Fun Booth Ideas for Kids' Festivals

If you're responsible for running a booth at a children's festival and are stuck on what activity to offer, you're not alone. Such festivals can happen throughout the year and are often organized by churches, schools, community groups, or other organizations. The key is to choose activities that are straightforward to set up.

Fishing Pole Game

Position someone behind a barrier—either a wall or a fence. You can also build a wall using available materials. When using a fence, drape a dark sheet over it. The barrier must be taller than the children. Fishing poles go on one side. Make a pole by attaching a string to a stick, with a clothespin serving as the hook. To play, the child clips the required number of tickets onto the clothespin and throws it over the barrier. On the opposite side, an attendant attaches a prize to the clothespin and tugs the string once it's secured. The child then pulls the string back, retrieving the prize.

Bean Bag Toss

Arrange large bowls or plates in a pattern inside your booth, or use masking tape to create shapes on the floor. Mark a straight line with tape where children should stand. Kids throw bean bags at the targets. Charge one ticket for a single toss, two tickets for three tosses, three tickets for six tosses, and so on. Offer prizes that correspond to the different targets hit.

Soccer Kick

Set up a net or another target, such as an overturned plastic trash can. Use masking tape on the floor to show where kids must stand. Let the youngest children stand nearer. Kids take turns kicking the ball at the target. As with the bean bag toss, charge a set number of tickets for a certain number of kicks.

Guess the Amount in the Jar

Fill a jar with jellybeans, chocolate kisses, pennies, or other small items. For a holiday festival, you might instead use a themed item like conversation hearts. Children guess how many items are in the jar. Award prizes to those with the closest guesses. A child who guesses within 10 of the actual number receives a larger prize than one who guesses within 100. If the contents are child-safe, the filled jar can be given as a prize to children over 3 years old.

Artsy Fun

Find volunteers who have face-painting skills. Set up a booth with chairs for both the painters and the children. More detailed designs cost more tickets. Also create a craft booth stocked with stickers, markers, school glue, safety scissors, craft sticks, string, clean empty milk cartons, construction paper, and similar supplies. Have volunteers on hand to guide and assist the children, particularly with more structured projects like bird feeders. The number of tickets determines which craft the child can make.