Handmade decoration ideas for summer festivals
A summer festival packed with fun attractions like food stalls, drums, and Bon Odori dancing.
Many people, from children to adults, look forward to summer festivals.
In this article, we’ll introduce handmade decoration ideas you can use for summer festivals.
These ideas are perfect not only for festivals held at nurseries, kindergartens, and senior care facilities, but also for families planning a home fair.
They’re easy to make, so create plenty of decorations and recreate the lively festival atmosphere!
- Handmade lantern ideas. Let's make festival decorations!
- Handmade ideas for summer decorations. Perfect for interior decor and craft activities!
- Fun for adults and kids alike! Home festival ideas to capture the lively spirit of a Japanese matsuri
- I want to decorate in summer! Handmade garland ideas
- [For Kids] Fun Entertainment and Activities to Liven Up a Festival
- [For Seniors] Fun Activities That Liven Up Cool Evening Festivals and Summer Festivals
- Handmade summer festival games: a collection of ideas you can enjoy at kindergartens, daycare centers, and at home.
- For Seniors: Festive Attractions to Liven Up Festivals—Games and Recreational Activities
- Handmade goldfish scooping ideas: How to make goldfish and scoops (poi)
- A roundup of handmade decoration ideas perfect for summer festivals
- Handmade ideas for Tanabata decorations: from classic ornaments to creative variations
- Great for festival stalls! Handmade game ideas
- Ideas for pretend festivals you can enjoy at home
[Summer Festival] Handmade Decoration Ideas (1–10)
Goldfish hanging ornaments
Why not create a cool and festive atmosphere with a cute hanging goldfish decoration? You can make the goldfish in any way you like: fold them from origami paper, cut goldfish shapes out of construction paper, or craft them with chirimen crepe fabric.
A hanging decoration with just goldfish is lovely, but you can also make a basket to hold the goldfish and hang it, or combine them with origami water plants and various round or square ornaments.
Putting these together will make your hanging decoration even more vibrant and fun.
windsock
The “streamers,” a Tanabata decoration classic, are bright and eye-catching, so they’re also great for festival décor.
Here’s a cute idea featuring flower pom-poms.
First, make a streamer by cutting slits into two colors of tissue paper, then attach it to a short length of a toilet paper roll.
For the flower pom-poms, layer two colors of tissue paper that have been accordion-folded, tie them at the center, and gently separate the layers one by one.
Connect the flowers to the streamer, add a string for hanging, and you’re done!
yo-yo
Yo-yo fishing is a classic summer festival game that kids—and adults—can enjoy.
Let’s make decorations inspired by the yo-yos you can get from those stalls! Cut construction paper into yo-yo shapes, then decorate them with stickers or by coloring them in.
Once your yo-yos are ready, try sticking them on the wall or displaying them around the yo-yo fishing booth.
Another great idea is to use unfilled water-balloon yo-yos directly as decorations.
Since yo-yos are so colorful, they’ll instantly brighten up your summer festival venue!
[Summer Festival] Handmade Decoration Ideas (11–20)
shaved ice
Shaved ice, a summer festival staple, is a beloved treat for kids and adults alike.
Let’s make shaved-ice decorations to boost the summer festival vibe! After crafting the ice and bowl from construction paper, turn it into your favorite flavor by layering colored paper on top or by painting with watercolors or coloring with pencils.
You can also use a tampo (sponge dauber) to add color.
Using a tampo makes it easy to create the soft, bleeding effect of syrup soaking into the ice, so it’s highly recommended.
Try making shaved ice in a variety of “flavors” and stick them on the wall or on signs around the festival venue.
choco banana
Chocolate-covered bananas are a staple at summer festivals! How about decorations inspired by those treats? Cut yellow construction paper into banana shapes, then paint the tops brown to make chocolate bananas.
You can also use pink or green to suggest strawberry or matcha chocolate.
Spread glue over the entire chocolate banana, then sprinkle on finely cut bits of construction paper in various colors to create the look of rainbow sprinkles.
Try using these for a chocolate banana stall display or as wall decorations.
Paper fan with fireworks
Fan-shaped paper fans are perfect for creating fireworks! So let’s make firework decorations using the same method as making a paper fan.
Fold origami or construction paper in an accordion, then fold it in half, thread a string through the center, and open the paper to both sides—that’s how you make a paper fan.
If you combine and glue pieces of origami cut into firework-like patterns, or draw designs before folding the accordion, it will look more like fireworks.
Make lots in different sizes and stick them on the wall to create a dynamic display that looks like a scene from a fireworks festival!
Pop-out! Paper Plate Fireworks
Let’s make a three-dimensional firework decoration that looks like real fireworks bursting in the sky! Prepare two paper plates of the same size and paint both of them black.
On one of the plates, cut eight slits as if dividing it into petals.
Decorate the slit plate with colorful stickers to create the glow of fireworks.
When you’re done, layer it with the uncut plate to complete the piece.
By using two stacked plates instead of drawing on a single one, you create a sense of depth.
Stick lots of them on the wall to fill the space with the fun atmosphere of a fireworks festival!