Cake Walk Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 50¢ per play

Game Set-up: There are two different ways to set up this game. Set chairs in a circle, or if chairs are not available, use masking tape and mark a large area of the floor with squares in a large circle format. Number each chair or square with a different number. Put the same numbers on pieces of paper and put them in a box.

Players walk around the circle to music. When the music is stopped, players sit in the chair or stand on the square closest to them. A number is drawn from a box. The person sitting in the chair or standing in the square with the same number wins.

The winner is awarded a pastry or prize. Not all numbers need to be played to start the game. If no one is sitting or standing on the number drawn, there is no winner for that game. To start a new game, clear the game area and collect tickets each time.

All cakes and pastries should be donated for this game. Pure profit every time!

Or if you want to give out prizes, plush toys and dolls are very popular.

Bowling Carnival Game

An excellent game for indoor carnivals.

Usual Charge: 2 rolls for 50 ¢

Goal: Knock down as many pins as possible

Win:

9 - 10 pins down = Large prize
7 - 8 pins down = Medium prize
5 - 6 pins down = Small prize
None - 4 pins down = Consolation prize

Set up pins in a normal bowling manner. Make a line with tape for the player to stand behind. Player gets 2 rolls to knock down as many pins as possible. Prize awarded corresponds to number of pins knocked down. Length of your alley depends upon how much room you have. Move younger players closer to the pins.

Variation:  Offer a Jumbo prize for a strike on first roll.

Supplies: Plastic Giant Bowling Set. Includes ten 8 1/2 " pins and two 4" balls. Each set in a poly bag with header.

Bean Bag Toss Carnival Game

Usual Charge: 3 throws for 1 ticket

Goal: Throw 3 beanbags through target

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

Brightly paint a 2' x 4' sheet of plywood and cut 3 holes. Smaller players stand 3' - 5' from game and try to toss each bean bag through a hole. Move older player farther back accordingly.

Variation: Cut three holes in a large box and give each hole a point value of 5, 10, and 15 points. Player tosses all three bean bags and adds total points. Total of 35 - 45 points wins a Large prize, 20 - 30 points wins a Medium prize, 10 - 15 points wins a Small prize, 5 points or less wins a Consolation prize.

Variation: Nail or screw different-sized buckets or cans onto a piece of plywood. Paint them different colors. Award prizes according to the color of bucket the bags land inside.

Basketball Carnival Game

A great game for all ages but especially good for teens and adults.

Usual Charge: 3 tosses for 50 ¢

Goal: Make a basket on all three tosses

Win: Three baskets = Large prize
Two baskets = Medium prize
One basket = Small prize
No baskets = Consolation prize

Adjust the distance to the hoop according to the skill and age level of each player. Each player receives 3 tosses. The prize awarded corresponds to the number of baskets made. Be sure to have plenty of basketballs available and close off the throwing area with pennants to keep the game moving quickly. Have a back stop of some type to control loose balls.

Balloon Tag Carnival Game

A great game for young children. Requires very little skill and everyone is a winner.

Usual Charge: 50 ¢

Goal: Throw dart until 1 balloon is broken

Win: Consolation, Small, Medium, and Large prizes

On a 4' x 4' piece of plywood, draw horizontal and vertical lines 6" square. At each intersection of lines, (49 total) insert cup hooks. Prepare 150 tags. Mark 80 tags with a C (for consolation prize), 45 tags with S (for small prize), 15 tags with M (for medium prize) and 10 tags with L (for large prize). On the hooks, randomly place 3 L tags, 5 M tags, 15 S tags and 27 C tags facing toward the board so the letters cannot be seen. Keep the remaining tags in a box.

Place an inflated 4" balloon on each hook. Place the board upright approximately 5' from the front of the booth where the player will throw from. The player throws a dart until a balloon is broken. The letter on the hook of the broken balloon determines what level of prize the player wins.

Replace the tag with one from the box and replace the broken balloon. The profit of this game can be controlled by manipulating the number of corresponding tags. For example, higher percentage of S tags means higher profit.

Lollipop Carnival Game

A great game for young children. Requires very little skill and everyone is a winner.

Usual Charge: 1 ticket for 25 ¢

Goal: Pull one lollipop from the tree

Win: Blue stem = Large prize
Red stem = Medium prize
Green stem = Small prize
Unmarked stem = Consolation prize

From cardboard, construct a 4-sided box, each side 30" high and 20" wide. On each side of the box punch 10 rows of small holes, 5 holes in each row (50 holes per side). Stagger the holes so the box looks full when the suckers are added. Using a colored marker, mark the stems of each lollipop as follows: 10 stems blue, 30 stems red, 60 stems green and leave 100 stems unmarked.

Randomly place the lollipops in the slots of the box. The player receives the lollipop pulled and the prize that corresponds with the color of the stem. Refill the slots with a lollipop having the same color stem as pulled. Variation: Color 1 out of every 100 lollipops black and award a Jumbo prize when that color is pulled.

Helpful Hints for a Successful Carnival

Through many years of helping organizations plan their carnivals, we have found that the secret to success is planning and organization. Here are ideas and important things to consider when getting ready for your carnival.

1. Consolation prizes: Every booth should give a consolation prize, especially when children are playing. Let everybody feel like a winner. The more fun they have, the more they will continue to play.


2. Location: Avoid dirt areas, which can be dusty or muddy. Grass fields, athletic tracks and parking lots make good outdoor locations.


3. Preparation: Before the carnival, test your games to be sure they are being operated properly. Booth workers should be adults, or responsible teenagers. If possible, let volunteers play the games in advance. Make sure they fully understand the responsibilities of their jobs.


4. Tickets: When setting prices for your tickets, take your community's economic environment into consideration. If you offer tickets in more than one denomination (25 cents and 50 cents for example) use different ticket colors for the denominations to reduce confusion.


5. Profit or Non-profit: Decide what your objective is - do you want to run your carnival with plans of breaking even, or as a means of raising money for your organization?


6. Organization: Before the carnival, meet with booth volunteers and review the following: Location of booth, Work schedule, date & time, Rules of the game, Charge per play, Consolation, small, medium, large & jumbo prizes.


7. Keep prizes secure: Place them in a box under a table within the booth. Restock booths running short of prizes. Do not take prizes from other booths. When the carnival closes, gather and count all left over prizes.


8. Order Early: Place your carnival order three or four weeks before the event. Once delivered, organize and sort prizes and supplies by booth.