[For High School Students] A roundup of recommended attractions for the school festival
High school cultural festivals usually offer more freedom than in junior high—things like attractions and food stalls—so you can try all kinds of ideas, right?
Since it only happens once a year, I’m sure many students are thinking, “We want to create a memorable, amazing attraction!”
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of recommended ideas for high school cultural festivals, from the classics to the unconventional.
You can go with a tried-and-true crowd-pleaser, or take on a unique idea that won’t overlap with other classes!
As you consider factors like preparation time and budget, use this as a reference to decide which attraction to choose.
- Unusual attractions you can do in a classroom for a cultural or school festival
- Cultural Festival: Ranking of Popular Booth Ideas
- [Non-food] Cultural festival attractions: from classroom exhibits to stage events
- Ideas for class projects at the school festival: A roundup of popular attractions
- [By Genre] Cultural Festival / School Festival Booth Catalog [2026]
- Games that rival street festivals and variety shows!? Crowd-pleasers for school cultural festivals
- Attraction Ideas for School Festivals That Only High Schoolers Can Pull Off?
- [Middle School] Cultural Festival Attractions: A roundup of popular exhibits, games, and stage performances
- Stage performance ideas to excite a cultural or school festival
- Festival booth menu items that can be served without cooking and without using fire
- Recommended ideas for student council projects at a school festival, such as recreational activities and stage events.
- Ideas for stage events and attractions that will liven up a school festival
- Better than a theme park! Attractions perfect for school cultural festivals
[For High School Students] Recommended Booth/Activity Ideas for the School Cultural Festival (31–40)
A slot machine that moves with twine and stops with a magnet
One of the classic casino games is the slot machine.
You can find them in many arcades, too.
If there were a slot machine at a school festival, people would probably think, “I want to try it!” It’s known for its spinning reels, but it seems difficult to make one yourself, right? Actually, you can build one using craft paper, twine, and a hot glue gun.
You can probably get everything at a 100-yen shop.
The reels are powered by the twine.
Playing with a slot machine is fun, but a handmade slot machine would likely spark even more excitement.
Handmade billiards table
How about livening up your school festival with a handmade billiards table? It’s said that the world’s first billiards table was made for Louis XI in 1469.
I had no idea it was such a historic sport—how surprising! For the table, use materials like plywood and 2×4 lumber.
If you connect the sections with hinges, you can fold it in half for easy storage.
For the balls, buy round wooden pieces, paint them, and write the numbers on them.
Set a tea strainer or mesh under the pocket openings to catch the balls.
Once you cover the entire surface with felt, it’s complete.
merry-go-round
A merry-go-round is always a hit with kids at amusement parks—and of course, adults love it too.
The nostalgic atmosphere really brings back memories.
Here’s an idea: let’s do a merry-go-round as a cultural festival attraction! The key points are to make it a ride and have it spin around, but it will require a fairly large setup.
For the motion, let’s keep it manual—people will turn it by hand.
To enhance the mood, it might be nice to darken the classroom and get creative with lighting.
TikTok #Tried Dancing Stage
These days, many high school students probably can’t live without TikTok—it’s so easy to start watching when you have a little time and suddenly realize it’s a total time thief.
Watching and dancing to “I tried dancing” videos is fun, but how about taking it to the stage? Let’s put together a “we tried dancing” medley that mixes TikTok staples, slightly more challenging tracks, and the latest hit songs, and perform it together.
It’s sure to create a real sense of unity on stage.
Fortune-teller’s House
It’s about offering fortune-telling—such as reading a visitor’s future or romantic prospects—to help solve their concerns.
Since it may be hard to find someone skilled in divination, it seems best to conduct it with guidance from books or websites on fortune-telling.
The readings will likely be simpler than those done by a professional, so why not focus on the decor and overall atmosphere of the space? Research the origins of the method you’ll use and create a matching worldbuilding; that will give the fortune-telling more credibility.
Rather than aiming for rigorous readings, it might be better to let people enjoy the overall ambiance of the place as part of the experience.
[For High School Students] Recommended Booth and Activity Ideas for the School Cultural Festival (41–50)
Showa Retro Exhibition
In recent years, the spotlight on social media has been on “Showa retro.” Showa retro refers to retro items like products and home appliances with designs no longer in use today.
They’re especially popular among younger generations who aren’t familiar with them, calling them “cute” and “refreshingly new.” So how about gathering Showa retro items and holding a Showa Retro Exhibition? Try searching your home or relatives’ houses to find nostalgic pieces.
Another appeal is how photogenic they are—you’ll want to post them on social media.
Comedy live show, sketch comedy
Comedy elements like manzai and sketch comedy are essential for the cultural festival stage events! You can take the stage as a duo with your partner and perform a routine you’ve practiced, or join as a group of three or more to go for big laughs! That said, writing material can be pretty tough, so it’s a good idea to copy or take inspiration from professional comedians’ routines.
On the day of the performance, if you focus on going all out without getting shy, you should be able to avoid creating an awkward vibe and bombing.
