Children's Outdoor Fair Games

Bean Bag Toss

• Children try to toss a bean bag through the holes in a target some distance away. Targets are often made from plywood and painted to look like a clown, pig or other object, with several different holes in the board (i.e. in the eyes and mouth). Different holes are worth different points.

Fishing Booth

• A fishing booth is great for younger children, as they are guaranteed a prize. A board is set upright and painted to look like a fishing pond. Kids stand on one side with a pole and string, with a clothespin on the end of the string. An adult helper sits on the other side of the board, out of sight. The child casts their string over the board, the adult attaches a small prize to the clothespin, and the string is tossed back over.

Bucket Toss

• Buckets are arranged in a line, moving further away from the player. Players toss a ball or beanbag into a bucket. The further away the bucket, the better the prize.

Ping Pong Ball Toss

• Players toss ping pong balls into goldfish bowls. The ball has to stay in the bowl to count. These balls are extra bouncy, so test the throwing distance ahead of time to make sure it isn̵7;t too difficult.

Bobbing for Apples

• Set up an extra large tin for this game. Fill the tin with water and add several apples, which should float on the surface. Children have to hold their hands behind their backs and get an apple out of the water using only their mouths.

Clothes Race

• This is set up like a relay race, with children placed on teams and the teams racing against one another. Each team has clothes items such as a hat, scarf, shirt, belt, etc. Opposite each team is an upright pole, with another pole attached crosswise for the arms. Kids go one at a time and race to put one item of clothing on their stick person before racing back and tagging the next person.

Cake Walk

• Have several cupcakes or cookies ready so this game can be played more than once. Create a circle of numbered squares and have the same numbers on slips of paper in a bowl. Players walk around the circle, stepping on the squares, while music is played. Players stop when the music stops and an adult draws a number out of the bowl. The winning child gets a treat.