Stacked silly face tin cans in a pyramid shape with a red and green ball and a bean bag.

Fair Games Fun on the Midway

Do you remember walking down the midway at the state fair when you were young? The people caring for the booths would call out for you to come into their booth and play a game to try and win a prize.

One of those games was throwing a ball and trying to knock over a set of stacked bottles or cans.

If you knocked them all over, you would win the prize.

You can watch a video if you prefer!

DIY carnival game bean bag toss

How about making your own VERY simple DIY Carnival Game Bean Bag Toss? It uses tin cans as the target and a bean bag or ball to knock them down.

The hardest thing about this craft is having the patience to collect the tin cans needed to make it!

Supplies you would need for carnival games. Rice, a sock, tin cans, scissors, markers and paper.

Tin cans for the game

The tin cans are the standard 15-ounce size that typically hold sliced fruit, vegetables, or beans. Take off the lids and wash the cans well.

It is really nice if you have a can opener that doesn’t leave sharp edges. I have a smooth edge can opener that breaks the seal of the lid around the lip of the can but doesn’t cut the metal. As a result, there are no sharp edges on the can or lid! I have really appreciated that feature for daily use as well as for crafts. Here is a link to a smooth edge can opener online that is like mine if you want to see what I mean.

Collect the number of cans needed to stack into a pyramid shape. Collect 6, 10 or 15 cans (more cans make a larger pyramid).

Tip: You could make a huge pot of chili and get cans of beans and tomatoes!! Or ask friends to save cans for you.

A hand tapes a piece of tape securing the orange paper to the tin can with supplies nearby.

Decorate the tin cans

Cut strips of paper to cover the cans. I’ve made a DIY Carnival Game Free Pattern for Tin Cans if you would like to make this task easier. Copy the pattern, cut it out and then draw it onto white copy paper or colored copy paper. More than one will fit on a 8.5x11-inch sheet of paper.

Decorate the strips however you would like. I used colored copy paper and drew emoji faces with a black marker but there are options for every occasion. You could make jack-o-lanterns, snowmen, numbers, party theme pictures, numbers, flowers, etc. In fact, you could take off the papers and use the cans over and over for various occasions.

A hand wrapping an orange strip of paper with a smiley face drawn on it to a tin can with other supplies in the background.

Bean bag game- how to make bean bags

If you want to use bean bags you may already have some from another yard game. That would be easy. Or you can purchase the bean bags if you would like. If not, there are a couple options for making them.

First, you can sew them from two 4.5x4.5-inch pieces of heavy fabric. Place the two pieces of fabric right sides together and sew a ½-inch seam on three edges and part of the fourth edge. Turn it inside out and fill with beans (or rice). Then sew the opening shut. Make 3-4 of them.

A second option uses socks. Take a sock and add beans (or rice) into the toe. Tie it off tightly with string and pull the extra part of the sock back over the bag.

A third option is to use a soft ball to throw. I used some stress balls and they worked wonderfully.

Stack your cans up into a pyramid, put on your top hat and call people in to play your game. Prizes are optional but fun- snack candy bars or fruit snacks would work well.

Nine different silly face cans resting on a marble background.

DIY carnival games- fall festival games- want more fun yard games?

Have a mini state fair carnival or fall festival in your own backyard this Labor Day!

Add some State Fair Corn Dog Muffins and delicious old-fashioned Root Beer Floats and you have an event that old and young alike will love.

The lower portion of the stacked silly face tin cans with a red and green ball resting nearby.

Or State Fair Birthday Theme!

Hoping you get to go to the State Fair, but if not, have your own and have state fair midway fun! Hey, State Fair Fun would make a great birthday theme. Just add a string of flags and some balloons and these activities would keep the fun rolling along.

Let us know how your event goes.

Enjoy!

If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

Come join the fun at https://welcometonanas.com

Many finished silly face tin cans resting on a counter.

DIY Carnival Game Bean Bag Toss

Shelly

A DIY Carnival Game Bean Bag Toss uses tin cans as the target. Have a mini carnival or fall festival in your own backyard!

Print Pin

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 2 30

Total Time 40

Type Art Project

Cuisine Art Project

Equipment

Smooth edge can opener
Bean Bags or soft balls to throw

Items Required

Tin cans- from 15 ounce cans
White Copy Paper or Colored Copy Paper
Colored markers
OR Sewing machine, fabric and beans or rice If making your own bean bags to toss.
Treats- Candy or Fruit Snacks optional, for fun!

Instructions

Collect the number of cans needed to stack into a pyramid shape. Collect 6, 10 or 15 cans (more cans make a larger pyramid). Take off the lids and wash the cans well.
Cut strips of paper to cover the cans. I’ve made a DIY Carnival Game Free Pattern for Tin Cans if you would like to make this task easier. Copy the pattern, cut it out and then draw it onto white copy paper or colored copy paper. More than one will fit on a 8.5x11-inch sheet of paper.
Decorate the strips however you would like. I used colored copy paper and drew emoji faces with a black marker but there are options for every occasion. You could make jack-o-lanterns, snowmen, numbers, party theme pictures, numbers, flowers, etc.
If you want to use bean bags you may already have some from another yard game. That would be easy. Or you can purchase the bean bags if you would like. If not, there are a couple options for making them.
First, you can sew them from two 4.5x4.5-inch pieces of heavy fabric. Place the two pieces of fabric right sides together and sew a ½-inch seam on three edges and part of the fourth edge. Turn it inside out and fill with beans (or rice). Then sew the opening shut. Make 3-4 of them.
A second option uses socks. Take a sock and add beans (or rice) into the toe. Tie it off tightly with string and pull the extra part of the sock back over the bag.
A third option is to use a soft ball to throw.
Stack your cans up into a pyramid on a small table, put on your top hat and call people in to play your game. Make a line that the participant must stay behind to toss the bean bags. They receive one point for each can that is knocked off the table.
Prizes are optional but fun- snack candy bars or fruit snacks would work well.