[For Kids] Fun Entertainment and Activities to Liven Up a Festival
We’ve collected ideas for entertaining performances and attractions that will liven up large community fairs as well as school and daycare festival events.
Since these are aimed at children, this is perfect if you’re looking for things like “performances involving lots of kids” or “entertainment for children enjoying the festival.” We’ve selected a variety of ideas, from activities that are especially fun within a close-knit group to ones that get everyone excited—even among people who don’t know each other.
Feeling unsure if you can pull it off? Don’t worry—keep challenging yourself to create wonderful memories, and let’s make it a fun festival!
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[For Kids] Fun Side Shows and Entertainment at Festivals (11–20)
Naruko Dance
The Yosakoi Festival in Kochi Prefecture began in 1954 with the goal of revitalizing the local community.
When people think of the Yosakoi Festival, many picture the “naruko dance,” performed while holding wooden clappers called naruko in both hands.
It has more of a traditional Japanese flavor than modern dance and fits perfectly with festival entertainment.
Children dancing are adorable, and the click-clack of the naruko and the kids’ spirited shouts really lift the festive mood.
Since it’s a festival, dressing in matching happi coats and dancing together makes it an especially lively performance!
children’s portable shrine (for festivals)
One essential part of a festival is the mikoshi, isn’t it? A mikoshi is a portable shrine that carries the deity; it sets out from the shrine to spread the god’s power throughout the town and is said to have the meaning of warding off misfortune.
In the area where I lived, there were two kinds of children’s mikoshi: one carried by the older kids and another that the smaller children walked along with, pulling it by a rope.
Hearing the lively shouts of the children really energizes the spectators too!
Magic Show
Magic has long been one of the most exciting attractions.
You can hire a professional, but it’s also great when local people perform simple tricks.
These days, you can even find real, full-fledged magic sets at variety stores.
Get the kids involved in the magic and let everyone have fun together!
hero show
If a Super Sentai hero showed up at the festival, the kids would be thrilled! How about adding a hero show—something kids love—as entertainment for the event? Preparing costumes and a storyline might be a lot of work, but it could be great to have local adults plan and put on a handmade hero show.
And if the budget allows, you might even invite a local hero group active in the area to perform.
Please consider planning a hero show that both children and adults can enjoy together!
Challenge the ‘Jugemu’ tongue twister!
A classic staple among opening acts in rakugo! The tongue twister “Jugemu” is famous, and it’s surprising to learn it’s actually a person’s name.
The story goes that when auspicious words wishing for a long life were strung together, it ended up this long.
For elementary school kids, it may seem like a confusing string of words and feel difficult, but there are some funny phrases along the way, and near the end it finally sounds like a real name with “Chosuke.” If you can say it, that’s amazing! You’ll definitely get praised, so don’t give up—practice and wow everyone.
A tube-ken like a kendama!
When it comes to traditional Japanese toys, there’s kendama, but it requires equipment and you have to carry it around with you.
I’m not sure how it came to be, but there’s a game called “tsutsuken” that you can play like kendama using just a simple tube and a ball that’s a bit too big to fit entirely inside the tube.
For the tube, you could even use something like the container from tube-shaped potato chips.
It’s easy to get started, so practice regularly and be sure to show it off in front of everyone!
[For Kids] Fun Performances and Attractions at Festivals (21–30)
My First Diabolo
Why not try diabolo, a form of juggling? From a beginner’s perspective, it’s amazing how the string doesn’t get tangled, but the instructions explain the practice method clearly, so use them as a guide and give it a try.
We’ll start with the basic steps—how to spin the diabolo.
To perform diabolo tricks, you need to spin the spool steadily and keep it going.
This basic step is very important, so be sure to master it.
Once you do, it will become a hidden talent that’s useful in any situation.