Skip to Content

Over 20 Fall Festival Game Ideas

Sharing is caring!

Schools across the Nation are gearing up for their Fall Festivals, and the folks in charge are having a hard time coming up with some budget-friendly Fall Festival game ideas!

In fact, my sister-in-law was just complaining about not being able to find any.

So, using her creativity and doing my own online searches, I was able to come up with this list of over 12 Fall Festival game ideas plus a few Fall Festival Prize Ideas!!

Over 20 Fall Festival Game and Prize Ideas for Church and School

Fall is a magical time of year, filled with vibrant colors, cozy sweaters, and of course, fall festivals. 

Whether you’re planning a community event, school party, or a fun gathering at home, we’ve got an array of game ideas that will make your fall festival a hit!

Ensuring Safety During Games: Essential Tips and Measures

Games, whether physical or digital, are designed for enjoyment, team spirit, and a healthy competitive environment. 

However, safety should always be a top priority to prevent any accidents or injuries. Here are some essential tips on how to ensure safety while playing games.

Know the Rules

Understanding the rules of a game is the first step towards ensuring safety. Not only does this provide a fair playground for all participants, but it also helps prevent injuries. Ensure that all players are aware of how to play the game correctly and safely. If necessary, hold a brief session before the game to go over the rules and answer any questions.

Safe Environment Setup

The area where the fall festival games are played should be free from hazards. 

For outdoor games, check for objects that could cause trips or falls, like rocks or holes. 

If the game is being played indoors, make sure the space is clear of furniture or other items that could potentially cause harm.

For digital games, a safe environment involves protecting personal information and using secure internet connections.

Proper Supervision and Sportsmanship

Whether it’s children or adults playing, proper supervision is key. An appointed person can monitor the games, enforce rules, and intervene if necessary. 

Along with supervision, fostering good sportsmanship is equally important. Encourage respect for other players, discourage aggressive behavior, and promote a friendly, competitive spirit.

Use of Safety Gear

Depending on the game, appropriate safety gear should be used. Helmets, knee pads, or gloves can significantly reduce the risk of injuries. Make sure the equipment fits properly and is in good condition.

Hydration and Breaks

During physically demanding games, players should stay hydrated. Regular breaks should also be taken to rest and avoid overexertion. This can help prevent issues like heat stroke or exhaustion, especially during hot weather.

First Aid Precautions

Despite all the precautions, accidents can still happen. It’s crucial to have a first aid kit on hand and someone who knows basic first aid procedures. This can make a significant difference in providing immediate care before professional medical help arrives.

In conclusion, ensuring safety during games is not just about preventing injuries but also about creating a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. By following these tips, you can minimize risks and maximize fun.

Photo Booth – With selfies, mustaches, and “the duck face” being all the rage, photo booths are popping up at many parties now!  Create your own photo booth with a fall themed tablecloth as the background and fill a box with props like boas, hats, mustaches, funny glasses, and more.

Ring Toss – Using old glass bottles, you can create your own DIY Ring Toss Game – Or, if you don’t really want glass bottles you can create a ring toss game using dowels

School Idol – Set up a Karaoke stage and charge tickets for the kids to sing.  You could have an Idol of the Day or an Idol per grade.

Ladder Golf – Not sure why this game is called “golf” but oh man it looks fun and challenging!

Fishing is always a popular festival game – especially for small children.  The easiest way to play is to set up a plastic kiddie pool and get some sticks or dowels.  Put a piece of string on the pole and a magnet at the end of the strong.  Fill the pool with cardboard fishes that have paper clips on them.  Blind-fold the kids and let them fish!  Different colored fish could be for different prizes. To keep with the fall theme, they could fish for fall leaves!

Spray Away – Martha Stewart suggests putting ping-pong balls onto golf tees and allowing the use of water guns to spray the balls down!  You know that sounds like loads of fun!

Mini Golf – a couple boards, golf balls, and clubs and you have your own handmade mini golf course.

Xbox or Wii games – You can set up your gaming system with a projector and screen and allow danging, sports, etc playoffs!  We did this for my 13 year old’s birthday party and it was a big hit!  Set your timer and let the kids take turns!

Obstacle Course – You can create your own with scraps from the garage or purchase this super awesome blow up one (Inflatable Obstacle Pro-Racer Bounce House Bouncer).  Some of the “jumpy” places even allow you to rent these and other bounce houses for your Fall carnival.  

If it is being used for a Church fall festival or a school Halloween party, your local place might even offer a discount or donate it!

Fall Festival Game Ideas

Scavenger Hunt – Create your own scavenger hunt and allow the kids to look for things as they spend time at the Festival.  When they finish it they can turn it in for a small prize – this is the perfect time to give them some extra tickets.  No time (or creativeness) to create your own?

Lawn Twister – a couple different colors of spray paint and you have one massive Twister Game!

Olympics – Three Legged Races, Egg Toss, Sack races, Wheelbarrow races, horseshoes, and other backyard games!  Allow the kids to compete for prizes!  The added benefit is that it wears them out. LOL!

Duck Pond – You can never go wrong with a duck pond.  Simply paint different colors on the bottom of some rubber duckies.  Float the ducks in a small pool and allow the kids to choose a duck – the idea is to put lots of the color that equals a small prize, fewer of the next size prize and only 1 or 2 of the biggest prizes.

More Fall Carnival Activities:

These events are a great time for families to come together and engage in fun activities that celebrate the essence of autumn.

One classic activity at these carnivals is face painting. Children love having their faces transformed into vibrant fall colors or their favorite characters. It’s a creative way to express the festive spirit of the season. You could go one step further with pumpkin painting instead!

Bean bags games are another favorite. 

Whether it’s a simple toss game or something more elaborate like a bean bag ladder toss, these games provide endless entertainment. They’re easy to set up, and people of all ages can participate.

A unique and seasonal twist to a traditional game is pumpkin bowling. Instead of regular pins and balls, use small pumpkins and hay bales. This fun activity is sure to bring laughter and joy as participants try to knock down the “pins”.

No fall carnival would be complete without a visit to the pumpkin patch. It’s a delightful experience wandering through fields of bright orange pumpkins, perfect for picking out one for a pumpkin carving contest. This contest is a great way for everyone to showcase their artistic skills.

For some light-hearted fun, set up a dunk tank. Participants can throw toilet paper rolls at a target aiming to dunk a willing volunteer into a tank of water.

Whether it’s the thrill of pumpkin bowling, the creativity of a pumpkin carving contest, or the simple joy of face painting, fall carnivals offer an array of activities that make the season even more special.

Fall Festival Prize Ideas:

Fall festivals are a time for community, fun, and friendly competition. With games and contests being the highlight of these events, having exciting prizes can make them even more enjoyable. Here are some fun ideas for fall festival prize ideas that are sure to create a buzz.

More tickets!  Set aside a certain number of tickets – maybe a different color – and allow the kids to win a couple tickets at the booths.  

Be sure to keep count so your money doesn’t get messed up.

Create some Turkey Poo packets!

There are TONS of really neat goodies available at Oriental Trading Company that kids will love and since you can purchase by the gross the prices are very cheap!

Go to local stores and ask for some donations.  These donations can be used as prizes at the booths, as part of an auction, and/or for the Cake Walk that every good festival should have!

For the artistic participants who join the pumpkin carving or painting contests, art supplies can be a great option as prizes. High-quality paints, brushes, or sketchbooks would not only reward their skills but also encourage their artistic pursuits.

For themed games that require physical prowess like sack races or pumpkin bowling, sports equipment or outdoor toys could be perfect rewards. Think frisbees, jump ropes, or even a new football. These prizes promote physical activity and can be used long after the festival ends. Make sure to include things for the younger children as well like a golf ball,football game, hoola hoop, or mini pumpkins in a variety of different sizes.

Food-related prizes are always a hit. Consider creating a custom fall-themed basket filled with local produce, homemade jams, or baked goods like a pumpkin pie. For a unique twist, you could include a cooking class voucher or a recipe book featuring fall recipes.

For the winners of the dunk tank or other water games, consider beach-themed prizes. These could range from beach towels and picnic blankets to waterproof speakers.

Board games or puzzle sets are great options for winners of trivia or problem-solving games. They offer the opportunity for winners to continue the friendly competition at home with family or friends.

Finally, don’t forget themed prizes that celebrate the season. Fall-scented candles, decor, or even a voucher for a family trip to a local pumpkin patch or corn maze can be wonderful prizes that embrace the spirit of fall.

Remember, the goal is to enhance the fun and camaraderie of the festival for the whole family. With these small toys prize ideas, participants are sure to look forward to the friendly competition at your fall festival.

More Fall Festival Game Ideas

More Fall Festival Game Ideas:

I hope these help you have the rocking-est fall festival ever!  Looking for other Fall Festival ideas?  Leave a comment letting me know what you are looking for and I will see what I can do 🙂

Sharing is caring!

Sheri

Saturday 15th of September 2018

Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma's House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More link party. I pinned this. Hope to see you again next week.

James

Saturday 7th of October 2017

Really some great Festival Game Ideas, but I like the fishing festival most. I am a great fishing lover person.

April J Harris

Sunday 6th of September 2015

Pinned to my Back To School Board on Pinterest - there are some great ideas here! Here in the UK, we call Fall Festivals 'Autumn FĂȘtes' :-) Games like these would be very popular! Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul hop.

Saylor

Wednesday 2nd of September 2015

Nice festival! what is Ladder Golf?

Fadli Firmansyah

Sunday 20th of October 2013

Nice festival game ideas. I like it