20 Easy Carnival Games for Kids {Fun to Play and Easy to Manage}

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Running a booth? These 20 kid-friendly carnival games are easy to prep and a hit every time! 🎯 Great for school events or backyard fun. #SchoolCarnivalIdeas #KidsGames #PartyGamesForKids #CarnivalBooth #PTAideas

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DIY Carnival Game Ideas That Actually Work

Planning a school carnival or backyard bash? 🎉 Then you need a lineup of games that are fun, simple to run, and don’t require an engineering degree (or a giant budget). Whether you’re working with a handful of booths or filling an entire gym, these carnival game ideas are easy to set up, kid-approved, and perfect for keeping the fun going all day long.

Each game below includes a quick description, what you’ll need, the basic rules, and which age groups they work best for—so you can mix, match, and plan your dream game row without the stress.

Let’s get the party rolling! 🎈

60 School Carnival Prize Ideas (That Kids Actually Like—and Won’t End Up in the Trash)

1. Duck Pond 🦆

A classic for a reason! Kids love “fishing” for floating ducks to see what prize they’ll get.

What You Need:

A small plastic kiddie pool
Rubber ducks (write numbers on the bottom)
A prize table with items corresponding to the numbers

How to Play:
Each child picks a duck from the pond and turns it over to reveal a number. The number matches a prize level—1 = small prize, 2 = medium prize, etc.

Best For: Ages 2–7
Perfect for toddlers and early elementary kids—especially when it’s warm and the ducks are floating around in water!

2. Ring Toss 🎯

Simple setup, satisfying wins! Players toss rings to land them over bottles, cones, or pegs.

What You Need:

Plastic rings (or rope rings)
Bottles, cones, or upright pegs to toss onto
Tape to mark a throw line

How to Play:
Each player gets 3–5 rings to toss. They win a prize if they land one or more rings over the targets. Make it harder by adjusting the distance or prize level based on how many rings land.

Best For: Ages 4–12
Younger kids can stand closer, and older kids enjoy the challenge—great for mixed-age events.

3. Bean Bag Toss 🟦

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser and super easy to set up. Toss bean bags into holes or buckets for points or prizes.

What You Need:

Bean bags (or small plush toys)
A large board with cut-out holes, baskets, or buckets
Point values or prize tiers

How to Play:
Kids take turns tossing bean bags into the targets. Points determine the level of prize, or you can give a small prize for every bag that lands in.

Best For: Ages 3–10
Adjust the size of the holes and the distance for different age groups. It’s especially great for younger elementary students.

4. Ping Pong Ball Toss 🏓

This one’s all about aim! Kids toss ping pong balls into cups or jars to win prizes based on where they land.

What You Need:

Ping pong balls
Plastic cups, glass jars, or small bowls
Prizes or color-coded point system

How to Play:
Line up rows of cups or jars and assign point values or prize tiers to each row (or color). Kids get 3 balls to toss—where they land determines their prize!

Best For: Ages 5–12
Great for elementary-aged kids with a steady hand. Easy to scale up or down based on prize budget.

5. Lollipop Pull 🍭

A game and a treat all in one! Some lollipops win prizes… others are just delicious.

What You Need:

A foam board or box
A bunch of lollipops
A marker to color the tips of a few sticks (to indicate “prize” pops)

How to Play:
Stick all the lollipops into the board. Kids choose one and pull it out. If the end of the stick is marked, they win an extra prize. If not—they still get a lollipop!

Best For: Ages 2–10
Perfect for younger kids and non-competitive players. Super budget-friendly and sweet.

6. Fish Bowl Game 🐟

Toss balls into bowls to try to land one—and maybe even win a (candy) goldfish!

What You Need:

Small plastic bowls or cups arranged on a table
Ping pong balls
Prize options (plastic fish toys or gummy fish (don’t be tempted by live fish as prizes, it’s not kind to the fish!)

How to Play:
Players toss ping pong balls one at a time, trying to land them into the bowls. Each bowl can be a prize win—or color-code for different levels.

Best For: Ages 6–12
A classic carnival favorite for school-aged kids.

7. Balloon Pop 🎯🎈

Pop a balloon, win a prize! A little thrill and a whole lot of fun.

What You Need:

Balloons
Push pins, darts, or safe poppers (for older kids)
A large board or wall to attach the balloons
Slips of paper or mini prizes inside some balloons (optional)

How to Play:
Kids take turns popping a balloon. If their balloon has a prize slip inside, they win! You can also award small prizes just for participating.

Best For: Ages 6–12
Best for older elementary and middle-grade kids. Use caution with darts or pins—supervised play only!

8. Plinko Board 🔻

It’s a game of chance that’s as fun to watch as it is to play.

What You Need:

A DIY Plinko board (use cardboard or wood with pegs)
Small discs or flat tokens
Prize labels at the bottom slots

How to Play:
Players drop a disc from the top of the board and watch it bounce down to a prize slot at the bottom.

Best For: Ages 5–12
Kids love the anticipation—great for any age that can safely stand at the board and drop a disc!

9. Sucker Tree 🌳🍭

Colorful, sweet, and easy to run with just a foam block and a lot of lollipops.

What You Need:

A foam board or floral foam block
Lollipops
A few with colored tips to signal a prize

How to Play:
Just like the Lollipop Pull, but shaped like a “tree”! Kids pick a lollipop—if the stick is marked, they get an extra prize.

Best For: Ages 2–8
A visual favorite for younger kids. You’ll have a line of little ones wanting a turn!

10. Coin Toss 💰

A super simple classic—just toss coins and try to land them on a target!

What You Need:

Pennies or plastic play coins
Plates, jars, or marked circles on the table
Optional: prize tiers based on landing zones

How to Play:
Kids toss coins from a set distance, aiming to land them on a plate or into a jar. Give small prizes for landing a coin, or increase the reward based on difficulty (smaller jar = bigger prize!).

Best For: Ages 5–12
Great for fine motor skills and quick turns—plus easy to reset after each player.

11. Toilet Paper Toss 🧻

Silly? Yes. Hilarious? Also yes. Toss “toilet rolls” through a toilet seat frame!

What You Need:

Lightweight toilet paper rolls or small white beanbags
A toilet seat (clean, of course!) mounted on a stand or large bucket
Tape or cones to mark the throw line

How to Play:
Players try to toss their TP rolls through the toilet seat ring. Give a prize for every roll that makes it through—or bonus points for multiple hits!

Best For: Ages 4–10
This one gets giggles every time. Perfect for younger elementary kids.

12. Cup Stack Knockdown 🎯

Stack some cups. Knock ’em down. Instant fun!

What You Need:

Plastic cups (like red Solo cups)
Bean bags or soft balls
Tabletop or crate for stacking

How to Play:
Kids take turns throwing bean bags to knock down a pyramid of cups. Set up prize tiers based on how many fall—bonus if they clear the whole stack!

Best For: Ages 3–10
Easy to reset, super satisfying, and safe for even the littlest arms.

13. Wheel of Prizes 🌀

Let fate decide the fun! Kids spin the wheel to see what prize they’ll get.

What You Need:

A prize wheel (can be store-bought or DIY with cardboard and a spinner)
Prize categories written on each segment
A prize table to match the wheel sections

How to Play:
Each child spins the wheel and wins whatever it lands on. You can keep it simple (small toy, sticker, candy) or include a “bonus” space for a bigger prize.

Best For: Ages 3–12
Kids love the suspense, and it works for all ages with minimal setup.

14. Bubble Pop 🫧

Fast-paced and super fun! Kids chase and pop bubbles with fly swatters or hands.

What You Need:

Bubble machine (or lots of volunteers with bubble wands)
Plastic fly swatters (optional, but adds extra fun!)
A clear space for bubble chasing

How to Play:
Let the bubbles fly and let kids chase them down! You can time each player for 30 seconds and give a prize for popping the most—or just let it be free play for younger kids.

Best For: Ages 2–6
A hit with toddlers and preschoolers who just want to run around and giggle.

15. Rubber Duck Race 🚿🦆

Ready, set, squirt! Race rubber ducks down a water track using squirt guns.

What You Need:

Two plastic rain gutters or water-filled troughs
Rubber ducks
Squirt guns or spray bottles

How to Play:
Kids race their ducks by squirting water behind them. First one to the end wins! You can also do it tournament style for larger groups.

Best For: Ages 4–10
This one’s interactive, splashy, and always draws a crowd—perfect for spring or summer carnivals.

16. Mini Golf Putt Challenge ⛳

A hole-in-one never gets old! Let kids try their luck on a mini putting green.

What You Need:

A putting mat or DIY green (use turf or carpet)
Kid-sized golf clubs and balls
A small target cup or “hole”

How to Play:
Each player gets 1–3 chances to putt the ball into the hole. Award prizes for successful shots, or use different holes for different prize tiers.

Best For: Ages 5–12
Great for kids who like a little challenge—and easy to scale for small or large spaces.

17. Dice Roll for a Prize 🎲

Let the dice decide your fate!

What You Need:

Jumbo foam dice (or regular ones on a table)
A prize chart based on roll results
A table for rolling and a prize bin

How to Play:
Each player rolls the dice and wins a prize based on the number they roll. You can use two dice and add the numbers together for more prize variety.

Best For: Ages 3–10
Easy to run and fun for all ages—no skill needed, just luck and excitement!

18. Can Knockdown 🥫

Stack, aim, and knock ‘em down!

What You Need:

Empty cans (label and decorate them for extra flair)
Bean bags or soft balls
A flat surface for stacking

How to Play:
Stack the cans into a pyramid. Kids get 2–3 tries to knock down as many as they can. Prizes can be based on how many fall—or a bonus prize for knocking them all down.

Best For: Ages 4–10
A classic that’s fast-paced and satisfying—plus super easy to reset for the next player.

19. Guess How Many 🏆

The ultimate game of observation and estimation!

What You Need:

A clear jar filled with candy, marbles, LEGOs, or small toys
Entry slips and a submission box
A small sign or table to display the jar

How to Play:
Kids write down their guess of how many items are in the jar. The closest guess wins the whole jar or a special prize. You can announce the winner at the end of the event.

Best For: Ages 5–12
This game adds a fun “big reveal” moment and is great for quieter moments in the carnival flow.

20. Tattoo Station 🖐️✨

Fast, fun, and always a hit—no cleanup needed!

What You Need:

Temporary tattoos or stampers
Small bowls of water and sponges
A table and chairs

How to Play:
Kids choose their favorite tattoo or stamp design, and volunteers help apply it. You can set limits (e.g. one per child) or charge tickets for extra designs.

Best For: Ages 3–10
Works like a charm for younger kids and takes almost no effort to run—perfect for volunteers who want an easy gig!

And there you have it—20 easy, budget-friendly carnival games that are sure to keep the kids smiling (and the volunteers sane!). Whether you’re planning a school carnival, a community event, or just a backyard bash, these games are simple to set up, fun to play, and perfect for kids of all ages.

Pick your favorites, mix in a few classics, and you’ll have a game lineup that’s a total winner. 🎪✨
Happy carnival planning—and don’t forget the prize table!