Carnival Game Instructions
1
This document is a tool you can use to know and understand the rules and instructions for the carnival
games that you are bringing to your event. These instructions are made to be given your volunteers or
staff running the carnival games (if applicable) so they are fully aware of how to run each game. You
only need to print off the pages of the carnival games that will be at your event.
How to Print Individual Pages:
In order to print just one page, click File>Print and then select the option that says “From:” Put the single page
number or the group of pages that you desire to print. You can also select “Current Page” which will only print the
page that is currently on your screen. Verbage may vary depending on your operating system.
Please note that some items have the same rules and are grouped together in the instruction sheets.
Duck Pond………………………………………………………………………2
Tic-Tac-Toe………………………………………..…………………………..3
Alien Teeth Knock Down…………………………………………………4
Flap Attack.…………………………………………………………………….5
Down a Duck…………………………………………………………………..6
Fish Bowl………………………………………………………………………..7
Hole in One Golf……………………………………………………………..8
Horse Shoe……………………………………………………………………..9
Strike Zone…..…………………………………………………………………10
Potty Toss…………………………………………………………………….…11
Pumpkin & Blue Plinko………………………………………………..….12
Ring the Bottle…………………………………….………………………….13
Roller Bowler…………………..……………………………………………..14
Shockwave……………………………………………………………………..15
Street Skee..……………………………..…………………………………….16
Space Miner………………………..………………………………………….17
Spinning Wheel……………………………………………………………….18
Stand-a-Bottle………..……………………………………………………….19
Sucker Tree………….………………………………………………………….20
Ring Toss…..…….…..………………………………………………………….21
Mega Ring Toss.………………………………………………………..…….22
Alien Invasion………………………...……………………………………….23
Rattlesnake Roundup………………………………………………………24
Balloon Blast……………………………………………………………………25
Wiffle Ball Toss……………………………………………………………..…26
Down a Clown………………………………………………………………….27
Leaping Lizards…..……………………………………………………………28
Alien Pinball…………………………………………………………………….29
Ricochet………………………………………………………………………….30
Kiddie Hi Striker………………………………………………………………31
Carnival Game Instructions
2
Lucky Ducky Duck Pond, Duck Pond
Game Instructions: While the ducks will float around the pond, a player will
randomly select a duck of their choice. If their duck has a star on the bottom of it,
they win. You can decide if the player can have more than one opportunity to pick
the right duck. It is recommended to give players 1-3 tries to pick a duck with a
star on the bottom of it.
Tip: The steal blue cover with a hole in it acts as both a cover for the pump and
the hole is for flipping the ducks over that went “belly up,” that way players can’t
pick the ducks that flipped over and had stars on the bottom of it.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize for ducked picked with star and a
small prize for no duck with star picked. B) Prize only for when a duck with star is
picked.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 10 Yellow ducks
• Pump
• Steal blue cover
• 2 yellow legs
Carnival Game Instructions
3
Tic Tac Toe
Game Instructions: The goal of these games are to land the whiffle balls in a
winning tic tac toe pattern. The players will either toss or drop the balls into the
game attempting to land them in a winning pattern. It is up to you (and the age
level) of how far you want participants to stand back from the game to throw the
balls but it should be no more than 3 feet back from the game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize for landing the balls in a winning
pattern and a small prize for no winning pattern. B) Prize only for when the player
lands the balls in a winning pattern.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 3 Whiffle balls
Carnival Game Instructions
4
Alien Teeth Knockdown
Game Instructions: The goal of this game is to knock down as many teeth on the
alien as possible. Players should stand back no more than 5 feet away from the
game and throw the bean bags at the mouth. Please discourage players from
chucking the bean bag with all of their might as that could break the bean bags or
hit someone if the target is missed. Once the player is done, simply reset the
teeth by pushing them back in the upright position.
Tip: Commonly, the teeth go down so hard that it bounces back up into the
upright position. The teeth are secured with Velcro and bounce secure very easily
if it bounces back, even if it hangs by a thread.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize for when all of the teeth are knocked
down and small prize for less than all 4 teeth are knocked down. B) Prize only for
when all 4 teeth are knocked down
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 4 Bean bags
Carnival Game Instructions
5
Flap Attack
Game Instructions: Flap attack is a game of skill! The players goal is to roll the ball
up the ramp and land the ball behind the 100 mark or as far as possible without
rolling the ball completely off the ramp. Roll too hard and the ball goes off the
ramp, roll to soft and the player might not get one of the flaps or might get a low
scoring flap.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player hits 75 and/or 100, small
prize for all other flaps, no prize if they roll it off completely or do not reach a flap.
B) Prize if player hits flap 50 or higher, no prize if they do not get anything else or
no flaps at all.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 2 Roller Balls
Carnival Game Instructions
6
Down a Duck
Game Instructions: The goal of this game is to knock down all of the ducks.
Players will gently through the bean bags at the ducks to knock them down.
Tip: Discourage players from chucking the bags, they could break if thrown too
hard.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player knocks down all of the
ducks, small prize if they knock down some of the ducks, no prize if they don’t
knock down any ducks. B) Prize if they knock down any ducks, no prize if they
don’t knock down any ducks.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 5 Bean Bags
Carnival Game Instructions
7
Fish Bowl
Game Instructions: Although there are no actual fish in the fish bowls, this game
is still a fun and challenging game! Players toss ping pong balls into the small fish
bowls attempting to make them in as many bowls as possible.
Tip: You can move the fish bowls farther apart to make the game more
challenging.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if player lands 2-3 balls in bowls, a
small prize if one ball landed in a bowl and no prize if no ball went in the bowl. B)
Prize only if the player gets one ball in a bowl.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 7 Fish bowls
• 6-10 ping pong balls
Carnival Game Instructions
8
Hole in One Golf
Game Instructions: The hole in one golf game is a putt putt golf game with the
intention of making the golf ball into the hole with one stroke. The player should
place the ball at the very beginning within 8 inches of the edge and use the putter
to attempt getting it into the hole on the first try.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if player gets a hole in one only. B)
Prize every time.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 1 or 2 golf balls
• 1 or 2 putters
Carnival Game Instructions
9
Horseshoe
Game Instructions: Just like the classic game of horseshoes, the goal of this game
is to ring the pipe with the plastic horse shoe. The difference between a classic
came and our carnival game is the shoes are plastic instead of steal and there is
only one target instead of two. Encourage players to try to ring as many
horseshoes as they can around the pipe to win.
Tip: The younger the player is the closer they should be to the game. The older
they are, the farther away they should be to the game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if player rings 2-3 horseshoes, small
prize for 1 horse shoe. B) Prize if they ring any of the horseshoes.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 4 Horseshoes
Carnival Game Instructions
10
Strike Zone
Game Instructions: This game is a table top bowling game in which the player will
attempt to “knock down” all of the pins. The player will slide the puck down the
lane attempting to knock down the pins. The player will have three tries.
Tip: The pucks need to be slid fairly hard in order to flip the pins over.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if all pins are knocked down, small
prize if some of the pins are nocked down, no prize if none of the pins are
knocked down. B) Prize if they knock down any of the pins, no prize if they do not
knock down any pins.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 3 Hockey Pucks
Carnival Game Instructions
11
Potty Toss
Game Instructions: Don’t miss! The goal of this game is for players to throw the
whiffle balls into the toilet and not to miss! The goal is to land the ball in the hole
directly. Judge the throwing distance based on the age but players should not be
more than 4 feet away from game.
Tip: When the player gets the ball in the hole, remove the ball otherwise the
other balls will not go into it.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if player lands 2-3 balls in bowls, a
small prize if one ball landed in a bowl and no prize if no ball went in the bowl. B)
Prize only if the player gets one ball in a bowl.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 2-3 Whiffle balls
Carnival Game Instructions
12
Pumpkin & Blue Plinko
Game Instructions: The goal of the Plinko games is to have the pucks land in the
highest numbered slot possible. Players are to drop (NOT THROW) the puck start
on top of and against the board. Let the player drop all of the pucks down or until
they reach the highest number possible.
Tip: This game has small slots in the bottom of the game where the puck lands so
you can put prizes in the slots (give player the prize that is in the slot they land on)
or you can hand right prize amounts in the slots.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player lands in the highest
numbered slot, small prize for any other slot. B) Prize for slot of your choice. C)
Prize if they land in the slot of the numbered they guessed before dropping the
puck.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 5-8 pucks
Carnival Game Instructions
13
Ring-the-Bottle
Game Instructions: The goal of this classic carnival game is to toss the rings at a
group of glass bottles and attempt to ring the neck of the bottle with the ring.
Have players stand 1-4 feet away from the game before tossing the rings.
Tip: Recommend that players throw the ring by first placing the ring in their hand
face up close to their finger tips and then throwing gently tossing the ring onto
the game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player rings 2 or more bottles,
small prize if they ring 1 bottle. B) Big prize if the player rings 1 or more bottle,
small prize if they do not ring a bottle.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 4-6 Rings
Carnival Game Instructions
14
Roller Bowler
Game Instructions: The goal of the Roller Bowler is to land the ball in the dip that
says “Winner.” This takes some skill and practice to perfect as the player has to
push the ball down the track and get it over the first hump but not back over once
it rolls back. It’s not a bad idea to give the player 2 or 3 tries to win. This game is a
2 player game but can be played with only one player at a time.
Tip: Tell the player to be gentle and not push too hard, some players will push too
hard and the ball will fall off the game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Prize if the player lands in the winner spot, no
prize if they do not.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 2 Roller balls
Carnival Game Instructions
15
Shockwave
Game Instructions: The goal of Shockwave is to maneuver the wand down the
rod without the two touching each other. This game is generally not for young
kids, we recommend 8 and up. If the player touches the wand to the rod, a siren
will go off (the player does not get shocked). You can determine if the player is a
winner if they make it down AND back or if they just make it down to the bottom.
Tip: Tell the player to use two hands and to turn the wand as they go down the
rod.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Prize only if they make it down or down and
back without touching. B) Small prize if they touch the rod and big prize if they do
not touch the rod.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• Rod
• Wand
Carnival Game Instructions
16
Street Skee
Game Instructions: Just like the arcade game, Street Skee had the same concept
of rolling a ball up the ramp and attempting to land it in the holes. Have the
player roll the ball underhanded up the ramp-do not allow them to throw the ball.
If the player misses, the ball should return down the ramp.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player lands it in the top hole,
small prize for the bottom two holes. B) Prize if the player lands any of the balls in
the hole.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 3 Yellow Balls
Carnival Game Instructions
17
Space Miner
Game Instructions: This game takes a fair amount of skill in order to win. The goal
of this game is to move the ball from the far end of the game towards the player
by opening or closing the distance between the two rods. The ball should start
away from the player. To move the ball, open the rods and slowly close them as
the ball moves closer. The player should attempt to get the ball in the hole closest
to them which has the most points. Drop the ball before landing on one of the
holes and the player loses.
Tip: The poles need to be almost all the way open in order to start the ball rolling
but then quickly closed to make sure the ball doesn’t fall through.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player lands in the closest two
holes, small prize for the farthest holes and no prize if the ball doesn’t land in any
of the holes. B) Prize if they land in any holes, no prize if they do not land in any
hold.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 1 Ceramic Ball
Carnival Game Instructions
18
Spinning Wheel
Game Instructions: The spinning wheel is very diverse in its purpose. You can
write prizes on it, tape prizes on it, have some slots be winners and others losing
spot, all spots winners, etc. The possibilities are endless! Design the game for
what works best for your event.
Tip: Do not use any other makers but dry erase markers on the spinning wheel!
Prize Level Recommendations: Varies for your use.
Operators Required: 1
Carnival Game Instructions
19
Stand-a-Bottle
Game Instructions: The goal of Stand-a-Bottle is to stand the glass bottle with a
wooden rod with a string and ring on the end of it. The bottle is to start in the
laying down position with the bottom of the bottle near the center of the
platform. Participants will use only the rod/string/ring to stand up the bottle. This
game takes time, patience and a little bit of skill. It is not recommended for young
children.
Tip: To make the game harder, use more of the string. To make the game easier,
wind the string on the rod to make the string shorter.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player stands the bottle up, no
prize if the player does not succeed. B) Big prize if the player stands the bottle up,
small prize if they do not succeed.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 1 Glass bottle
• 1 Rod with string and a ring
Carnival Game Instructions
20
Sucker Tree
Game Instructions: Our sucker tree fits normal size suckers like dumb dumbs and
blow pops. You can use it as just a treat tree or use it as a game. If you use it as a
game, mark select sucker sticks on the bottom with a black mark using a sharpie
or similar marker. If the player picks a pop with the mark, they win an additional
prize otherwise they still get the sucker.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Player will get to keep the sucker no matter
what. If they select a sucker with a marked end on it, they get an additional prize.
Operators Required: 1
Carnival Game Instructions
21
Ring Toss
Game Instructions: This game can be played in two different ways. You can have
the players match up the color of ring with the colored peg or you can have them
simply try to ring the peg and not match the colors.
Tip: Recommend the players throw the rings like a Frisbee gently.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they match 2 or more colors or land
2 ore more rings, small prize if they only match 1 ring or land 1 ring. B) Big prize if
the player matches 1 or more colors or lands two rings, small prize if they do not
ring or match any pegs.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 4-6 Rings
Carnival Game Instructions
22
Mega Ring Toss
Game Instructions: The goal of this game is to toss rings onto the glass bottles
and try to ring the neck of the bottles. Hand the player 10 rings to try their hand
at the game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player rings 5 bottles, small prize
if they ring 1 bottle, no prize if the player does not ring any bottle. B) Prize if they
ring any number of bottles, no prize if they do not ring a bottle.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 100 glass bottles
• 50 game rings
• 2 pitchers for the game rings
Carnival Game Instructions
23
Alien Invasion
Game Instructions: The goal of this game is to knock down all of the aliens.
Players will gently through the bean bags at the aliens to knock them down.
Tip: Discourage players from chucking the bags, they could break if thrown too
hard.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if the player knocks down all of the
aliens, small prize if they knock down some of the aliens, no prize if they don’t
knock down any aliens. B) Prize if they knock down any aliens, no prize if they
don’t knock down any aliens.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 5 Bean Bags
Carnival Game Instructions
24
Rattlesnake Roundup
Game Instructions: The goal of this game is to toss the rattlesnake rings on the
cacti. You can either add up the points or add up the amount of rings that they
rung on the cacti.
Tip: Underhand throws work the best for this game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they land all 5 rings, small prize if
they land less than 5 rings, no prize if they do not ring anything. B) Prize if they
ring 2 or more, no prize if it’s less than 2 rings.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 5 Rings
Carnival Game Instructions
25
Balloon Blast
Game Instructions: The goal of this game is to throw bean bags at the balloons
and attempt to pop them-it may be harder than it looks! You may want to have
different difficulty levels by moving their throw line back as their age goes up.
Tip: Overhand throws work the best for this game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they pop 2 or more balloons, small
prize if they pop one balloon, no prize if they do not pop anything. B) Prize if they
pop at least one, no prize if they do not pop any balloon.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 3 Bean Bags
• 50 Balloons
Carnival Game Instructions
26
Wiffle Ball Toss
Game Instructions: Toss the wiffle ball onto the playing board and try to land it
on a few select holes that the ball won’t fall through. If the players lands on one
of those holes, they win. If they don’t, the ball will fall into the other holes and
they’ll have to try again.
Tip: Underhand throws work the best for this game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they land 2 balls, small prize if they
land 1 ball, no prize if they do not land any ball. B) Prize if they land any number
of balls, no prize if they do not land any balls.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 15 Wiffle Balls
• Basket for Wiffle Balls
Carnival Game Instructions
27
Down a Clown
Game Instructions: Throw the bean bags at the clowns and knock them over. The
more you knock over, the bigger the prize! The clowns will pivot backwards and
when it’s time to reset for the new game, simply pull the clowns back up from the
‘down’ position to the upwards position.
Tip: Overhand throws work the best for this game.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they knock down 5 clowns or more,
small prize if they knock down 1 clown, no prize if they do not knock any clowns
down. B) Prize if they knock any number of clowns down, no prize if they do not
knock any clowns down.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 6 bean bags
Carnival Game Instructions
28
Leaping Lizards
Game Instructions: Launch the lizard to the lily pads to score points! Position the
lizard on the end of the launch pad. Swivel the launch pad to the left and right to
position where the lizard will land. Use the hammer to hit the end of the launch
pad and send the lizard flying. Aim for the lily pads and stump which have points
on them accordingly.
Tip: There is a happy medium to how hard the launch pad needs to be hit. It does
take a significant force to send the lizard flying but too much force is also a bad
thing.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they get on the 50 or 100 point lily
pad, small prize if they get on the 10 point lily pads, no prize if they don’t hit any
points. B) Prize if they land on any one lily pad or stump.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 4 Lizards
• Mallet Hammer
Carnival Game Instructions
29
Alien Pinball
Game Instructions: Launch the ball in outer space to score points! On the right
side of the game, there is a pull handle. To the right and upwards of that handle is
where the balls get loaded. As you pull down on the handle, the ball will load into
the launch chamber. Once the ball is loaded, release the handle and it will launch
the ball up and around. The goal of the game is to land the ball in the cradles on
the game board to score the most points. If the ball doesn’t land in the cradle, it
will land in the slots on the bottom of the game. Let the player shoot all of the
provided balls.
Tip: Pulling the handle all the way down to launch the ball may be too much, pull
it 75% - 85% of the way and then launch.
Prize Level Recommendations: A) Big prize if they land it in any of the game
board cradles, small prize if they land in one of the slots at the bottom. B) Go by
points, under 500 points is a small prize, over 1000 points is a big prize.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 5 Colored Golf Balls
Carnival Game Instructions
30
Ricochet
Game Instructions: Roll the ball to the end of the game board which will then
bounce off the bungees and to the other side of the game board back towards
you. Land the ball in one of the holes with labeled points.
Tip: You’ll need to roll the ball at a slight angle to hit the angled bungee. The ideal
roll hits the first bungee and then the second bungee sending it to the target
holes.
Prize Level Recommendations: Big prize if they land 2 balls, small prize if they
land 1 ball
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 3 Yellow Balls
Carnival Game Instructions
31
Kiddie Hi Striker
Game Instructions: Test your strength! Kids (emphasis on kids) will use the mallet
hammer to hit the black rubber target to send the bell ringer up. Depending on
how hard they hit it will depend on how far the bell ringer goes. If they are strong
enough, the bell will “ding!”
Tip: This game is for kids only. Teenagers and adults are not allowed play.
Prize Level Recommendations: Prize if they ring the bell.
Operators Required: 1
Supplies Included with Game: Please make sure all supplies are returned with game
• 1 Mallet Hammer
