In summer, festivals are held in many places—at childcare centers, at home with DIY fairs, and at local community events.
One thing that really boosts the festive mood is the venue decorations.
If you’ve been put in charge of decorating, you might be wondering how best to brighten up the space.
In this article, we’ll share handmade decoration ideas that are perfect for summer festivals.
They can all be made with easily available materials, so costs stay low! Get help from children and other participants, and create wonderful decorations together!
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A roundup of handmade decoration ideas perfect for summer festivals (1–10)
wind chime
The wind chime, a hallmark of summer, rings with a clear, tinkling sound when it catches the breeze—so cool and charming, isn’t it? Let’s incorporate wind chimes into your summer festival decorations.
Here’s an idea for making a wind chime using two sheets of origami paper.
Use the first sheet to create the outer body of the chime’s head, and the second sheet to make the tanzaku strip.
For the outer body, fold the origami into a square, make a crease at the lower-right corner, sketch the shape along the crease, and cut it out.
Attach a hanging string and a string for the tanzaku while gluing the parts into the wind chime shape.
For the tanzaku, cut the origami in half, fold it lengthwise to make a long, narrow strip, and attach it to the string.
lantern
Local festivals are often held at places that evoke a traditional Japanese atmosphere, such as shrines.
Inspired by the lanterns commonly found at such traditional sites, let’s make an easy decoration.
We’ll use a toilet paper roll, punch holes in it, wrap it with paper, and shine a light from the inside.
The key is to think about how you want the light to appear by experimenting with the placement of the holes and the thickness of the wrapping paper.
A stone-like look is easy to understand, but finishing it in bold, colorful designs could be fun too.
Goldfish hanging ornaments
Goldfish scooping stalls are a classic sight at festivals, and since we see them less and less these days, it might be nice to evoke that memory through decorations.
A design that looks like a goldfish in a bowl is recommended; in a limited space, it’s important to see how much coolness you can convey.
If a single goldfish in a bowl feels lonely, linking multiple pieces to suggest a goldfish scooping scene could work well.
Because the surrounding decorations are flat, the three-dimensional feel of the goldfish will stand out—so proceed while keeping that balance in mind.
Yo-yo garland
Let me introduce a colorful and refreshing yo-yo garland.
Prepare construction paper, tape, scissors, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), and string, and let’s get started.
Cut the construction paper into yo-yo shapes, apply tape, add decorations, then seal it by applying tape from the opposite side.
Trim the tape around the edges to neaten the shape, attach the chenille stem, thread the string, and you’re done.
Play with different colors of paper and chenille stems to create a summery yo-yo garland.
It’s also great for decorating walls for summer festivals or for July and August displays.
Paper fan with fireworks
Fan-shaped paper fans are perfect for creating fireworks! So let’s make firework decorations using the same method as making a paper fan.
To make a paper fan, accordion-fold origami or construction paper, fold it in half, thread a string through the center, and then spread the paper out to both sides.
If you combine and glue on pieces of origami cut into firework patterns, or draw designs before making the accordion folds, it will look more like fireworks.
Make lots in various sizes and stick them on the wall, and you’ll have a dynamic decoration that looks like a scene from a fireworks festival!
portable Shinto shrine (omikoshi)
Why not incorporate an omikoshi, the symbol of summer festivals, into your decorations? Here’s a lightweight, small omikoshi made from cardboard that’s easy for children to carry.
Glue a piece of folded cardstock on top of the main cardboard body to create a triangular roof.
Decorate the cardboard and cardstock with colors and patterns like a real omikoshi.
Thread carrying poles—made by wrapping gardening stakes with newspaper and colored tape—through the omikoshi, add some floral decorations, and it’s complete! It’s perfect not only for summer festival decor but also for omikoshi events with kids.
lantern
This is a lantern garland that’s perfect for summer events like festivals and Bon Odori! Make lots of colorful lanterns and hang them up—the festive atmosphere is sure to liven up.
Simply cut slits into origami paper, glue the band portion onto a backing paper with a slight curve, then attach the opposite edge so it forms a lantern shape, and you’re done! Punch two holes at the top and thread a string through to turn it into a garland.
Using glitter origami or chiyogami will give your creation a unique, personalized touch.
