Great for festival stalls! Handmade game ideas
Festivals are one of the events everyone looks forward to, aren’t they? In addition to local community festivals, they’re also held as events at preschools, schools, and senior facilities.
If you’ve been put in charge of a booth, you might be wondering, “What should I do?” In this article, we’ll introduce handmade games that are perfect for festival stalls.
Along with classic games like target shooting and yo-yo fishing, we’ve gathered a variety of ideas that both children and adults can enjoy.
We’ve focused on things that are easy to make with readily available materials, so feel free to use this as a reference!
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Recommended for festival stalls! Handmade game ideas (11–20)
Bowling
Bowling is a sport you can easily enjoy with family and friends.
It’s a safe activity, so people of all ages and genders love it.
Thinking about how to beat the game also gives your brain a workout.
This time, you can make a simple bowling set using paper cups and building blocks.
Attach paper cups together and put blocks inside to use them as pins.
Set up several of these as bowling pins.
You can place them on the floor, or try arranging them on a table.
For older adults, rolling the ball on a table rather than on the floor can be safer, so it’s recommended.
Balance game
https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7461961510059773202Here’s an idea for a simple and fun “balance game.” All you need are a paper plate and some paper, like copier paper.
First, fold the paper plate in half.
Then, make additional folds on both sides of the center crease, leaving a 2 cm gap from the center on each side.
Fold along those side creases to create mountain folds, and secure the plate with tape so it doesn’t open.
That completes the base for the balance game.
Next, cut the copier paper into strips.
Glue the ends together to form squares, creating the pieces you’ll place on the base.
To play, set the base with the rim of the paper plate facing down, then place the square pieces on top while keeping the balance.
Bingo game
Bingo is a game that often comes up at seasonal events or large gatherings like weddings.
Its appeal is that anyone can enjoy it casually.
Plus, the rules are simple, so it’s easy to remember.
This time, we’re introducing a Pokémon-themed bingo game.
It’s packed with Pokémon characters, making it irresistible for Pokémon fans.
Cutting cardboard and assembling the parts requires a bit of detailed work.
You launch balls and play based on where they land, so you can enjoy a bingo game that’s a little different from the usual.
fishing
Let’s enjoy a fishing game at a handmade summer festival.
First, prepare sea creatures like fish and octopuses.
You can use free illustration materials or have the children draw them.
If you laminate the pieces you make, they’ll be water-resistant and safe.
If you don’t have a laminator, use laminate film sold at 100-yen shops.
After attaching clips to the pieces, attach string and a magnet to a pair of chopsticks to make a fishing rod, and you’re all set! Catching fish is fun, but playing the role of the shopkeeper and serving customers is another enjoyable experience.
Have everyone make lots of pieces together.
Frisbee game
https://www.tiktok.com/@clowntiara.okinawa/video/7289967371832413442Put a frisbee in the character’s mouth! Here’s a frisbee game.
A frisbee is a plastic disc.
If you don’t have one, you can cut cardboard into a circle to make a frisbee-like disc.
Draw a character on the target cardboard.
Make the character’s mouth big and cut a hole there.
During the game, have players aim and throw the frisbee at that spot.
It’s recommended to use characters that are popular with children as the target.
Give the frisbee game a try!
Pinball with a cup
Pinball with cups is a fun game that everyone can get excited about.
It’s popular with both adults and children because you can enjoy it just by rolling a pinball.
It’s especially great for festivals, where it’s sure to be a hit.
It’s easy to make, too—just use cardboard, a base, and paper cups.
Trace the paper cups onto the cardboard with a pen as a template and cut out the holes.
Then attach the paper cups and turn it into a platform for rolling the pinball.
Tilting it so the pinball rolls down and awarding points and prizes based on which box it falls into is also a great idea to boost excitement.
Give it a try!
Recommended for festival stalls! Handmade game ideas (21–30)
Goldfish scooping
We’re going to make a classic summer festival game—goldfish scooping—by hand! The materials are everyday items like milk cartons, vinyl tape, and PE tape.
First, let’s make the scooper (poi) using a milk carton cut into a ring and a drain strainer net.
For safety, it’s best for teachers or guardians to handle the cutting and stapling.
Wrap vinyl tape around the poi you made.
For the goldfish, simply cut the milk carton into an egg shape, draw goldfish-like patterns, and attach PE tape as the tail with tape.
These goldfish actually float in water, making it feel even more realistic.
Hope you catch lots of goldfish!