Lovely handmade crafts

DIY whack-a-mole ideas—perfect for festivals and school fairs!

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!”
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!

Whack-a-mole is one of the most popular games among kids at festivals and arcades! It’s a simple pastime where you hit moles popping out of holes with a hammer, but it’s surprisingly addictive! In this article, we’ll introduce DIY whack-a-mole ideas.

We’ve gathered a variety of concepts, from easy-to-make versions using cardboard and paper cups, to giant whack-a-mole setups perfect for school festivals and other large events, and even whack-a-mole ideas for pets.

If you’re planning an event attraction or looking for play equipment for children, be sure to use this as a reference!

DIY whack-a-mole ideas. Perfect for festivals and school fairs! (11–20)

Whac-A-Mole with empty cans

Let’s make a whack-a-mole game using empty cans.

Use empty cans for the moles.

Decorate the outside like moles with construction paper, stuff flyers inside, insert a pair of chopsticks, and secure them.

For the main body of the whack-a-mole, use a cardboard box.

Cut several round holes on the top, sized so the rim of a paper cup will catch, reinforce the bottom, and set in paper cups that have holes for the chopsticks to pass through.

Attach donut-shaped parts made from flyers and construction paper around the top, then insert the moles.

Stick a balled-up tissue to the tip of the chopsticks, and you’re done.

Feel free to decorate the cardboard however you like.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Whack-a-mole made with paper cups and containers

Whack-a-Mole made with paper cups and containers♪

Whack-a-mole made with paper cups and containers

Here’s an idea for making a whack-a-mole game using paper cups and empty lactic acid drink containers.

Cut radial slits into the bottom of a paper cup and add a slit on the side for a plastic spoon to pass through.

Tape an empty lactic acid drink container onto the plastic spoon, then insert it through the slits in the cup—this creates the base that lets the “mole” pop up.

Make several of these, glue the paper cups onto colored construction paper, and decorate the cups as moles.

Make a hammer using another empty lactic acid drink container and some chopsticks, and you’re done.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Whac-A-Mole for pet food

@uta.akita
Snack whack-a-mole 🐶 It didn’t go well 😇😇😇 Uta-chan’s reactions were way too slow lol#AkitaDog　#AkitaInu　#AkitaInuLove I want to connect with Akita dog lovers #akitadog #akitainu #akita_inu #akitadoglover #LifeWithDogs Life with a dog #Inustagram　Former rescue dog #japanesedog #perroakita #아키타견
♬ The Hamster Dance – Childrens Classics

This is a whack-a-mole for animals.

Punch countless holes in the bottom of a cardboard box, turn it upside down, and stick food up from below in place of the moles.

Since the food pops out from various spots, many animals might get confused, but quickly grabbing treats could instinctively stimulate them and be fun.

If regular food is hard to use, snacks should work fine.

If your playmate is a cat and you have a small mole toy, you might even see some impressive kitty punches.

Decorate the cardboard cutely and make the most of it for some relaxing time with your pet.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Whack-a-mole with pool cues

@wakuwaku_idea
Senior recreation [Recreation with Seria/100-yen shop] — super fun, a hit, and hilarious Super Whack-a-Mole#SeniorActivities Seria Fun Interesting #100-yen shop
♪ Original song – Idea Wakuwaku Rehabilitation – Idea Wakuwaku Rehabilitation

Let me introduce a whack-a-mole game using pool noodles.

Make holes in a cardboard box and set in cut pool noodles.

Pair up in teams of two, and use the pool noodles to push the sticks into the box.

It’s a lot of fun, just like whack-a-mole.

The player who gets their stick inside faster wins.

It’s a whack-a-mole game with pool noodles that tests your arm strength and observation—give it a try! Using sturdy cardboard will help it last longer.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Just attach it to a table! An easy-to-make whack-a-mole

Whac-A-Mole game

Just attach it to a table! An easy-to-make whack-a-mole

This is a simple, manual whack-a-mole game made with a cardboard sheet full of holes.

Spread out the cardboard into a large board and make lots of big holes.

Lay it across a stand like a table, and have someone underneath holding a mole plush toy at the ready.

At the shout of “Start!” they pop the hand with the plush up through the holes, and the human whack-a-mole begins.

Be sure to avoid injuries—use a soft hammer!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem