Games that liven up festivals. Ideas that children can enjoy.
Festivals and fair days are fun events that kids can take part in, aren’t they? In addition to local festivals, many kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools also plan summer festivals, don’t they? In this article, we’ve gathered ideas for festival games and activities recommended for those who want to find games that kids will love or want to know about events beyond food stalls.
It’s packed with fun ideas you can enjoy both indoors and outdoors, so please use it as a reference.
If you’re making the games by hand, having the children help will make great memories!
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Games that liven up festivals. Ideas that children can enjoy (41–50)
Beigoma (spinning top)
How about incorporating traditional Japanese games into your booths for a school or cultural festival? For example, with beigoma, people of all ages can play together.
Beigoma is a game where you spin small iron tops without axles on a platform and compete to see whose top keeps spinning the longest.
Since several people spin their tops on the same platform, the tops naturally collide.
Staying on the platform without being knocked off is another key to winning.
Because of this, there are several ways to wind the string for beigoma.
It’s likely to create a friendly atmosphere where everyone teaches each other how to wind the string and shares tips on throwing.
lottery; drawing lots; raffle
When you went to festivals as a kid, didn’t you always try the lottery at least once? Those lotteries had so many toys and stationery that drew children in.
You’d hear rumors like, “Does the first prize ever actually come out? Has anyone even won it?”—almost like an urban legend.
Still, you can’t help but give it a shot.
Let’s prepare lots of prizes and make the lottery fun!
children’s dance
A classic choice for recitals and performances is dance.
It’s an act that works regardless of the number of participants and is enjoyable for the audience too.
Large group dances are impressive to watch, and even with a small group you can create excitement by coordinating costumes and more.
If it’s for a festival or fair, it’s also great to liven things up with dances and songs in the style of Bon Odori.
Above all, children dancing are simply adorable, and I think parents and spectators alike can join in and have a lively, fun time together!
Bingo game
Bingo is a classic game for events that everyone—adults and kids alike—can enjoy.
Numbers are called as they come out of the bingo machine, and if you have the number on your card, you mark it.
Get a full line—vertical, horizontal, or diagonal—and it’s bingo! And of course, as with any bingo game, you can win prizes.
You don’t have to buy a bingo machine; you can rent one, and these days there are also apps, so it’s easy to enjoy.
Ping-pong ball cup-in
This is a game where you line up clear cups and throw ping-pong balls into them.
It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.
Set rules such as a time limit or the number of balls to throw, and award prizes based on how many balls land in the cups to make it more exciting.
Pocky & Pretz Game
Let me introduce a heart-pounding Pocky & Pretz Game where you’ll be on edge wondering if it will topple over.
For the Pocky sticks, roll sheets of newspaper into long, thin rods and use yellow and black duct tape to make them look like Pocky.
For the Pretz sticks, roll newspaper the same way, wrap them with yellow tape, and use colored pens to draw toasted patterns.
The key is to keep the length and thickness as uniform as possible.
Since you’ll be working with your hands while seated, you can enjoy the activity from the preparation stage.
Once you’ve set the Pocky sticks in a ring, take turns removing one stick at a time.
The person who causes the Pocky to fall when they pull a stick loses.
It’s a great game for getting a big group excited!
Takoyaki Ball Toss
@yumelabo Hello, this is Yume Labo! Here’s Part 2 of the second installment introducing the summer festival corners from the Kannon Classroom⭐️ We’ve made a small improvement to the takoyaki machine, adjusting it so it goes from a slant to a flat surface. It’s now easier for children to put them in! The staff member from last time is making a comeback—how many will fit this time!? The summer festival is finally happening this weekend! We hope parents and children will enjoy it together 😊#YumeLabPraise-based therapyChild Development SupportChild Development Support Yume Lab#HandmadeToysA child's potential is limitless.Aki District, Fuchu TownNishi Ward, Hiroshima City#Minami Ward, Hiroshima City#Parent-Child Event#TherapeuticSupportGoodsExercise TherapySummer FestivalTakoyaki
Sounds great! – Appare!
Let’s have fun throwing balls! Here’s an idea for a Takoyaki Ball-Toss game.
When you think of summer festivals, delicious food stalls are the highlight, right? This time, let’s try a ball-toss game decorated like a takoyaki stall.
Cut nine holes into a black cardboard panel.
It’s cute if you color the balls to look like takoyaki.
The key is to control your strength so the takoyaki balls land in all the holes! Be sure to include this at your summer festival.