Ideas for pretend festivals you can enjoy at home
We’ve always taken it for granted that we could enjoy festivals, but during the COVID-19 pandemic many were canceled, and even when they were held, they were scaled down, so the chances to enjoy them dropped dramatically.
Amid this, a quiet trend has emerged: enjoying festival fun at home—kids love food stalls and festival games, while adults savor stall-style gourmet foods with a drink in hand.
Even just serving dishes you don’t usually eat at home or switching up the tableware can instantly create the right atmosphere, so try using items from 100-yen shops and have fun with it!
It’s not just for home—you can enjoy it at preschools and elementary schools too!
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Festival Play Ideas You Can Enjoy at Home (1–10)
ring toss
Toss the rings toward the target! It’s the festival classic: ring toss.
That satisfying feeling when the ring slips right onto the peg is so much fun.
If you prepare prizes like candy and toys, it’ll be even more exciting.
By adjusting the size of the rings and targets, you can enjoy it even in a small room.
You’ll also find plenty of DIY ring toss ideas on video sites, so if you have time, be sure to check them out for inspiration.
Aim for a perfect game!
Served in food packs and paper cups
Even with dishes you usually eat at home, like yakisoba or fried chicken, just changing what you serve them in can instantly boost that festive street-stall vibe.
Put yakisoba or takoyaki in clear food containers, and serve fries, edamame, or karaage in paper cups to create the atmosphere in a snap! Switching to disposable chopsticks, or sticking bamboo skewers into the karaage, will make it feel even more like a festival.
You can find cute paper cups and food containers at 100-yen shops, so if kids are getting together to play “festival,” character-themed items are sure to hype things up.
festive decorations
If you want to enjoy a make-believe festival, the first thing to do is get excited about decorating the venue! There are plenty of ways to make it look like a festival site: build stall frames, hang lanterns on the walls and ceiling, play festival-style BGM, and more.
These days, 100-yen shops have an amazingly good selection, so there’s no reason not to take advantage of them.
We also recommend using bamboo blinds (sudare) as a quick way to create a festive vibe.
It’s also a great idea to write the day’s menu on red-bordered POP paper and post it up on the wall!
Festival play ideas you can enjoy at home (11–20)
Hashimaki
Hashimaki—okonomiyaki wrapped around disposable chopsticks—is a great idea for enjoying a festival vibe at home.
It’s simple to make: first, mix flour, eggs, and water, pour the batter into a tamagoyaki pan, and cook over medium heat.
Next, flip it and, while pressing with a turner, wrap the batter around a pair of chopsticks.
Finally, plate it and add color with toppings like nori or cheese, and you’re done.
Its cute appearance will really stand out on social media like Instagram!
Tornado potato
In recent years, one of the most popular festival foods has been the tornado potato.
It’s a dish made by cutting a potato into a spring shape and deep-frying it.
It’s also known as “swirly potato” or “spiral potato.” The reason for its appearance is partly to make an impact, but it’s also designed to be easy to eat while walking around.
It sounds fun to snack on one as you make the rounds of the food stalls.
It’s a good idea to offer different flavors as well, such as consommé or salted.
baby castella (mini Japanese sponge cakes)
Baby castella are little balls made from castella batter, and their cute look is absolutely irresistible! You can easily make them with a takoyaki maker, so even if you’re not confident in cooking, give it a try.
First, add eggs, pancake mix, and milk to a salad bowl and mix them together.
Pour the batter into the takoyaki molds until about halfway, and when holes appear on the surface, place another layer of batter on top.
Once you’ve topped them all, they’re done! If you make several and pile them up on a plate, they look really festive, so be sure to try it.
Prepare meal tickets or handmade tickets
At real festivals, you hand over money or purchased tickets to play games or get food, right? To create an authentic atmosphere, how about preparing your own original currency or tickets? You can design them like banknotes or make them cute—either way works.
Try making something that will get the kids excited.
If you don’t have time to prepare, you can substitute coins or something similar.
In any case, handing over something really sets the mood.