If there’s one thing that really makes a carnival birthday party feel like a carnival, it’s the games! When we threw our son’s 4th birthday party, we turned our backyard into a carnival filled with games, most of which we DIYed ourselves.
We did purchase a few things, including a fun photo booth setup from Amazon, but a lot of the games were made using simple and inexpensive supplies.
So, let’s get into the carnival party games we created for Joey’s party, along with a few more fun ideas I think you’ll love!
Grab your coffee, and let’s get to planning!
Check out my full party here: Step Right Up! Carnival Birthday Party Ideas for a Fun & Festive 4th Birthday
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How Many Games Do You Need for a Carnival Party?
How Many Games Do You Need for a Carnival Party?
For our carnival party, we had eight games, and honestly, that felt like plenty for our crowd. Every party is different though, and the ages and number of kids you’re hosting can make a big difference.
You know your crowd best, so think about how many kids will be playing, how much space you have, and how long your party will be. And remember, kids will play their favorite carnival games more than once! You don’t need a different game for every child or every minute of the party.
One thing that was important to us was making the games easy for our guests to play on their own. I personally didn’t want someone stationed at every game for the entire party, so we kept the setups and rules simple enough for everyone to jump in and play whenever they wanted. If you’d rather have someone running each game, that works too! Go with whatever makes the most sense for your party.
Our Favorite Carnival Party Games
We had so much fun planning out the games for this party. I started by making a list of the carnival games I wanted to include, then figured out which ones we could DIY and which ones made more sense to buy.
Most of our games ended up being simple DIY projects using inexpensive supplies, which made this part of the party a lot more budget-friendly. So, let’s get into the actual games we set up for our carnival!
Photo Booth
Okay, technically this one isn’t a game, but it was way too much fun not to include! I found this carnival photo booth backdrop on Amazon and immediately fell in love with it. The faces are just too funny, and everyone got a kick out of taking pictures throughout the party.
For setup, I tied the backdrop to the string light poles we already had in the yard and placed a small step stool behind it so the younger kids could reach the top face. It was such a simple addition, but we ended up with some really great pictures and memories from it.
I used these: Carnival Photo Booth Backdrop 72×36 Inch and 10Ft String Light Poles
Football Toss
This football toss was one of our easiest DIY carnival games, and almost everything came from the dollar store! I used a pool noodle to create the target, but you could easily use a tire or even a hula hoop instead.
We used small footballs for the kids, and you could add regular-size footballs if you want the adults to get in on it too. I attached everything to the same string light poles we used for the photo booth, which made setup really easy.
Was it the most attractive carnival game I came up with? Definitely not. 😂 But it was inexpensive, easy to play, and everyone had fun with it—which is really what matters!
Water Gun Shoot Out
This was such a fun carnival game to play throughout the day, and my husband even got in on the DIY for this one!
We used two pieces of wood and drilled small holes where we wanted the targets to go. Then, using a little wood glue, we attached golf tees to hold the ping pong balls. I picked up small water guns from the dollar store, and they were perfect for shooting the ping pong balls right off the tees.
It was simple, inexpensive, and really easy to reset between turns—just put the ping pong balls back on the tees and you’re ready to go again!
Spin the Wheel
This was easily one of my favorite DIY projects from the entire party! I went into it with no real plan, very little research, and pretty much just imagination and determination—and somehow, it worked!
The kids could spin the wheel and see where it landed, and it added another fun, interactive game to our carnival setup. Plus, I loved how much it added to the overall look of the party.
I’ll be putting together a full step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how I made our carnival prize wheel, so make sure to join my email list below if you want to know when that post goes live!
🤡 Can Knockdown (Clown Edition!)
I gave the classic carnival can knockdown game a fun little twist by turning ours into a Clown Knockdown! This was such an easy DIY carnival game to put together, and it fit our theme perfectly.
I started saving empty cans from dinner, then wrapped each one in white paper printed with different clown faces. I simply cut the paper to fit around each can and glued it in place—nothing complicated!
I chose clowns for this game because, really, what says carnival more than a clown? We weren’t hiring one for the party, but I still wanted to work them into the theme somehow. This ended up being a fun, kid-friendly way to do it without an actual clown wandering around the backyard. 😂
⭕ Ring Toss
ou’ve gotta love a classic ring toss, right? This one is such a simple carnival game, and it added a fun pop of color to our setup too.
I started saving empty wine bottles a few months before the party, and a few friends and family members donated theirs to help me build up enough for the game. To make them fit our carnival theme, I spray painted half of the bottles blue and the other half red, then arranged them in an alternating pattern.
The plastic rings I used were the perfect size for the bottles and easy for little hands to toss. You can grab the same ones I used here: Rings for Ring Toss for Kids Outdoor Games
🐠 Fish Bowl Toss
The fish bowl toss was another carnival classic and surprisingly easy to recreate at home!
I picked up a bunch of small glass vases from the dollar store, and they were the perfect size for the game. Even better, I tucked them away after the party to use as centerpiece vases for future events. I love when I can reuse party supplies instead of buying something for just one day!
To finish the game, I ordered a set of plastic fish from Amazon and grabbed a pack of ping pong balls. We placed the fish inside the vases, set everything up together, and the kids could try tossing the ping pong balls into the “fish bowls.”
To complete the game, I ordered a set of plastic fish from Amazon (click here to shop them) and picked up a pack of ping pong balls. That’s all it took, and we were ready to play!
🍭 Guess How Many
This was such an easy game to set up, and it kept everyone guessing throughout the party—including the adults!
I picked up a giant mason jar from Michaels and filled it with Dum Dum lollipops—117 to be exact. Quick tip: count them as you fill the jar and immediately write the number somewhere safe! I wrote ours on the inside of the lid so there was no chance I’d forget.
Everyone wrote down their guess, and toward the end of the party we announced the three people who came closest. I used handmade goodies from my crafting business for the top two prizes and a fun dollar store find for third place.
You can make the prizes as simple or elaborate as you want. For us, the friendly competition was really the fun part!
More Fun Carnival Party Games
Eight games seemed to be plenty for us but I could not resist doing some planning for other games. I put together some of my favorties for you.
Pin the Nose on the Clown
You can’t go wrong with a classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey-style game, and this carnival version has kids trying to pin the nose on the clown instead!
This is another easy option if you don’t want to DIY every single game. Hang up the clown poster, hand out the nose stickers and let the kids take turns while blindfolded. You can check out the Pin the Nose on the Clown game on Amazon here.
Balloon Dart Game
For more of a classic carnival game, you could set up a balloon dart board! This set comes with colorful balloons and darts, so you can create your own balloon-popping game in the backyard.
Attach the balloons to a sturdy board or backdrop, then let guests take turns trying to pop one. Since this set uses real metal-tipped darts, I would definitely make this an adult-supervised game, especially with younger kids around. You can [check out the Balloon Dart Game Set on Amazon here].
Duck Pond Matching Game
A duck pond game is another carnival classic and would be especially fun for younger kids. This set makes it really easy because it comes with numbered ducks, a small inflatable pool, and nets.
Kids can scoop up the ducks and try to find matching numbers, or you could keep it even simpler for little ones and let everyone who picks a duck win a small prize! You can [check out the Duck Pond Matching Game on Amazon here].
Strongman Tattoo Booth
For something a little different, you could add a Strongman Tattoo Booth to your carnival! This would make a fun activity station where kids can stop between games and pick out a temporary tattoo.
I also love that it doubles as part of your carnival decor, so you’re getting an activity and a themed party station in one. You can [check out the Strongman Tattoo Booth on Amazon here].
Carnival Limbo Game
A limbo game would be such a fun way to get everyone up and moving at a carnival party—and this is one the adults can join in on too!
This inflatable carnival-themed set is easy to work into your party setup without having to build another game from scratch. Put on some music, line everyone up, and see how low they can go! You can [check out the Carnival Limbo Game on Amazon here].
Laughing Clowns Toss Game
Nothing says carnival quite like a Laughing Clowns game! This version gives you the classic carnival look without needing to build an entire game booth yourself.
It comes with two colorful felt clown targets and sticky balls that kids can toss to see who can score the most points. Since there are no real darts involved, this would also be an easy option for younger kids. You can [check out the Laughing Clowns Toss Game on Amazon here].
How to Set Up Your Carnival Games
Whether you’re setting up your carnival party in the backyard, at a park, or even indoors, it helps to have a plan for where all of your games will go.
Think about whether each game will have its own station or table and how guests will move from one game to the next. Folding tables make great game stations, and you can use wooden crates to add some height. For our party, I also used cardboard tri-fold boards as backdrops behind the games, which was an inexpensive way to make each station feel a little more put together.
Make sure you leave enough room between your games and use your entire party space so guests can move around easily without everything feeling crowded.
You’ll also want to decide how your games will work during the party. We kept ours self-serve so guests could play whenever they wanted, but you could absolutely have someone running each game instead. You know your crowd best, so there’s no wrong choice here!
And finally, think about your prizes. You can keep prizes near each game, set up a separate prize table, or do what we did and give each child a favor bag as their overall carnival prize.
Carnival Game Prizes
There are a few different ways you can handle prizes for your carnival games, and this is definitely one of those areas where you can choose whatever works best for your budget and your crowd.
You could give out small prizes at each game, hand out tickets that kids can exchange at a prize table, or skip individual game prizes altogether and give each child a favor bag at the end.
For our party, we went with the last option. We wanted everything to feel really free-flowing, so each kid got a favor bag filled with little prizes and candy. I also included these fun carnival swirl lollipops I found on Amazon, which fit the theme perfectly. You can find those here: Rainbow Twist Lollipops Individually Wrapped Bulk
If I were throwing this party again, though, I think I’d try a carnival prize table! I love the idea of letting the kids choose their own prizes, and it’s another fun way to add to the carnival atmosphere.
I’ll be sharing a whole post with my favorite Carnival Party Prizes and Favor Ideas, so make sure to join my email list below if you don’t want to miss it!
Tips for Planning Carnival Party Games
Before you start planning your carnival games, remember that you don’t need to go overboard! Choose a number of games that actually works for your party, your space, and the amount of time you have to set everything up.
Keep the ages of your guests in mind too. You want the games to be challenging enough to be fun without making them so difficult that younger kids get frustrated. Simple rules and clearly marked game stations can help keep everything moving.
It’s also a good idea to have a few extra supplies nearby. Balls, rings, water guns, ping pong balls—you never know what might get lost or broken once the party gets going!
Most importantly, keep it fun and low-pressure. You don’t need to keep score or have a winner for every game unless that’s something your crowd would enjoy. For us, letting everyone wander around and play whenever they wanted worked perfectly.
Final Thoughts
Remember, you don’t need to create a huge, elaborate carnival to make this party fun. Pick the games that work for your space, your budget, and your guests—and don’t be afraid to mix a few DIY games with easy store-bought options.
Some of my favorite games from Joey’s party were also some of the simplest ones we put together. At the end of the day, the kids aren’t worried about whether every game booth looks perfect. They just want to play!
So grab a few supplies, set up your favorite carnival games, and have fun with it. And if you’re planning your own carnival birthday party, be sure to check out the rest of my carnival party ideas below!
Happy Planning! 🎪
Step Right Up! Carnival Birthday Party Ideas for a Fun & Festive 4th Birthday
Shop the Party: Everything You Need for a Carnival-Themed Birthday
💌 Join the Party (Planning) Club
