Backyard carnival
Carnival stalls in the garden: hook-a-duck, tin can alley, face painting, candy floss and a ticket-based prize stand.
- Guests
- 15-60 guests
- Party length
- 3-4 hours
- Prep time
- 1 day
- Ages
- All ages
What it is
A fairground in your garden. Simple carnival games at stalls, a ticket system and a prize stand, with fair food like candy floss and popcorn. Ambitious but magical, and suits big mixed-age groups.
Plan ahead
- Three weeks before: hire or buy a candy floss machine and popcorn maker. Plan 5-6 stalls.
- One week before: buy prizes (small toys, sweets) and roll tickets.
- The day before: build stalls from gazebos, tables and striped fabric. Recruit helpers to run them.
Stall ideas
- Hook-a-duck: rubber ducks in a paddling pool with hooks on canes.
- Tin can alley: knock a can pyramid down with beanbags.
- Ring toss: onto bottles.
- Splat the rat: a sock “rat” dropped down a drainpipe; hit it with a pool noodle.
- Face painting.
- Guess the sweets in the jar.
Food and drink
- Hot dogs and burgers
- Popcorn and candy floss
- Toffee apples
- Lemonade and slush
Tips
- Give each stall a grown-up or older teen to run it.
- Have a prize for everyone, even if they didn’t win.
On the day
- Arrival (15 min): each guest gets a strip of tickets.
- Stalls open (90 min): hook-a-duck, tin can alley, ring toss, beanbag throw and face painting.
- Carnival food (45 min): hot dogs, popcorn and candy floss.
- Prize stand (20 min): swap winning tickets for prizes.
- Finale (20 min): a raffle or a giant bubble show.
Shopping list
candy floss machine
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popcorn machine
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carnival game set
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hook a duck game
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carnival tickets roll
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striped tent decorations
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