Sponge Ball Tic Tac Toe Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 4 sponge balls for 50 ¢

Goal: Land 3 balls in a diagonal, vertical or horizontal line

Win: Diagonal, vertical or horizontal line = Large prize

No line = Consolation prize

Player is given 4 sponge balls to throw in the box. To be a winner, 3 balls must land in either a diagonal, vertical or horizontal line. Adjust distance from the target according to the age level of the player.

Cut a 12" x 12" x 12" cardboard box down to 4" in height. Keep extra cardboard. Cut four strips of cardboard 11 3/4" x 3". These will be used to make the squares for the balls to land in. Interlock the four strips of cardboard and place inside box as shown in the picture.

Using the extra cardboard, cut three 12" x 8" pieces and slide each piece down into the box along each side, leaving the front side open. Bend each panel. Cut triangular pieces to fit into the corners between the panels and tape them to the panels. This will keep the balls inside the box and will also hold the top pieces in place at an angle. Using a marker or crayon, label the game as shown in the picture and have fun!

Supplies:
3" Sponge Balls. Safe and fun for indoor activities.  Assorted colors in a netted bag.

Baseball Throw Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 3 throws for 1 ticket

Goal: Throw 3 rubber baseballs through the target

Win: 3 balls through = Large prize

2 balls through = Medium prize

1 ball through = Small prize

0 balls through = Consolation prize

This can be a great class project. Have your class paint a clown face on a 3' x 4' piece of plywood or heavy corrugated cardboard. Cut a 7" hole for the mouth. Place the board approximately 7' from where the player will throw. Each player receives 3 throws. The prize awarded corresponds to the number of rubber baseballs thrown through the target. Have plenty of balls available and close to the area to keep the game moving quickly. Have a backstop of some type to control loose balls.

Ring Toss Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 3 rings for 50 ¢

Goal: Hook 3 rings on the animals nose.

Win:
3 rings - Large Prize
2 rings - Medium Prize
1 ring - Small Prize
0 ring - Consolation Prize

Supplies:
22" Inflate dolphin ring toss game. Includes one dolphin inflate and four 6" plastic rings.

Raffle Booth

Adults enjoy raffles and you will enjoy the profits! You can run raffles at various times throughout the day, offering a wide variety of prizes to keep everyone playing. This is a great opportunity for one of your carnival clowns to get the attention he/she really deserves! If possible, have some type of public announcement system set up in your booth and have your clown be the announcer.

Let the crowd know what you are going to raffle and how much time is left before the next drawing. Have several booth workers walk the carnival grounds selling raffle tickets for each drawing. Items such as dolls, light-up roses, large plush animals and food such as hams, salami and cakes are all popular prizes for this booth.

Look through the Oriental Trading Company catalogs for a wide variety of larger raffle prizes. This can be a real moneymaker, so have lots of booth workers signed up, psyched and ready to go!

Milk Bottle Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 3 throws for 50 ¢

Goal: Knock all 3 bottles down

Win:
3 bottles with 1 throw = Large prize
3 bottles with 2 throws = Medium prize
3 bottles with 3 throws = Small prize
1 - 2 bottles with 3 throws = Consolation prize

Player stands 5' - 8' from counter and has 3 throws to knock down all three milk bottles. If player succeeds on one throw, they are awarded a Large prize. If not, player gets 2 more throws to knock down remaining bottles and wins prize value according to how many throws it took.

Variation

Usual Charge:1 throws for 50 ¢
Goal: Knock down all 3 bottles with one throw
Win:
Medium, Large or Jumbo prize

Player stands 5' - 8' from counter. Player gets one throw to knock down all 3 bottles. By knocking down all 3 on the first throw player wins a Medium prize or the option to trade up the prize and play round 2 for another 50 ¢. In round 2, if the player knocks down all three bottles on one throw, the player wins a Large prize and advances to round 3 for one free throw. If the player wins round 3, the player trades up the Large prize for a Jumbo prize. If the player loses in round 1, they receive a Consolation prize. If the player loses in round 2 or 3, they keep the previous prize already won.

Suggested Poster:
Round 1 for 50 ¢ - Wins! -
Medium prize Round 2 for 50 ¢ - Wins!
Trade up for a Large prize and A FREE ROUND
Round 3 free throw - Wins! - Trade up for a JUMBO PRIZE!

Supplies:
4" Vinyl foam-filled footballs. Assorted neon colors. (1 dozen per display box)

Hat Booth

Hats are a carnival favorite. Sun hats, cowboy and western hats, sombreros, stovepipe hats and visors are just a few of the popular hats found at carnivals.

Look at the selection of hats we have at OTC and check out the prices! You'll be sure to make a profit on each hat. Have different hats than those being used as prizes at other booths.

Football Throw Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 3 throws for 50 ¢

Goal:  Throw all 3 footballs through the tire

Win:

3 balls through = Large prize
2 balls through = Medium prize
1 ball through = Small prize
0 balls through = Consolation prize

Hang a tire shoulder height about 8' - 12' from where the player will stand. Each player receives 3 throws. The prize awarded corresponds to the number of footballs thrown through the tire. Be sure to have plenty of footballs available and close to the throwing area to keep the game moving quickly. Have a back stop of some type to control loose balls. For older players, gently spin the tire for added difficulty.

Carnival Food Sales

This is a sure way to make a profit. For a small fee you can keep everyone happy while serving up some great treats. Find that volunteer who loves to cook. Hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on an outside grill will fill the air with that great barbeque aroma. You'll have 'em coming back for more. Popcorn, nachos, and pizza are also very popular food items.

Desserts and sweets like cotton candy, homemade cookies, candied apples and candy are always a hit. Be sure to have plenty of beverages to last the day. Soda pop and bottled water are a must, especially on hot summer days. An ethnic food table is another way to get everyone in your organization involved. Let everyone be a chef and show off their specialties!

Helpful Hints: When serving food and beverages, have plenty of napkins handy. If possible, use paper cups, paper plates and plastic utensils. Locate trash containers close to all food and beverage booths. This will make clean-up quick and easy. Make popcorn ahead of time and have it bagged before the carnival begins. Staple the bags shut.

Fish Pond Carnival Game

This is a great game for young children. Requires very little skill and the player is always a winner!

Usual Charge: 1 ticket

Goal: catch a prize

Win: one prize every time

Place a decorated board approximately 4'- 5' high at the front of the booth. Divide the board into a boys and girls side. Make a fishing pole and attach about 3' of string to one end. Attach a clothespin to the end of the string. Have one worker take the ticket from the player in front of the board and give them the pole. A second worker behind the board attaches the prize. Have several fishing poles available so more than one person may play at a time.

Dart Throw Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 3 darts for 50 ¢

Goal: Land darts on target

Win:

Black ring = Large prize
Red ring = Medium prize
Blue ring = Small prize
No rings = Consolation prize

On a large cardboard box, draw an 18" circle as your target. Divide the circle into three 6" rings. Color bull's-eye, or inside ring black, middle ring red and outer ring blue. Place the box on a table and weight it down so it does not tip over. Player stands 5' from target. Move older players farther back. Player gets 3 tries to land a dart on the target. Prize awarded corresponds to color ring hit. If more than one color ring is hit, award highest prize. It is a good idea to make 2 or 3 extra box targets for the duration of the carnival. Use darts only under adult supervision.

Variation: Award a Jumbo prize for 3 bull's-eyes.

Supplies: 5 1/8 " Plastic darts. Each with metal tips. (36 pcs. per unit).