Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Better than a theme park! Attractions perfect for school cultural festivals

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

Why not create theme-park-level fun together with your whole class? For your school festival attraction, you can actually build a full-fledged, hands-on experience right in your classroom.

From handmade whack-a-mole games and a carousel built with wood and pipes, to a VR-powered roller coaster…

You’ll feel the satisfaction of creating something with your classmates and the joy of seeing visitors’ smiles.

In this article, we’ll share everything from how to craft a Disney-like dream space to practical tips for building the attractions themselves.

Simple Game Experience Attraction (1–10)

casino

[Iwataka High School Cultural Festival] I checked out the CASINO

casino

Casinos aren’t commonly seen in Japan, but overseas they’re popular tourist attractions.

How about planning a casino as one of your school festival attractions? Casinos have classic games like cards and roulette, so you could recreate those.

It’s also a great idea to design your own original games and give them fun names—they’ll make for lasting memories.

That said, gambling is prohibited in Japan, so be sure not to involve real money in any competitions.

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Real Life Game

I don't want a life like this >< Giant Real-Life Game of Life ☆ himawari-CH

Real Life Game

When it comes to The Game of Life, it’s a classic that every child plays at least once.

The board is a path made up of many spaces, and you spin the roulette and move forward by the number you get.

Each space describes an event related to life, and the rule is to follow the instructions on the space where you land as you aim for the goal.

Let’s try creating such a Game of Life in a classroom or similar setting.

Since we’re making it “real” this time, participants will actually move from space to space.

You’re free to write whatever you like on the spaces, so try coming up with fun life-related episodes.

You could even prepare prizes based on the amount of money players have left at the end.

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Strikeout

I tried making a strikeout game!!

Strikeout

If you’re looking for a sports-themed activity you can do indoors, I recommend “Strikeout.” Strikeout is a game you might see at batting centers, where you throw a ball at a grid of nine target panels.

You can DIY the frame and panels with materials from a home improvement store, making it perfect for a school festival booth.

Since real baseballs can be dangerous, it’s better to use soft rubber balls.

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Kicking Sniper

@takaramono112
We all made this at the school festival three years ago! I’m sad that VS Arashi is ending 😭Arashi youth
Turning Up (Chorus ver.2) – ARASHI

Why not incorporate a popular segment from the variety show “VS Arashi” into your school festival? Kicking Sniper is a game where you kick a ball to hit targets.

The rules are simple, but the difficulty changes depending on the distance to the targets and their shapes.

I think it’s an idea that can get surprisingly engaging.

It’s also recommended to appoint hype staff to double the excitement when someone succeeds.

To avoid injuries from powerful kicks and prevent damage where the ball might fly, use soft rubber balls.

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Kick Target

[Messi & Neymar] Fiery kick-target showdown!!! The loser eats gyudon every day for a week!!!

Kick Target

It’s the familiar game you’ve seen on TV: kick a soccer ball, just like a penalty kick, and break through the panels.

Whether you’ve played soccer or not, Kick Target is something you’ll want to try at least once.

The thrill of smashing the target you aimed at is unbeatable!

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Simple Game Experience Attractions (11–20)

Pie throwing

[Extreme] Pie-throwing battle as a punishment game!

Pie throwing

You want to do something you can only do at a school festival, right? In that case, how about a pie-throwing event? It gets messy with all the cream, so it’s not something you can usually do casually.

Precisely because it’s a “festival,” when a bit of unconventional behavior is more acceptable—pie throwing!

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festival day

Osaka Gakuin University, School Festival, 2018, Shooting Game—Even preschoolers enjoyed it.

festival day

Attractions like shooting galleries, yo-yo balloon fishing, and super ball scooping—often seen at festival stalls—can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from young children to adults.

You can even buy complete sets online, so preparation isn’t too difficult, making them easy and highly recommended.

If you want to add a unique touch, you could swap super balls for duck or panda scooping; try searching online for ideas.

You might also find inspiration at shops that sell festival supplies.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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