. You can also use a pair of dice, one to determine the lane that moves and the other how many spaces to move.

Variations:

Space Race: Use spaceships as the vehicles and paint stars on the track.

Start Your Engines: Use Mini Cars, and paint the finish area like a checkered flag.

Elephant Walk: Use plastic elephants and paint the course like a circus ring.

Steeplechase: Use plastic horses and put "jumps" between the spaces. Ideas for building jumps include Legos, building blocks, Kinex, painted dowels, tree twigs, etc.

Frog Jump:  Use our Jumping Frogs with lilly pads on the race track.

Balloon stomp

Tuck a prize slip inside a small balloon and then inflate. You can write the name of the prize on the slip or just a number corresponding to a prize. Have lots of prize balloons ready, store in plastic bags. Player chooses a balloon and "stomps" it to pop it and see what their prize will be.

bank-a-shot, Flukie Ball

This is a common game at carnival midways. Players try to bounce a ball off of a target on a easel-type stand and get the ball to land in a basket. You could use an art easel as the target and a  plastic laundry basket set at the easel's base as your basket.

Baseball Toss

Make a target out of plywood, foamcore or cardboard  for baseballs. Paint the board with a fun sports design and cut out holes large enough for the baseballs to go through. Each player gets to throw three balls at the target. Soft foam balls are safest.

basketball

We have used both the standard size basketball goal and kid-sized goals. Players get three tries to make a basket. Always a long line for this!

bean bag Toss

Make a target out of plywood, foamcore or cardboard for beanbags. Paint the board with a fun design and cut out holes large enough for the bean bags to go through. Each player gets to throw three bean bags at the target. It's helpful to have at least two sets of bean bags on hand so one helper can chase bags while the other helper works with the next person in line.

Variations:

Asteroid Blast: Use an outer space-related picture as the target. Ideas are stars, planets, or a funny looking alien. You could make the beanbags to look like asteroids by stuffing them with a few marbles among the beans. 

Lion Tamer: Set up a hula hoop so it stands up securely. Player tries to throw a small stuffed (or beanbag) lion or tiger through the hoop. Decorate the hoop with colour paper to look like flames.

Circus Beanbags: Use a circus-related picture as the target. Ideas are a clown or jester, circus elephant, or tiger. You could make the beanbags to look like juggling balls for an added effect. 

Feed the Cows (or Pigs): Use a picture of a pig or a cow as the target. You could make the beanbags out of felt to look like corncobs, or use dried or plastic corncobs. 

bowling

You can use real bowling pins, a kid's bowling set, or empty 2 liter pop bottles weighed with a little sand or water.

brain teasers

We had a table where parents asked grade-appropriate questions. I had my doubts whether this would be popular, but the kids really had fun with it!

bucket toss

Attach 3 to 6 small buckets to a board about 6" apart. The player tries to toss a soft ball into the buckets in order, from the closest to the farthest away.

bushel basket toss

Nail 1-3 large bushel baskets onto a board. Angle the board to tilt the baskets about 45 degrees. Players try to toss a softball into the basket so it does not bounce out. Harder than it sounds!

cake (or cookie, candy, pie) walk

Players walk in a circle of numbered squares while music plays. When the music stops, the operator chooses the winning numbers from a hat. Players standing on a winning number get a prize. Check with local codes if home-made goods can be used, otherwise use prizes like Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies, Fruit Pies, or packaged cookies. Often local grocery stores will donate goods, or check with local fast-food outlets for gift certificates for ice cream cones, cookies, etc.  

can knockdown

Stack cans in a pyramid. Each player gets to throw one to three balls at the cans. You can use tennis balls, rubber baseballs, or other types of balls for this game. You can decide if they must knock down all or just a few cans to win a prize. 

dart throw

Make a backboard out of plywood and attach inflated balloons with push pins. A Castle Of Toys have balloons specifically made for this game. Each player gets to throw three darts at the balloons. You can award prizes based on the number of balloons popped, or attach a tag to each balloon that states the prize won. This game requires alert operators; don't let kids run this game!

Variations:

Go Fish Darts: Use a deck of "Go Fish" playing cards, available from A Castle Of Toys, as the targets. Player wins by hitting matching cards with their darts.

dinosaur dig

Fill a wheelbarrow or rigid plastic wading pool with sand. Bury small plastic animals in the sand. Give the player a small shovel and let them dig up their prize. This one is popular with the smaller players! A variety of prizes are available from A Castle Of Toys that are great for this game.

duck pond

 The player selects a duck from the wading pool "pond," the number on the bottom of the duck determines the prize. The player can just pick the duck up or you can use a net to scoop it up. A Castle Of Toys have ducks available.

Variations:

Fish Pond: Instead of ducks, use plastic fish with a small metal washer attached. The player uses a fishing pole with a magnet on the end to "catch" their numbered fish. You could mix a few plastic sharks and/or octopuses in with the fish for fun.

     Snake Pit: Instead of ducks, use small vinyl snakes. The player selects a snake that has a          number on the bottom.

Face Painting

Kids love to have their faces painted! Keep the designs simple and provide a limited number of choices so you can move lots of kids through. A Castle Of Toys can supply face paints for your event.

fishing pond

This is a classic. Player extends a small fishing pole over (or through a hole in) a screen. The operator in back of the screen attaches a prize to the line. Fishing poles can easily be made from bamboo sticks or wooden dowels with a clothespin or paper clamp on the end of a string. Paint the screen with lively underwater designs for more fun. A large assortment of fish pond prizes are available from A Castle Of Toys.

Football Toss

Make a target out of plywood, foamcore or cardboard for small footballs. Paint the board with a fun sports design and cut out holes large enough for the footballs to go through. Each player gets to throw three footballs at the target. Soft mini footballs are available from A Castle Of Toys.

candy jar guess

Fill a large clear jar with candy assortments. Players write their guess as to how many objects are in the jar on a slip of paper. At the end of the carnival or at a set time, announce the winner and award a large prize.

hockey

Use a kids hockey set. Mark out numbers with tape (or use chalk outside) that correspond to prizes. The player hits the puck with the stick and gets a prize corresponding to the number the puck lands on.  

Variations:

Goal!: Have the players aim for a hole cut in a piece of cardboard,foamcore or plywood. They get three chances to get the puck through the hole. Paint the target to look like a goalie guarding the net.

hoopla

Player throws a hoop to try and ring a prize and the Hoopla stand. A Hoopla stand is basically a box with a dowel sticking out of the top on which a prize is attached. The hoop must be completely around the prize and the stand to win. To make the game harder, use a smaller hoop. To make it easier, use a large hoop such as a hula hoop. 

Variations:

Ring Around Saturn: Use a ball as the prize. Space-theme balls are available, or use a basketball or beach ball. 

Teddy Bear Toss: Use a stuffed teddy bear as the prize.

Hog Calling: Use a stuffed pig as the prize.

Prizewinning Pumpkin: Use a pumpkin as the target, could also be the prize or use a stuffed animal or other prize.

jail

Decorate an area as the "jail" and have volunteers dress as police officers or sheriffs.  A person is arrested when a "friend" pays one ticket to have them jailed. They then have to pay one ticket to get out. This game works better with older children and teens.

lollipop Tree

You set up a wood or cardboard "tree" with lots of lollipops on it. This doesn't have to be fancy, just a board with holes in it will work. The lollipops are marked on the stick end with a color that corresponds to a prize or number of tickets the player will win. The player chooses a lollipop and wins that prize, plus gets to keep the lollipop. A Castle Of Toys have lollipops that work well for this game.

lucky Lei

The player chooses a colourful lei and is awarded a prize based on the colour. A Castle Of Toys have an assortment of lei’s.

milk bottle knockdown

Stack six wood or aluminium milk bottles in a pyramid. Each player gets to throw one to three rubber baseballs at the bottles. You can decide if they must knock down all or just a few bottles to win a prize. 

milk can toss

Player tries to throw a baseball into a large metal milk can. Harder than it sounds! 

mini-golf

Whether it's a single hole or a 9-hole course, miniature golf is always fun. Someone in your organization may have (or have access to through their company) a mini-golf set up.

Variations:

One Giant Step or Golfing on the Moon: Set up a mini-golf hole across a thick foam pad to simulate a moon walk. Cut on hole in the pad for the ball to go in.

paratrooper landing

Player throws a figure with attached parachute at prizes scattered on the floor. Player gets the prize they land nearest to. A Castle Of Toys have paratroopers.  This is a very simple game to set up and works well for class and birthday parties.

penny Pitch

Player throws a penny at targets on a floor or table. You can award tickets or prizes for landing on a target or on a specific spot on a target. It’s great fun to use funny photos of the teachers as targets. 

pick my pocket

Volunteers wear colorful aprons with lots of pockets and circulate throughout the carnival. Each pocket holds a different prize. Player gets to choose the pocket. 

Variations:

Grandma's Apron: Have the volunteers wear gray wigs (if needed!) and granny glasses.

ping pong ball toss

Use goldfish bowls as the targets. Each player gets to throw three ping pong balls. You can color-code the bowls to prizes or use 1-3 balls in to determine the prize. It's helpful to have at least two sets of balls on hand so one helper can chase balls while the other helper works with the next person in line.

Variations:

Floating Bowls: Use bowls on floating rings as the targets.

Cupcake Pans: Use cupcake pans as the targets. Color the bottom of each pan to determine the prize.

Quarter drop

Set up an aquarium with a small container on the bottom . Fill the aquarium with water and add decorations if desired. The player drops a quarter, penny or marble and a prize is awarded for a hit. 

Ring Toss

Player tries to toss soft friendship bracelets as the rings over a target. A Castle Of Toys has inexpensive friendship rope rings available.

Variations:

On the Farm Ring Toss: Use farm animals as the targets. The bendy animals on a ring toss frame would work great here.

Floating Ring Toss: Use a floating duck target to add a bit of splash to the game. 

Flamingo Ring Toss: Use plastic lawn ornament flamingos as the targets. Player tries to toss the ring around the flamingo's neck.

Pop Bottle Ring Toss: This is always a very popular game at our carnival. We use 2-liter bottles of pop (donated) as the targets. Rings made from friendship bracelet rope work much better than wood or plastic rings for this game as they don't bounce off as much.

Soccer Kick

Make a target out of plywood or cardboard for mini soccer balls (or use a portable goal). Paint the board with a fun sports design and cut out holes large enough for the soccer ball to go through. Each player gets to kick three balls at the target     sponge toss

A volunteer stands behind a backboard with only their face showing through a hole. The player gets three tries to hit them in the face with a wet sponge. Put a plastic tarp in front of the backboard to keep the sponges clean. Provide goggles and maybe a poncho to your brave volunteer. You can even have two lines, one to throw sponges and one to be the target! With the current popularity of SpongeBob Squarepants, this could be a big hit.

target knock down

The basic idea is to have the player throw beanbags at targets that are hinged to fold down when they are hit. We found that a little Velcro keeps the target from bouncing back up too quickly.  

Variations:

Shoo the Crows: Use crows sitting on a fence as the target. Make beanbags in the shape of boots. Yowling cats would work well on a fence (or garbage can) too.

Snowball Toss: Use snowmen or penguins on a snow bank as the target. Make beanbags in the shape of snowballs.

Tattoo Parlor

Temporary tattoos are inexpensive and quick to apply. You can set it up next to the face painting . A Castle Of Toys has a great selection of temporary tattoos.                                                                                                          

TIC TAC Toe

This can be played with bean bags or soft sports balls. For the bean bag version, just mark out the lines on the floor or a mat. For the ball version, make or buy a box with nine holes for the balls to be tossed into. Three in a row wins!

Wheel of Fortune

There are some beautiful wheels available ready-made (they are expensive!). 

Variations:

Variations on the "lay down sheet" version: The lay down sheet and wheel can have colors, professional sports team logos, race horse silk colors, shapes (stars, circles, etc.), etc. As long as the wheel and the sheet have matching items, it's up to your imagination!

Variations on the "instant prize" version: Again, the wheel can have any symbols, as long as each symbol clearly represents a specific prize. Each space on the wheel does not have to be the same size, a bigger prize could have a smaller space on the wheel. You can even put a sample of the prize directly on the space on the wheel, if you land on that space you see the prize you will get.