Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Festival booth menu items that can be served without cooking and without using fire

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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

A charming sweets café that makes people want to stop by at your school festival stall.

It may seem like a lot of work to prepare, but there are actually plenty of easy, no-cook menu items! Here, we’ve gathered popular, fun café options like waffles, cakes, and smoothies.

By using frozen foods and ingredients that can be served right away, you can operate safely with minimal prep.

These ideas are perfect for a mock café that your whole class can enjoy making—and that your customers will love too!

No-cook snacks and light bites (11–20)

Kimbap-style mixed rice

No cooking required! Kimbap-style mixed rice (takikomi gohan)

Kimbap-style mixed rice

When you can’t use fire but can use electricity, why not try making a kimbap-style mixed rice that only requires a rice cooker? Just put takuan (pickled daikon), carrots, beef marinated in sauce, white sesame seeds, and rice into the pot, then press the cook button.

Once it’s done, serve it in a container and sprinkle with chopped green onions and Korean seaweed to finish.

The seasoning for the meat is soy sauce, sake, gochujang, and garlic.

The umami from the ingredients and the meat sauce provide plenty of flavor, so no additional seasoning is needed.

Mixed rice can be adapted in many ways, so feel free to come up with your own original version.

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Pork-Wrapped Rice Ball

Made meat-wrapped rice balls with a takoyaki maker that’s trending on TikTok and enjoyed a drink! [A glimpse of a married couple’s evening drinks]

Pork-Wrapped Rice Ball

How about meat-wrapped rice balls made with a takoyaki maker—fun to make and perfect for a school festival menu? Using a takoyaki maker, which is trending on TikTok, makes cooking easy and gives it a festive vibe! First, roll the rice into balls small enough to fit in the takoyaki molds; using plastic wrap lets you shape them without getting your hands messy.

Wrap thinly sliced pork (shabu-shabu style) around the rice balls and place them into the takoyaki maker.

Once one side is browned, flip them with a bamboo skewer, then finish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, and drizzle with yakiniku sauce—that’s it! When serving at the festival, remind people to be careful because they’re hot.

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cup salad

Just pack it in! Christmas Cup Salad [Kichinto Kitchen by Daiei]

cup salad

Cup salads are easy to serve since you just pack salad into containers.

Prepare items like cucumber, tomato, red onion, lettuce, potato salad, ham, and corn.

Pre-cut the vegetables and have a few types of dressing ready.

If you cut the ham and cucumber into star, heart, or flower shapes, they’ll look cute and appealing.

Serve them in deep containers and add a fork so people can eat while walking, or cut the vegetables into sticks so they can be eaten by hand.

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Skillet s’more

[Made with a Daiso skillet] How to make toasted marshmallows: easy s’mores

Skillet s'more

When it comes to easy, Instagrammable desserts, skillet s’mores are a top pick.

If you have a skillet and a toaster—both available at the 100-yen shop Daiso—you can make them without using an open flame, so it’s a safe way to cook.

The recipe is super simple: just line Alfort biscuits in the skillet, cover them with marshmallows, and bake.

It’s perfect for serving at school festival food booths.

You can also expand your menu by switching up the flavors of Alfort.

This dessert’s gorgeous look and delicious taste are truly addictive.

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In conclusion

We introduced menus for festival food stalls that minimize prep work while still letting everyone have a great time.

Even without cooking, with a bit of creativity you can serve sweets and drinks in a way that feels like a stylish café.

Keep food safety in mind, and create a wonderful stall that will delight your customers! It’s sure to become a memorable highlight of the school festival.