Springtime Fun

Planning a Community Backyard Carnival

By Anne Marie Robichaud

A backyard carnival is a great way to celebrate the end of the school year or just get together with the families in your neighbourhood. Building a sense of community has many benefits; it can foster friendships, good will, fun, and bring families together with a shared commitment for strengthening their community. Step over to the lighter side of life and discover how you can bring families of all ages together through the shared fun of planning a backyard carnival!

In order to have a successful backyard carnival, you will want to involve both children and adults in the planning process. With everyone chipping in his or her ideas and household items, you can create an entertaining and festive event with lasting memories! Don't forget the teenagers in the neighbourhood; they are ideal candidates for operating the carnival booths!

Plan your Activities: With a little imagination, you can create a festive and fun carnival atmosphere just by using some items around the house. Here are some games that people of all ages will be sure to enjoy!

Note: You may want to contact your local community center and ask if you can borrow several staking tables. You can use the stacking tables to build your carnival booths. Invite the children to decorate the booths with their artwork.

• Penny on a Plate: This game requires three paper plates, a table, and a roll of pennies. Set the three paper plates out on a table; each person is given three pennies, and is asked to step a few feet away from the table. The object of this game is to throw the penny so it will land on one of the plates. (It's best to use paper plates since they aren't as slippery as glass or plastic)
• Penny Drop: For this game you will need a large pickle jar or gold fish bowl, one shot glass, water, food colouring and a roll of pennies. Fill the glass jar with water and add a dash of food colouring. Place a shot glass firmly on the bottom of the jar. The object of this game is to try and drop the penny so it will land in the shot glass.
• Photo Booth: Children of all ages love to play dress up. Gather up some old clothes, eyeglasses, hats and Halloween costumes. You will need a Polaroid camera, and film for this activity. Invite both children and adults to dress up in crazy outfits and take their picture.
• Jelly Bean Guess: This requires an empty pickle jar, a bag of jellybeans, small scraps of paper and pencils. Fill the pickle jar with jellybeans, and set it on a table with pieces of paper and pencils. Ask everyone at the mini-carnival guess the amount of jellybeans in the jar. The person closest to the right amount wins the jellybeans at the end of the day!
• Balloon Bust: Be sure that older teens or adults run this booth since you will be using darts. You will need a cork bulletin board, balloons, thumbtacks and darts. Blow up several balloons and tack them on the bulletin board. The object of this game is to try and burst a balloon with the dart. (Tip: The balloons bust much easier if they are blown up full size)
• Touch and Smell Game: Collect different items such as perfume, food, fabrics, flowers, and textures. Pin them on pieces of bristle board, and ask the participants to guess what the texture or smell is. This is a great game for the younger child! To make the game a little more challenging for the older child or adult, cover their eyes with a blindfold.
• Basketball Shoot: You probably don't have to look very far in your neighbourhood for a child's floor model basketball hoop. You should use some lightweight balls for the smaller children, and adjust the net according to the size. The object of this game is to get one of three balls in the net.
• Clothes Pin Drop: You will need some clothespins and a pail. Place a clothespin between your knees and try not to drop it while walking towards the pale. Drop the clothespin in the pale.
• Ring Toss or Horseshoes: All you need is a ring toss or horseshoe game. Each participant is given three rings and tries to hook the ring on the stick.
• Golf Putt: You will need a golf putter, golf balls and a glass. Place the glass on its side, and try to putt the ball into the cup. For the younger child, you may want to use a larger container.
• Duck Pond: You will need a baby bathtub, water and rubber ducks. Place a nice message such as "you are a good friend", or "I love you", etc. with waterproof tape on the bottom of each duck. Fill the bathtub with water, and set the ducks inside. Each participant can choose a duck and see what there message is!
• Relay Races: There are lots of old fashioned relay races you can integrate into your family fun carnival. You can try three legged races; egg on a spoon, tug of war, wheelbarrow, musical chairs, hot potato, potato sack, scavenger hunt, or a baby carriage walk.
• Bean Bag Toss: You will require a hoola hoop, rope and beanbags. Hang a hoola hoop on a tree and toss the beanbags through the hoop.
• Card Toss: You will need a stack of playing cards and a bucket. The object of this game is to toss a card into the pale.

Food Preparation: A backyard carnival wouldn't be the same without the tastes and smells of festive food. Here are some ideas you may want to try:

• Keep the food preparation simple by firing up the barbecue and making hot dogs and corn on the cob.
• Check with your local service club or rental shop concerning a popcorn machine rental.
• Make Fruit Kabobs! With all the fun and games, it's nice for everyone to enjoy a little nutrition too! Cube different types of melon and fruit and place them on a skewer; these are tasty and colourful treats that everyone will enjoy.
• Have a cake table! In the old days, it was common for women in the community to bake cakes and bring them to their local fair. Invite each family in your neighbourhood to bring a baked item for your cake table!

Many Hands Make Light Work: Part of your planning should include a clean up committee. Have everyone pitch in my packing up the games and tables at the end of the day. Wrap up your carnival by having a neighbourhood campfire with singsongs and story telling. (Remember to get a fire permit!)