SquirrellyMama Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 I'm on the committee of our town festival. For the kids we have inflatables. It's always the same. What else can we do? It seems like every little town festival has the same stuff. Any ideas on something different? Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Check Pinterest. I helped design a festival a few years back & found some good ideas there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 Check Pinterest. I helped design a festival a few years back & found some good ideas there. I've looked at Pinterest, but a lot of that doesn't work for this. I tried life size board games, big flop :( Mostly, parents don't want to be bothered by their kids. Parents playing Bingo and drinking beer, kids semi-supervised by the inflatable staff. I'm slightly disillusioned. What did you use from Pinterest? Maybe I'm picking the wrong stuff. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 (edited) Ummm, I searched for "Fall festival" and "pumpkin patch," things like that. ETA: this was a (Protestant) church event, so even though some parents let kids run a bit wild, there were no beer tents to disappear into. Renting carnival equipment (ferris wheel?) or getting a local stable to let you do pony rides might be options. Edited September 14, 2017 by Katy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnE-girl Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Our summer festival used to have a huge sandbox for the kids to play in. I think it was sponsored by one of the local construction companies. It's probably really only exciting for kids if you aren't close to a real beach though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xahm Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Would it work to have competitions? Either silly or semi competitive? Three legged race, egg toss, egg on spoon race, and so on? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Our state fair used to have a big (BIG) box of dry corn, like a sandbox, with agricultural equipment-type toys. It must have been 10-15' square or so. Hay bales all around for parents to sit on. It was always a hit with younger kids. A petting zoo. The standard baby chicks hatching in an incubator and ducklings with the slide. A straw bale maze. Pony rides, or pony-cart rides. And, you know, the old standbys are still new to the kids. ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 I've looked at Pinterest, but a lot of that doesn't work for this. I tried life size board games, big flop :( Mostly, parents don't want to be bothered by their kids. Parents playing Bingo and drinking beer, kids semi-supervised by the inflatable staff. I'm slightly disillusioned. What did you use from Pinterest? Maybe I'm picking the wrong stuff. Kelly I having a lot of fun with visions of "inflatable staff". Maybe I need a few inflatable people for my off days so I can just go play bingo and drink...more coffee. ;) 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 How about a big bubble area with dishpans of soapy water. The kids can make the wands from drinking straws and string. http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/really-big-bubble-maker/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Can the fire department bring out a truck and let kids climb on/sit in/try on a uniform? Painting station? Either a large mural (plywood whitewashed before hand) or we've done it with those tiny pumpkins. Had a bunch of them and kiddos would come and sit and paint a tiny pumpkin. Send it home in a take-out box, if you can get a bunch (donated?). 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 (edited) Will the fire dept sponsor a splash zone? Ours does this at the end of the Independence Day parade. They basically donate the water in one water truck. If the weather is hot, it would be a lot of fun. Depending on the time of year - watermelon or pumpkin or apple pie eating contest divided into ages. The watermelon eating contest could be followed immediately by a seed spitting contest. Old fashioned games like a cake walk, fishing game, etc. might go over well too. Recess games like red rover, kick ball, etc. (randomly assign teams or have it tournament style. This could involve both kids and adults. Edited September 14, 2017 by TechWife 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Can the fire department bring out a truck and let kids climb on/sit in/try on a uniform? Painting station? Either a large mural (plywood whitewashed before hand) or we've done it with those tiny pumpkins. Had a bunch of them and kiddos would come and sit and paint a tiny pumpkin. Send it home in a take-out box, if you can get a bunch (donated?). You could involve the park and rec dept and have them hit paint dipped tennis balls against a piece of plywood or canvas drop cloth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 (edited) Our small town festival always had a "penny scramble." Pennies and occasionally other coins are hidden in a kiddie pool or large shallow container full of corn or sawdust. Kids get a certain amount of time in which to dig and can keep what they find. Good fun! You could set up tricycle or "Big Wheel" races or just an obstacle course for the kids to ride them through. Edited September 14, 2017 by MercyA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Old fashioned games like a cake walk, fishing game, etc. might go over well too. I loved the fishing game! Our fall festival always had a cake walk, too. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 (edited) I having a lot of fun with visions of "inflatable staff". Maybe I need a few inflatable people for my off days so I can just go play bingo and drink...more coffee. ;) This made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe. Edited September 15, 2017 by Garga 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Rock wall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 You could set up tricycle or "Big Wheel" races or just an obstacle course for the kids to ride them through. This was what I was going to suggest with a course constructed out of hay bales. What about a pet parade? There was a hilarious one in the book Owls in the Family. Probably no one in your town has a pet rattlesnake, though? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 This made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe. Oh no! Save your breath for the inflatable staff! :lol: Or buy an air compressor. sorry for the thread derail…but I really did read it as inflatable staff… :leaving: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrips Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 A friend of mine posted about one she went to: they had a 'Crafts with Grandpa' tent and each kid got one to make a toy with. Thy used real tools (saws, drills etc) and wood. There was also a pottery making tent where kids got to try their hand at that. And a spot where kids could try making marionette type dolls dance. It looked like the most awesome festival! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Can you do Nerf gun battles? Inflatable sword fights? potato sack races? carnival games like: toss the ring on the milk bottle, etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Human foosball? http://people.com/sports/human-foosball-table-see-the-game-thats-all-the-rage-in-brownton-minnesota/ Those giant inflatable balls you get inside? Corn hole? Giant water balloon fight? I like the idea of the bubbles and nerf gun battles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 The giant inflatable balls are a ton of fun but work best for elementary age kids and older. Foosball may not work as well with kids. They do it st the summer camp my son attends, but I'm not sure if all ages play or just older kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Face painting Some sort of craft Games like throwing the bean bag into the holes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Depends on weather but the ones around here often have a dunk tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our local children's museum had a couple of different crafty tables set up for one event. The most popular by far? The one with misc supplies - paper, toilet paper rolls, glue, scissors, shoe boxes, etc. The kids had a ball constructing things from trash. Maybe something like that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our local children's museum had a couple of different crafty tables set up for one event. The most popular by far? The one with misc supplies - paper, toilet paper rolls, glue, scissors, shoe boxes, etc. The kids had a ball constructing things from trash. Maybe something like that? My kids love stuff like this. Paint stirrers work well with this kind of thing too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Ours gets a lady to come in and do a puppet show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 A big hit here for the kids is the pumpkin painting table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our little town has trike races, turtle races and stick horse races. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our local scout troop sets up a little low rope course and car racing track. It promotes their organization and activities, and it's really neat for kids and parents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our summer festival used to have a huge sandbox for the kids to play in. I think it was sponsored by one of the local construction companies. It's probably really only exciting for kids if you aren't close to a real beach though. We're in IA so we are pretty far from a beach. That might be an interesting option. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 I having a lot of fun with visions of "inflatable staff". Maybe I need a few inflatable people for my off days so I can just go play bingo and drink...more coffee. ;) Honestly, inflatable people would probably have been as helpful as some of the staff were :laugh: Kelly 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Would it work to have competitions? Either silly or semi competitive? Three legged race, egg toss, egg on spoon race, and so on? Right now we have pie and wing eating contests. Not pie and wings together :) That would be an interesting contest. Remember Minute to Win it? I used some of those games for a birthday party and it worked well. I've thought about this one. We might need to add that in after the parade and eating contests. Our state fair used to have a big (BIG) box of dry corn, like a sandbox, with agricultural equipment-type toys. It must have been 10-15' square or so. Hay bales all around for parents to sit on. It was always a hit with younger kids. A petting zoo. The standard baby chicks hatching in an incubator and ducklings with the slide. A straw bale maze. Pony rides, or pony-cart rides. And, you know, the old standbys are still new to the kids. ;-) We have a petting zoo and pony rides. A hale bale maze sounds interesting. I'll look into that. How about a big bubble area with dishpans of soapy water. The kids can make the wands from drinking straws and string. http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/really-big-bubble-maker/ We had this activity this year. It was a hit! Can the fire department bring out a truck and let kids climb on/sit in/try on a uniform? Painting station? Either a large mural (plywood whitewashed before hand) or we've done it with those tiny pumpkins. Had a bunch of them and kiddos would come and sit and paint a tiny pumpkin. Send it home in a take-out box, if you can get a bunch (donated?). The police have something similar to this. The Fire Station has a silent auction and hog roast the same day so they are out on the kid fun. Will the fire dept sponsor a splash zone? Ours does this at the end of the Independence Day parade. They basically donate the water in one water truck. If the weather is hot, it would be a lot of fun. Depending on the time of year - watermelon or pumpkin or apple pie eating contest divided into ages. The watermelon eating contest could be followed immediately by a seed spitting contest. Old fashioned games like a cake walk, fishing game, etc. might go over well too. Recess games like red rover, kick ball, etc. (randomly assign teams or have it tournament style. This could involve both kids and adults. We have a volleyball tournament and a bags tournament, but it might be fun to try something that the kids and adults can do together. This was what I was going to suggest with a course constructed out of hay bales. What about a pet parade? There was a hilarious one in the book Owls in the Family. Probably no one in your town has a pet rattlesnake, though? A animal show would be fun and free. Thanks all! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our town little town had a portable climbing wall come in, a miniature ferries wheel (like, four cars with two kids each), a magician show... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 So, I love all the craft and paint ideas. I've tried some of those already and it just didn't work :glare: I don't know what it is about our town. Not sure if the kids are just used to "not free" stuff. I have thought of having the town do a mural through out the weekend. I'm not sure where we'd put it overnight so we don't get some smart ass painting weird stuff on it. Things we already have is a kiddie tractor pull, parade, 5k/10k run, face painting, balloon animals, a hypnotist, a band in the beer tent, community band and chorus... We have a ton, but people just aren't happy. They want more! I'm a people pleaser, and just want everyone happy. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 What age range of kids need something "more"? The under-10 set or the tweens/teens? For the older kids, what about a "not-beer" tent, just a place to hang out, listen to "their" music, eat and drink junk food. I remember going to fairs and festivals about that age and just wanting to roam or sit with friends, not actually "do" anything. Maybe end the night with a movie on an outdoor projection screen (some libraries have the license and equipment for this). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 something simple like corn hole? Cake walk? Face painting? Balloon animals? I know, not exactly original lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Our town has a little plastic duck race that's fun, but we have a river that runs through the park in our town. Everyone picks out a little duck (the kind that floats, obviously), writes down the number on it so you know which one is yours, and then they all get tossed into the river where the park begins. Then there's a finish line where it ends. We do this numerous times all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Teens here like it when the radio station sets up a stage with amps and the festival hosts the local teen bands. Folks of all ages will listen and some dance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 16, 2017 Author Share Posted September 16, 2017 Teens here like it when the radio station sets up a stage with amps and the festival hosts the local teen bands. Folks of all ages will listen and some dance. My dh suggested a battle of the bands. I wonder if a radio station would come? Hmmmm, I'll have to figure out who to talk to. Do you think that would work in the afternoon? Kelly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I'm in a small town (pop 400). This year my library is bringing the zoo (over 90 miles away) for a two hour presentation. (In the park with everything else). Last year, the community club brought in inflatables... But the race/obstacle ones. And a rock climbing wall-that was a huge hit! Other cheaper things have been rock/paper/scissors tournament, bean spitting contest, side walk chalk contest (with prizes!) Geocaching, scavenger hunt, hidden objects around the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 My dh suggested a battle of the bands. I wonder if a radio station would come? Hmmmm, I'll have to figure out who to talk to. Do you think that would work in the afternoon? Kelly Yes, sfternoon is fine. Bands appreciate opportunity to advertise themselves. The Battle of the Bands is already done by another group here as an annual fundraiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Horshoe tournament for kid/adult pairs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 So, I love all the craft and paint ideas. I've tried some of those already and it just didn't work :glare: I don't know what it is about our town. Not sure if the kids are just used to "not free" stuff. I have thought of having the town do a mural through out the weekend. I'm not sure where we'd put it overnight so we don't get some smart ass painting weird stuff on it. Things we already have is a kiddie tractor pull, parade, 5k/10k run, face painting, balloon animals, a hypnotist, a band in the beer tent, community band and chorus... We have a ton, but people just aren't happy. They want more! I'm a people pleaser, and just want everyone happy. Kelly Can you get feedback from the town?? Like a survey you mail or hand out or put in public places like the library? Or just ask around? In one of our homeschooling groups we're planning some games and one suggestion was like a ring toss with a pumpkin. You try to get it to land on the stem. I've also heard suggestions lately for rock painting? If they painted a rock (assuming you could get some) they could take them home and you wouldn't have the issue like the mural thing. Because even after you stored the mural you could still have to worry about graffiti I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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