We just finished our fall carnival and I could go on and on with suggestions.... I'll attempt not to though!
I guess my first question is, are you doing this as part of a fundraiser? That is what we do with our fall carnival, it is our only fall fundraiser. So...
This year we did a $10 wristband (presale and at the door) per child (4 years and up) and that included unlimited games, inflatables, hair painting, and face painting. We did charge extra for the cake walk, bingo, hayride and any food. The wristband worked well, except for the people who showed up towards the end or who were only interested in doing a few games. Next year we are most likely going to do a wristband ($10 presale/$12 at the door) AND tickets at $.25 each. When marketing it we did make a special point of highlighting the fact that no where else in town could kids get 4 hours of fun for $10. (Movies, bowling, putt putt, skating, etc. are all more when hours vs. cost is figured.)
For prizes... we have done it a dozen ways. Kids collect "punches" on cards and get prizes based on the number of punches from a prize booth, prizes at each game, this year we did it so 5 "smaller" games had their own prizes while the other games each earned the kids "punches" on cards. After 10 punches the kids could put their name in a drawing, which ever one they wanted, for an assortment of prizes ranging from new bikes, MP3 players and digital cameras to $10 gift cards to McDonald's. (650 kids school... 12 prizes total.) That was met with mixed review. The older kids loved it because they could possible win a larger prize and not end up with junky little prizes. The younger kids didn't understand it and were disappointed in not getting a prize at each game. We also discovered it was a challenge for the kids to get 10 punches so next year, if we do it the say way will set it to either 3 or 5 punches per entry form. It has been suggested that we stick with the prize drawing concept for the bigger prizes but also have a "prize sack" filled with goodies for each child as they leave.
I have talked to a gentleman by the name of James Berigan he has a web site called
EverybodyHatesFundraising.com
. Through the site he sells an ebook that has some wonderful ideas about how to do carnivals as fundraisers. Even if you aren't doing it as a fundraiser the ebook has games, food, volunteer suggestions, etc. May be worth checking out!
