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[Care Facility] A Summer Festival for Everyone: A Collection of Games That Seniors Can Enjoy Safely
When you think of summer traditions, lively summer festivals come to mind! Even in care facilities, events that capture the colors of the season create special moments filled with smiles.
This time, we’ve gathered game ideas for summer festivals that older adults can truly enjoy.
From yo-yo fishing and target shooting to DIY watermelon splitting and takoyaki-themed games, there are plenty of playful touches to spark childlike excitement.
How about sharing heartwarming moments while reminiscing about fond memories? Please use these ideas to help plan your summer festival.
[Care Facility] A Summer Festival for Everyone: A Collection of Games (1–10) That Older Adults Can Enjoy Safely
Uchiwa Wasshoi GameNEW!
It’s a game where you fan with uchiwa fans to blow the balloons out of a basket.
Participants each hold a fan and form a circle, placing a basket with balloons in the center.
The game is played in teams, so please prepare several teams in advance.
When the start signal is given, everyone fans air toward the basket, and the first team to get all the balloons out of the basket wins! Be sure to choose a basket with gaps on the sides.
Also, since it’s hard to send air when the basket is on the floor, set it on a stand at about hand height for the participants.
Takoyaki GameNEW!
At festival food stalls, many people probably choose takoyaki to eat.
So let’s include a takoyaki game as one of the summer festival activities.
Use chopsticks to pick up the prepared takoyaki and pack them into a container.
Compete with a few people—the first to finish packing wins! Become a shopkeeper and give it a try.
You can easily make the takoyaki by wrapping colored paper around crumpled newspaper.
Because takoyaki are round, it’s trickier than it looks, but it uses fine motor skills, making it perfect for older adults.
Cup PinballNEW!
Enjoy the simple fun of just dropping a ball! Introducing Cup Pinball.
You can make it yourself using cardboard, paper cups, pool noodles, a basket, and a ball! First, cut the cardboard into a large rectangle and make holes slightly smaller than the rims of the paper cups.
Insert paper cups into some of the holes, and attach pool noodles along the long edges of the cardboard base.
Next, prop the base at an angle using a table or chairs, and place a basket where the ball will drop—then you’re done! Adjust the difficulty by changing the number of holes.
Wani Wani PanicNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@mitinoko/video/7123177286345526530Let’s use cardboard and milk cartons to make and play a DIY version of the popular game Whac-A-Croc.
Use cardboard for the main body and decorate milk cartons to create the crocodiles.
Attach something like a plastic wrap core to each crocodile so you can hold it and move the crocodile in and out.
Participants will use a toy squeaky hammer to hit the crocodiles as they pop out.
You can compete by counting how many you hit, or forget about winning and losing and just enjoy it as a way to relieve stress.
Handmade Senbonbiki (lottery string pull game)NEW!
When it comes to festivals, senbon-biki (the thousand-string pull) is a must! You pull one string and get the prize it’s connected to—it’s exciting and fun wondering which one you’ll win.
I’m sure it will bring back childlike joy for older adults as well.
Senbon-biki sets can be rented or purchased online, making them easy to include in events.
If you want to keep costs down, a handmade version is also recommended! You just punch holes in a cardboard box and thread strings through, so it’s easy to make, and the strength should be fine for one-time use.
ring tossNEW!
This is a ring-toss game where you use plastic bottles filled with colored water as targets.
Each bottle has a piece of paper with a number on it, which becomes the score.
You can buy ready-made rings, or twist newspaper into rings, reinforce them with colored tape, and make your own.
Decide how many rings to throw and compete on total points.
Making the colored water bright and varied gives it more of a summer festival vibe, so it’s recommended.
Using plastic bottles of different sizes—not just one size—changes the difficulty and makes it more fun.
Takoyaki, pop!NEW!
When it comes to summer festivals, you can’t miss takoyaki.
You can’t eat this one, but you can enjoy it as a game.
Crumple up newspaper or other paper to make “takoyaki,” gently place it on a ladle, and pop it onto a plate.
It doesn’t require strength and lets you go at your own pace, making it perfect for older adults.
Whether it lands well or not, smiles spread, and natural applause and cheers arise.
Using your hands provides light exercise, warming both heart and body.
Why not spend a lively moment together, feeling the bustle of a summer festival and having a great time with everyone?
