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!
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[Fun for adults and kids alike!] Home festival ideas to capture that summer fair vibe (11–20)
Yakisoba on a hot plate
When you go to a festival or a fair, isn’t yakisoba the go-to main dish? It’s relatively inexpensive and really filling.
Plus, the appeal of eating it fresh off the griddle can’t be beat.
How about recreating that fair-style yakisoba on an electric griddle at home? Just serving it in a plastic container instantly sets the mood.
By the way, pairing it with corn on the cob or trying your hand at candy apples is also recommended.
Both are simple to make, so be sure to look up some recipes.
Make special money for the at-home festival only
When you go to festivals or street fairs, one thing you always end up doing is paying, right? It might be hard for children to handle money at actual food stalls, but at home it’s totally possible.
And if they give it a try, it can spark their interest in money and arithmetic.
So, what I recommend is making your own original play money.
They can draw pictures on paper or stick on stickers.
If you want to make it look more realistic, place a coin under a sheet of paper and gently rub over it with a pen.
Super Ball scooping
Didn’t you do this at festivals and street fairs when you were a kid? It’s super ball scooping.
The colorful super balls give the stall a festive, summery feel.
Just like goldfish scooping, you use a ‘poi’ scooper to scoop up the super balls, and you get to keep however many you catch.
These days, it seems the prizes can vary depending on how many you scoop, too.
You get greedy trying to scoop a big ball, and the poi tears right away…
It’s the kind of thing even adults might get really into.
Frankfurt
If you have a hot plate, how about trying Frankfurt sausages? “Trying” is a big word—basically, you just line them up on the hot plate and grill.
They’re sold with sticks already inserted, but it can be fun to start by skewering the sausages together with your kids.
If you’re comfortable using a knife, you can make diagonal slits while keeping an eye on your child’s hands; it will make the casing even crispier when grilled.
For an even more authentic feel, put ketchup and mustard into squeeze dispensers from a 100-yen shop!
Wear a yukata or jinbei
Wearing a yukata or jinbei is one of the fun parts of festivals, isn’t it? Especially these days, when there are fewer chances to wear them, why not take this opportunity to dress someone up in one? That said, some people may feel it’s a waste to buy one, so in that case, making it yourself could be a good option.
Downloading a pattern from the internet will make the process smoother.
If you want to go for a more authentic look, try preparing geta sandals and a uchiwa fan as well.
Putting together an outfit like this will make taking photos even more enjoyable.
ring toss
Wouldn’t it be even more exciting to have a game that anyone—young or old, men or women—can join? A great option is ring toss.
As long as you have rings, all you need to do is set up some suitable objects as targets.
It’s fun to have a rule where you get a prize if your ring lands on a target, and it’s also great for friendly competition between parents and children or among siblings.
You can adjust the throwing distance to create handicaps.
If you’d like to enjoy some crafting as well, try using water-filled plastic bottles as the targets and making your own rings out of cardboard.
[Fun for adults and kids alike!] Home festival ideas to enjoy a festive atmosphere (21–30)
Target game with paper cups and cardboard
This is a handmade cardboard target game that even little kids can enjoy! First, decorate a paper cup however you like, then cut four slits in it.
Secure two rubber bands into the slits.
Make holes in the cardboard that will serve as the target.
For small children, be careful when using scissors or other tools.
You can launch crumpled paper balls for fun, too.
Beyond paper cups, you can also try things like stick-and-rubber-band launchers—feel free to get creative and adapt it to your environment so kids and adults alike can enjoy it!
