Painless Carnival Party Amusements

Anyone love a carnival? I think EVERYONE does. There's something special about the setting that allows anyone ages 1 to 101 to play silly games and enjoy themselves. Whether you are looking for a fun family activity for a few, or a PTA event for the whole school, these painless carnival party amusements are sure to entertain them all. Activities can be time consuming to create when starting from scratch so here's a list of easy carnival games to set on a table and you are good to go! Booth and backdrop optional!

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1. Ring Toss

You can't have a carnival without a ring toss! It takes a little more skill and will be most enjoyed by adults and older children.

2. Duck Pond Matching

This fun water activity is best enjoyed at an outdoor event! Float the ducks in this inflatable kiddie pool and try your memory and luck matching up the ducks.

3. Ping Pong Toss

Ping pong toss {or “table tennis” for the more sophisticated} is a simple game that is deceptively tricky. Toss the ball and land in one of the slots marked with a number. Those little balls love to bounce around so create a backdrop net to keep the ping pong balls from getting lost or making a mess!

4. Bean Bag Toss

The bean bag toss is a favorite of my own children. It takes some patience but so much fun when they actually land a shot. This game is suitable for a wide range of ages, though you'll need to warn older children not to throw too hard.

5. Disk Drop

Is there any skill involved in the Disk Drop game? It seems to just a matter of chance. Which makes it a perfect game for all ages and skill levels.

6. Velcro Darts

Painless carnival party games should probably steer clear of any actual physical danger, which is why this cute velcro dart clown is a great choice. No sharp points thrown aloft hoping to hit a target. Add strips of tape to the floor for different skill levels; little ones get to step in much closer.

7. Knock the Can

Knock the can is a classic carnival game that still packs appeal. You can make your own using decorated soup cans, but if you don't have time, this darling circus set is the way to go!

8. Corn Hole

Corn Hole is another family favorite. {Why do they always revolve around throwing things!?} Another game that can be adjusted for your specific user by moving further away from the board.

BONUS: 9. Milk Bottle Throw

Do you really need something else to knock down? Probably not, but this is a classic and I'd be remiss if I didn't add it to this list. The trouble is that the nice aluminum milk bottles are pretty expensive. And the light ones fall down almost immediately. You can create the same feeling with these wooden bowling pins {cute as-is or you can go ahead and spray paint them silver} OR pony up and get the real deal milk bottles here. {for the best price I've seen – not an affiliate link BTW – I just love you.}

BONUS: 10. Basketball Shot

And last but definitely not least…if you've got the bounce house and the popcorn stand, you should probably go for the real deal basketball shot! The good news is that for a decent price you'll be able to use it again afterwards in your home, classroom, or as an awesome raffle prize.

That wraps up our list of the most painless carnival party amusement games on the market. Do you have an easy carnival game your family loves that's missing? I'd love to know.

Additional Resources

For organizing a large-scale carnival for back to school or a PTA fundraiser, or even just a birthday party, check out the rest of the series: {coming soon}

• Carnival Decorations and Photo Booth
• Best Carnival Prizes for the Money
• Easy Carnival Crafts
• Carnival Themed Family reunion

Until next time,

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