Fun for adults and kids alike! Home festival ideas to capture the lively spirit of a Japanese matsuri
Triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have probably found fewer opportunities to fully enjoy themselves outdoors or spend time in crowded places.
There are plenty of fun things to do at home, but lots of kids still look forward to festivals and fair-style events.
However, sometimes festivals aren’t held, or it’s difficult to go where there are crowds.
In times like these, why not host an at-home “Ennichi” fair that you can enjoy with family and friends? Prepare classic festival-style foods and games, and have fun with attractions that are every bit as appealing as the real thing! It’s not just for summer—doing it for your child’s birthday, for example, is sure to make them happy!
[Fun for adults and kids alike!] Home festival ideas to enjoy a festive atmosphere (1–10)
Play music that sounds like a festival (ennichi) atmosphere.
If your at-home festival just isn’t getting lively, why not try playing some festival-style music? Creating the right atmosphere is essential for turning the everyday into something special.
Don’t just focus on decorations and outfits—put some thought into the music, too! Simply adding festive elements to what you hear—like taiko drums and flutes—can lift your spirits and build excitement.
If you look, you’ll find plenty of free background music and videos with festival sounds, so make good use of them to liven up your at-home festival.
Handmade mask
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_VeSHjTJYr/One thing you can’t help but want at a festival is a mask.
If you have children, many of you probably get begged for one every time you go.
Try bringing that mask booth experience into your at-home festival, too.
While making a full-fledged mask is difficult, there’s a simple version you can make at home: print a character image on paper, laminate it and cut it out, punch out the eye holes, and thread a rubber band through holes made with a craft punch.
Be sure to prepare a variety of designs so the kids can enjoy the time spent choosing their favorite.
tag
We’ve prepared a wide variety of options like chocolate-dipped bananas and target shooting, but there may still be something missing.
That missing piece might be price tags.
Price tags are the pieces of paper posted on stalls that show the prices.
When you’re enjoying a festival at home, you’re not actually exchanging money, so it’s easy to overlook them.
But just having price tags can instantly create an authentic festival atmosphere.
This could also be a great chance to practice shopping.
karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken)
Festival food stalls are irresistible, aren’t they? Candy apples, shaved ice, frankfurters, yakisoba—everyone has flavors they can’t forget.
Today, let’s take a look at one of the all-time classics: karaage (Japanese fried chicken).
Karaage is easy to eat while walking, and it’s hard to go wrong no matter which stall you buy it from.
Plus, it’s simple to make at home—just season, coat, and fry.
If you serve it in a paper cup and eat it with a toothpick like at a festival, you can capture that festive feeling right at home!
French fries
When it comes to foods loved by everyone from children to adults, French fries might be at the top of the list.
The ones you often see at festival stalls are the classic thin, crispy fries.
Even though we eat them regularly, they somehow taste even better at a festival, don’t they? French fries are also sold as frozen foods and only need to be fried, so they’re easy to include on a home festival menu.
Even if you make them from scratch, it’s not too much work—just julienne some potatoes, soak them in water, drain them well, and fry.
shaved ice
Many families make and enjoy shaved ice when summer comes around.
You’ll always find a stall selling it at festivals, and kids agonizing over which syrup to choose is a familiar sight.
If you plan shaved ice for a home festival, it’s sure to be a hit.
Don’t limit yourself to just one syrup—letting everyone mix and match will make great memories.
It’s also a good idea to prepare toppings like fruit and ice cream.
Shaved ice machines aren’t very expensive, and once you buy one you can enjoy it every year, so definitely consider adding shaved ice to your home festival.
Yo-yo fishing
When it comes to game booths that delight children at summer festivals, yo-yo fishing is a classic.
The colorful yo-yos with beautiful printed patterns look cool just to gaze at, and to children they shine like treasures.
Yo-yo balloons are sold at 100-yen shops and often come with a pump for air or water, so it’s surprisingly easy to include them in a festival-at-home.
Prepare a small inflatable pool and try recreating the yo-yo fishing from the festival.