Ideas for a Kids Zone at a festival

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

I just got tapped to head up a Kidz Zone at a festival in town. I'm super excited - this is the third year for the event, we've been involved with it from the start, and have been helping it grow.

Bounce House rental (I'm looking at a combo that has a slide/basketball/climbing area) and face painting are obvious. There won't be room for rides. What games could we do? Since this is the first year, there is probably not much if a budget (especially with the rental), but I could make lots of stuff. It is in October in central PA, so no water activities.

I'm on my phone. Pinterest me some SHIT.

[trixiedicksnatch]

Corn hole.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

How FUCKING awesome is THIS bounce house??


I can't have that.

[panicked]

Toss a football through a tire
Basketball free throw

[trixiedicksnatch]

Mini pumpkin shotput? That could be fun or dangerous

Face painting

Bobbing for apples. I know you said no water but that's a pretty traditional fall festival activity.

[buddysmom]

Cupcake decorating station.
Balloon animals.
Ping pong ball in a jar wins Goldfish (crackers only - no live animals!)
Karaoke?
Could you do a hair braiding station and put beads in?:

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

I LIKE ALL OF THESE IDEAS.
MY PHONE GETS STUCK ON CAPS SOMETIMES. CAN'T IMAGINE WHY.

NO KARAOKE, THOUGH - THERE IS LIVE MUSIC.

DICK MOVE, YOU ARE WEIRD. I LIKE IT.

[buddysmom]

Shoot a nerf gun at bottles to knock them down
Homemade photo booth

[elleblue]

A bubbles station? Link plastic straws together with string and fill tubs with soapy water to make giant bubbles. 

[panicked]

One thing I can remember at one of our local festivals was a painted piece of plywood that had a farmer painted on it. You could throw pies at it and if you hit him in the face, you won a prize. The pies were shaving cream or pudding, I can't remember which. Cheap either way.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

I'm going to ask the local youth sports/clubs to run a game (I got seven put down and realized I can't quite do that myself, and everyone else helping will already be busy). They can use the proceeds as a fundraiser.

[amberlyrose]

Mini obstacle course? Saw this at a family day last weekend with hula hoops and funoodles.

[spankswife]

Face painting
Temporary tattoos
Necklace making station
Foam craft (those stickers)
Corn hole/bean bag toss
Potato sack races
Ring toss
Hula hoops
Jump rope
Tug of war
Eggs on a spoon

Check oriental trading too

[themysteriouswife]

Coloring station. Have a coloring sheet themed for the festival with buckets of crayons.

[trixiedicksnatch]

I think HRH Queen Dick I pretty much has it covered.

[vamoose]

Stringing fruit loops on pipe cleaners to make bracelets was a huge hit for the preschool and under crowd at the zoo recently.

[balletofangels]

We have a monthly street fest and there is a kids' area. So far this summer the best activity was a bunch of "junk" instruments. DD had an absolute blast and you could set it up with recycling.

[nannersp]

We go to a monthly food truck event, and the biggest hit for kids is always the hula hoops they have set out.

[cinderbella]

Wacky hair is always a huuuuuuge hit at our school carnivals. They have a shit ton of hair color spray, Bobby pins, hair spray, ponytail holders, glitter, and combs donated and get high schoolers to come in and do the hair.

[whattheheck]

Safety Stuff:
SafeKids ID Cards - local law enforcement
Yellow Dot Program - Sheriff's Association
CHAD - stickers for car seats

Any police department have cool specialty units: motorcycle, SCUBA; Ambulance; Fire Trucks

Subaru Leave No Trace Travelling Trainers

Something that requires all attendees to work together: i.e., a jumping jack station where everyone adds up their contribution on a large tally board; rope spider web where kids learn knot tying and tie a bead onto the web

Invite youth groups to have informational tables/activities: 4H, Scouts, YMCA, etc.

ETA: Local supermarket: kids cooking/nutrition (by me it's ShopRite - they always participate in these things)

[Brie]

Does your local zoo have a mobile unit? I just learned that ours does and they will do one event free every year for nonprofits.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

Aug 9, 2014 22:49:03 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

Safety Stuff:
SafeKids ID Cards - local law enforcement
Yellow Dot Program - Sheriff's Association
CHAD - stickers for car seats

Any police department have cool specialty units: motorcycle, SCUBA; Ambulance; Fire Trucks

This actually got started last year!

[eddy]

bring in a huge pile of sand and dump it. then get a ton of sand toys. It is always a huge hit at our festivals.

[malibu]

I want to do a kids' zone now too. These ideas are awesome.

Bean Bag Toss
Ring Toss
Spin a wheel for dollar store prizes
Make a big fishing pole and have the kids hang it over a piece of (decorated) plywood to win prizes