Wall of Balloons with Some Popped, baloon dart Carnival Game

Create a Backyard Midway with Carnival-Themed Games

Whether you’re planning a birthday party, a community event, or just want to have some fun, setting up a backyard midway with carnival games is a great option.

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It’s a great way to bring people together and create some lasting memories.

With a little bit of planning, you can create a fun-filled carnival atmosphere right in your own backyard!

Group of Kids Playing ring toss Game with Hula hoops

Carnival-Themed Games

Whether you want to recreate the feeling of being at a festive carnival or simply want to have some fun games to play in your backyard, carnival-themed games are a great option.

With a little bit of creativity, you can easily turn your backyard into a midway filled with all sorts of fun and excitement.

First, here are a few ideas to get you started inspired by traditional carnival games and the NERF N-Strike Modulus ECS-10 Blaster and NERF N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster:

Clown Toss Carnival Themed NERF Games

Clown Toss

Using a free printable coloring page we found online, color a happy clown’s face with markers, cut out his nose, and then glue it to the side of a cardboard box.

The idea is to use the NERF N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster, which can launch a dart up to 75 feet with one hand, to “make the clown laugh.”

By hitting the target (the clown’s nose), you can win a prize at this fun midway game!

Tin Can Alley Carnival Themed NERF Games

Tin Can Alley

Traditionally, carnival players use softballs to knock down the tin cans. In this game, you can use red plastic cups (or cans) stacked high for a target.

Then, each player can use the NERF N-Strike Modulus ECS-10 Blaster to try and knock down a pyramid of cups. Or bean bags work too.

With the ability to blast darts at targets up to 90 feet away, this is an exciting game for everyone to try!

Tip the Cat Carnival Themed NERF Games

Tip the Cat

In this version of the game, cover empty toilet paper rolls in white paper, then painted red stripes on them. Then use the NERF Blasters to try to “tip the cat” for the chance to win a prize.

This game requires a bit more scale with smaller targets, so the targeting scope on the NERF N-Strike Modulus ECS-10 Blaster came in handy!

Tic Tac Toe Carnival Themed NERF Games

Tic-Tac-Toe

We all know how to play Tic-Tac-Toe, right? Only in this version, use red plastic cups, glue, and a cardboard box.

Spread nine cups equally across a side of the box and then use the NERF toys to try to make three in a row with the darts. Three in a row wins every time.

There are many different types of midway games that you can choose from.

bright colored pennant banners and string lights hanging across sky

Backyard Carnival Games

With a little bit of planning, you can create a fun-filled carnival atmosphere right in your own backyard!

To get started, you’ll need to gather some supplies. For game booths, you can use tables, blankets, or tarps to create a space for each game.

You’ll also need a supply of prizes, such as small toys or candy. Then, set up each game with simple rules that everyone can understand.

Popular traditional carnival games include the ring toss, basketball toss, and balloon dart game.

Ring Toss

A classic carnival game that is easy to set up is the ring toss. All you need is a few posts or stakes that can be driven into the ground, and some sort of rings or hoops.

Once you have your supplies, simply set up the posts in a row and invite your guests to try their hand at tossing the rings onto the posts.

The person with the most successful tosses wins a prize!

Basketball Toss

Another popular carnival game is the basketball toss. This one is also easy to set up and can be played with a small group or a large group of people.

All you need is a basketball hoop and a basketball. If you don’t have a basketball hoop, you can simply set up a makeshift hoop using a laundry basket or something similar.

Once you have your supplies, invite your guests to take turns trying to make a basket. The person with the most baskets wins a prize!

Balloon Dart Game

A Balloon dart game is a great way to get your guests involved and add some friendly competition to the mix.

To set up the game, you’ll need a few supplies. First, you’ll need a large sheet or piece of cloth to use as a backdrop. Next, you’ll need some balloons in a variety of colors.

You’ll also need some darts — these can be made from paper or cardboard, or you can purchase some inexpensive ones from a party supply store.

Finally, you’ll need a way to attach the balloons to the backdrop. You can use tape, pins, or string.

Once you have all of your balloon dart supplies, it’s time to set up the game. Simply blow up the balloons and attach them to the backdrop in a random pattern. Then, set the darts up next to the game.

To play, each player gets three darts. The goal is to throw the darts and pop as many balloons as possible. The player with the most popped balloons at the end of the game is the winner!

Some other popular classic carnival games include:

  • Duck Pond: A classic game where you try to scoop up as many rubber ducks as possible with a net.
  • Fish Bowl: Try to land balls into fish bowls that are floating in the water.
  • Lucky Dip: Choose a stick from a bucket and see what prize you’ve won.
  • Milk Bottle Toss: Knock over milk bottles by throwing balls at them.
  • Skee Ball: Roll balls up an incline and into holes to score points.
  • Strongman Hammer: Hit the target with a hammer to ring the bell and win a prize.
  • Whack-A-Mole: Try to hit moles as they pop up out of their holes.

No matter what carnival-themed games you decide to set up in your backyard, the important thing is to have fun and enjoy the company of your friends and family.

Carnival Prizes

When it comes to carnival-themed games, there is no doubt that adding a prize for the winners is a great way to add an extra element of fun to your event.

Not only will this give the winners something to show for their efforts, but it will also likely motivate other participants to try their hand at the games as well.

Some great prize ideas for carnival games include stuffed animals, small toys, or even candy. Of course, the type of prize you offer will be largely dependent on the age group of your guests.

For instance, younger children may be more thrilled with a stuffed animal or small toy, while older children and adults may appreciate a more valuable prize, such as a gift card.

No matter what type of prize you choose to offer, be sure to have enough on hand to accommodate all of the guests at your event. Nothing is worse than coming up short and having to tell someone that they didn’t win anything.

With that in mind, it is also a good idea to have a few backup prizes in case of any last-minute cancellations or no-shows.

By offering prizes for the winners of your carnival games, you can be sure to add an extra element of fun and excitement to your event. So be sure to stock up on prizes and get ready for some fun!

With a little bit of planning and some creative thinking, you can easily turn your backyard into a fun-filled midway!

Carnival-themed games are a great way to add excitement and anticipation to any party or gathering. Best of all, they can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

So get planning and get ready to have some fun!

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