Carnival Games: Bringing Amusement Park Fun Right to Your Backyard

You don’t need to wait for another significant date on the calendar; host your celebration with at-home carnival games. Carnivals are large-scale, vibrant events organized in various ways worldwide. Kids are the first to dive into those fun competitions and awesome rides to receive cool prizes. In this article, you’ll explore how to transform your backyard into a vibrant fair to engage in fascinating activities with the entire family. So, let the good times roll!

Introduction to Easy Carnival Games 

What kid doesn’t love a good party, especially when the weather is so lovely? A sunny summer day is a great time to throw your own at-home get-together with games brimming with carnival vibes! Water splashes, racing, and apple tossing are amusing pastimes that create the atmosphere of a real carnival, where children can enjoy themselves and improve essential physical and cognitive competencies.

You can use carnival games ideas for any social gathering, including birthdays, kids, and anniversary parties. You can also adapt those games to any theme or venue. This way, you’ll ensure everyone enjoys your company and comes home smiling, relishing those happy memories.

DIY Carnival Games for a Personal Touch

Whether planning a small, close-circle gathering or a birthday bash, carnival games with at-home items will add the right dynamics to any party. You don’t need to buy fancy props. Instead, opt for simple household items. So, as you engage in these homemade carnival games, prepare to twirl, laugh, and have a blast all day!

1. Apple Basket Toss

This competition is similar to tic-tac-toe. The participants receive three or four apples and must throw them in the three baskets to arrange a line. At first, it may appear simple. But once you try all the bouncing, landing those apples just right three times in a row may be tricky.

2. Leap Frog

When it comes to the choice of entertaining games, the classics are unbeatable. You’ll need at least a few participants, so bring your friends around. The game is simple: stand in a row, crouch, and leap like a frog over each other. It’s best to play in an open area with enough space for movement. The hilarious plot twist is that this game can last as long as you have the energy to keep going!

3. Cornhole

This is a fun backyard game that you can play together with your family. In the cornhole, the participants stand on one side and toss eight beanbags across the other side, attempting to either get them to land on the board (1 point) or, even better, to get them all through the hole (3 points). 

4. Guessing Booth

Kids love puzzles, and this game is intriguing and pretty simple to set up. You may fill several jars with some sweets or other items. Count how many pieces are in each. Then, the participants need to calculate, just by looking at the containers, how many items are in them.

5. Prize Punch Board

You’ll need a large piece of paper and make several holes that will hide specific prizes in each. You may attach plastic cups or plastic baggies to the back of each circle. Cover the holes with colorful tissue paper. Each child picks the desired circle, punches through it, and enjoys the prize inside.

Classic Carnival Games to Buy

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to impress your party visitors; just offer them traditional, fun carnival games. Sometimes, all we require is simple and familiar recreational activities to make us happy. 

6. Balloon Darts

Time-favorite classics won’t leave you indifferent. Throw those darts at balloons mounted on a board to reveal what’s inside. Once again, it’s preferable to organize such an activity in an open area to avoid mishaps.

7. Duck Pond

As ducks are floating in a reservoir, the participant picks one duck and takes it. If their selection has a star on the bottom, they win a tempting prize.

8. Fish Pond

This carnival game is pretty similar to the previous one. In this competition, you’ll use a short fishing rod or net to capture toy fish that are floating in a pond or pool. It demands a lot of patience while compensating those efforts with prizes. 

9. Knock Down the Cans

The game says it all – you need to gather up strength and throw baseballs or beanbags at a stack of cans. The goal is to ensure all the bottles are removed from the table with a set number of throws.

10. Ring Toss

It’s a fun outdoor game often played at summer camps. Players take turns throwing rings at small sticks that stand about a foot high. The more you score, the more treats you’ll receive!

Interactive and Group Carnival Game Ideas

Do you want to add fun and interactive activities so that everyone can join in the action? Consider the following carnival games to ensure all your guests have a great time!

11. Cake Walk

It’s similar to musical chairs. As the music plays, the participants walk from mark to mark with numbers and cake images in a circle. When the music stops, everyone does so. Then, a number is drawn, and the one who stands on it is eliminated from the game. The last player standing wins a cake (a real one).

12. Mini Pig Races

Buy several little plastic pigs and watch them race around a tiny track together with your friends. This competition will bring tons of fun and laughter to your kids and adults as well.

13. Water Gun Race

Splash some water on the target opposite players and try to race to the finish line. Add some colorful decorations and an obstacle course to make it more challenging and enhance engagement.

14. Rocket Blast

You’ll need a set of hula-hoops and foam rocket flingers to organize a fun and cost-effective competition. Set up a few circles at varying distances and let children shoot foam rockets through them. The setup is minimalistic, but the whole action is fantastic. The children will enjoy the challenge of attempting to hit the hoops, and it’s an excellent way to keep them engaged without emptying your wallet.

15. Soda Bottle Ring Toss

Arrange several soda bottles and prepare small rings. The participants have to try to toss those rings around the cans. It’s important to set an optimal distance so that everyone has a real chance to win.

Fun and Easy Carnival Games for All Ages

Carnival ideas provide a never-ending flow of exciting games and competitions. The best part is that many of them are amusing, both for kids and adults! 

16. Bean Bag Ladder Toss

As simple as it is, take turns throwing beanbags at the ladder. Each level comes with a corresponding number of points you may receive. Every time your beanbag lands on a rung, you get a score. At first sight, it may seem easy, but once you try to score at least 10 points, you’ll get the real challenge behind a simple child game.

17. Ping-Pong Ball Toss

Buy fishbowls and Ping-Pong balls to set up a perfect playing surface for a thrilling game with your friends. It’s suitable for any party, contributing to a fun atmosphere of celebration.

18. Pick a Pop

This one is perfect for starting your social gathering, as everyone will get a prize and an improved mood. You’ll need a tray and a pack of lollipops, with half of them marked beforehand with a black dot on them. Those who take the winning lollipops win a bigger prize. Those who fail can keep that sweet treat as a consolation prize.

Educational and Skill-Building Games

Besides providing entertainment, kids carnival games present an excellent opportunity for children to develop essential skills and cultivate an interest in exploring the world around them.

19. Egg Crate Bean Toss

This super fun game is perfect for coordination and concentration training. The participants throw bean bags into holes in an egg crate. The most interesting part is that each hole has a different point value. Therefore, it’s best to make it to the highest-scoring slots.

20. Tic Tac Toe

This timeless classic has been popular for years among kids and adults. With a 3×3 grid and two eager players, the goal in the game is to line up three of your symbols in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This activity is a fun way to test your strategic thinking and outsmart your friends.

21. Spin a Prize

Prepare a colorful wheel with corresponding prizes. As each section of the wheel has different goodies or fun challenges, you’ll experience the excitement of the spin and the surprise of what you’ll get. Children get a real-life environment to train their decision-making abilities and practice the concepts of chance and probability. Give it a whirl and see what you win!

22. Giant Dice Game

Kids love board games, and playing giant dice will no doubt appeal to them. The participants take turns rolling the dice, with each side providing unique actions or difficulties. It may be adjusted with new rules or activities. Thanks to its versatility, this game is ideal for parties, family gatherings, and summer camps, encouraging physical exercise and conversation while allowing for some healthy competition.

23. Hopper Races

Sit on large bouncing balls with handles and sprint to the finish. It’ll be amusing to watch everyone maintain their balance, attempting to keep on track and move quickly. This game combines physical training and entertainment, perfect for kids.

Carnival Game: Safety and Setup Tips

When organizing a carnival party, indoor or outdoor, it’s important to prepare the area and ensure it’s safe, especially if it involves children. Take the following precautions to have a fun time in a close circle and minimize the risk of mishaps.

Ensuring Safe Play for Kids

If you want to host a party in the backyard, thoroughly check out the surroundings and add the necessary amenities:

• Remove any obstacles, sharp objects, or tripping hazards.
• Examine the ground and make sure it’s smooth and free of debris.
• If it’s summer, ensure plenty of water is available close to the playground.

When buying props, choose those made of safe ingredients. If anything goes wrong, keep a well-stocked first aid kit at hand and write down the address of the nearest medical facility.

Easy Setup and Maintenance Tips

Prefer portable and easy-to-assemble game stations. For instance, simple DIY carnival party games, such as ring toss or bean bag throw, are quick to put up and take down. Moreover, remember to check equipment throughout the event to ensure it remains functional and safe to use.

Keiki: Educational and Entertaining Games for Children

Playing games is the best way for kids to learn . The Keiki app offers a one-stop solution for providing valuable screen time, even for the smallest users. The vibrant and insightful content ensures your child is simultaneously entertained and gains the required knowledge. 

Among the vast collection, you’ll find mini-games that focus on gaining a particular skill, including letter identification, problem-solving, and number acquisition. Puzzles, coloring pages, and other activities provide value and allow kids to have fun while learning about the surrounding world. This way, with Keiki, little learners develop pre-k competencies in an enjoyable and effective manner.

You can choose one of the flexible subscription plans of 1, 3, and 6 months that suit anyone’s budget. Let your kid discover a new approach to learning through fascinating and interactive experiences with Keiki!

Conclusion

Pick time-favorite classic activities or make your own carnival game to transform your backyard into an amusement park similar to those in real fair settings. Get homemade items or affordable props to enhance your parties and impress guests with your inventiveness.