Carnival Game Rules and Instructions
These are the rules for the carnival games ACP Entertainment rents, written for the staff or volunteers who run each game at your event. Every game below covers how to play, a tip, prize ideas, how many people it takes to run and the supplies to return afterward. Each game needs one operator.
Need a printed copy? Download the carnival game instructions (PDF) and print just the pages for the games at your event.
Duck Pond Game Rules
Covers the Lucky Ducky Duck Pond and the Duck Pond.
How to play: The ducks float around the pond, and each player picks one. If the duck has a star on the bottom, the player wins. You decide how many picks each player gets; we recommend 1–3.
Tip: The steel blue cover with a hole in it covers the pump. Use the hole to flip over any ducks that go belly up, so players can’t spot the ducks with stars.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for a duck with a star, and a small prize for any other duck.
- Option B: A prize only for a duck with a star.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 10 yellow ducks, pump, steel blue cover, 2 yellow legs
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Tic-Tac-Toe Game Rules
How to play: Players toss or drop wiffle balls into the game, trying to land them in a winning tic-tac-toe pattern. Set how far back players stand based on their age, but keep it to no more than 3 feet from the game.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for a winning pattern, and a small prize otherwise.
- Option B: A prize only for a winning pattern.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 wiffle balls
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Yeti Tooth Knockout Game Rules
How to play: Players stand no more than 5 feet away and throw bean bags at the yeti’s mouth, trying to knock down as many teeth as they can. Discourage hard throws, which can break the bean bags or hit someone on a miss. After each turn, push the teeth back up.
Tip: Teeth that are hit hard often bounce back up. They’re held on with Velcro and re-attach easily, even if one is hanging by a thread.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for knocking down all 3 teeth, and a small prize for fewer.
- Option B: A prize only for knocking down all 3 teeth.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 bean bags
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Flap Attack Game Rules
How to play: Flap Attack is a game of skill. Players roll the ball up the ramp, aiming to land it behind the 100 mark, or as far up as they can without rolling it off the end. Roll too hard and the ball goes off the ramp; roll too softly and it may miss the flaps or land on a low-scoring one.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for 75 or 100, a small prize for any other flap, and no prize for rolling off the ramp or missing the flaps.
- Option B: A prize for 50 or higher, and no prize otherwise.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 2 roller balls
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Down a Duck Game Rules
How to play: Players gently throw bean bags, trying to knock down all of the ducks.
Tip: Discourage hard throws. The bean bags can break.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for knocking down all of the ducks, a small prize for some, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for knocking down any ducks, and no prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 5 bean bags
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Weirdos Knock Down Game Rules
How to play: Give each player 3 hacky sack balls. The goal is to knock down as many Weirdos as possible, ideally 3 for 3.
Tip: Ask players not to throw hard. It breaks the hacky sacks.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for all 3 Weirdos, a small prize for 1 or 2, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for knocking down 1 or more Weirdos.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 6 hacky sack balls
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Hole in One Golf Game Rules
How to play: This is a putt-putt game: the goal is to sink the ball in one stroke. Players place the ball at the start, within 8 inches of the edge, and putt.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A prize only for a hole in one.
- Option B: A prize every time.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 1 or 2 golf balls, 1 or 2 putters
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Horseshoe Game Rules
How to play: Just like classic horseshoes, players try to ring the pipe with a horseshoe. The differences: our shoes are plastic instead of steel, and there’s one target instead of two. Encourage players to ring as many as they can.
Tip: Have younger players stand closer and older players farther back.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for ringing 2 or 3 horseshoes, and a small prize for 1.
- Option B: A prize for ringing any horseshoe.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 4 horseshoes
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Strike Zone Game Rules
How to play: Strike Zone is tabletop bowling. Players slide a puck down the lane to knock down the pins, with three tries.
Tip: Slide the pucks fairly hard. It takes some force to flip the pins over.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for knocking down all of the pins, a small prize for some, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for knocking down any pins, and no prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 hockey pucks
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Plinko Game Rules
Covers Mega Plinko, Pumpkin Plinko and Blue Plinko.
How to play: Players try to land the puck in the highest-numbered slot. They drop (never throw) each puck from the top of the board, starting with it against the board. Let players drop all of their pucks, or stop once they hit the highest number.
Tip: The slots at the bottom can hold prizes. Put a prize in each slot and give players whatever is in the slot they land in, or hand out prizes based on the slot.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for the highest-numbered slot, and a small prize for any other slot.
- Option B: A prize for a slot you choose.
- Option C: A prize if the puck lands in the slot the player called before dropping it.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 5–8 pucks
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Ring-a-Bottle Game Rules
How to play: In this classic carnival game, players stand 1–4 feet away and toss rings at a group of 9 bottles, trying to ring a bottle’s neck.
Tip: Have players rest the ring flat on their fingertips and toss it gently onto the game.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for ringing 2 or more bottles, and a small prize for 1.
- Option B: A big prize for ringing 1 or more bottles, and a small prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 6 rings
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Roller Bowler Game Rules
How to play: Players push the ball down the track, trying to get it over the first hump and into the dip marked “Winner” without it rolling back out. It takes practice, so consider giving each player 2 or 3 tries. It’s built for 2 players but works with one player at a time.
Tip: Tell players to push gently. Pushed too hard, the ball falls off the game.
Prize idea: A prize for landing in the Winner spot, and no prize otherwise.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 2 roller balls
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Snake Pit Game Rules
How to play: Players tilt the board left and right to guide the ball over the “snake pit” to the end. Reach the end and win; if the ball falls off, the turn is over. Holes along the way have their own point values and can count as smaller wins.
Tip: Use both hands and make steady, gentle moves.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A prize only for reaching the end.
- Option B: A small prize for landing in any of the other holes.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 foam balls
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Street Skee Game Rules
How to play: Just like the arcade game, players roll a ball up the ramp and try to land it in the holes. Balls must be rolled underhand, never thrown. A missed ball rolls back down the ramp.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for the top hole, and a small prize for the bottom two.
- Option B: A prize for landing any ball in a hole.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 yellow balls
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Space Miner Game Rules
How to play: Space Miner takes real skill. The ball starts at the far end, away from the player. Players open the two rods to start the ball rolling toward them, then slowly close the rods as it gets closer, aiming for the hole nearest them, which scores the most. If the ball drops before it reaches a hole, the player loses.
Tip: Open the rods almost all the way to start the ball rolling, then close them quickly so it doesn’t fall through.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for the two closest holes, a small prize for the farther holes, and no prize if the ball misses every hole.
- Option B: A prize for any hole, and no prize for a miss.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 1 ceramic ball
Colors Game Rules
How to play: Players toss two wiffle balls onto the game. If both land on the same color, they win. For example, if the first ball lands on blue, the second must land on blue too.
Tip: Colors is pure luck. The balls land at random.
Prize idea: A prize only when both balls land on the same color.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 2 wiffle balls
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Stand-a-Bottle Game Rules
How to play: The glass bottle starts lying down in the center of the platform. Using only a rod with a string and ring on the end, players try to stand it up. It takes time, patience and some skill, so we don’t recommend it for young children.
Tip: For a harder game, let out more string. For an easier one, wind the string onto the rod to shorten it.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for standing the bottle up, and no prize otherwise.
- Option B: A big prize for standing the bottle up, and a small prize otherwise.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 1 bottle, 1 rod with string and ring
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Honey Drop Game Rules
How to play: Players get 3 balls and try to toss all three into the 7 wobbly cups.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for all 3 balls, a medium prize for 2 and a small prize for 1.
- Option B: A big prize for all 3 balls, and a smaller prize for fewer.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 balls
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Ring Toss Game Rules
How to play: Players toss the rings, trying to ring as many pegs as they can.
Tip: Underhand tosses work best.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for ringing 2 or more pegs, and a small prize for 1.
- Option B: A big prize for ringing 2 pegs, and a small prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 6 rings
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Mega Ring Toss Game Rules
How to play: Players toss rings onto the glass bottles, trying to ring the necks. Give each player 10 rings.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for ringing 5 bottles, a small prize for 1, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for ringing any bottles, and no prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 100 glass bottles, 50 game rings, 2 pitchers for the rings
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Mega Fish Bowl Game Rules
How to play: Players toss ping-pong balls, trying to land them in the fish bowls. Up to 3 players can play at once. To collect balls that land in the bowls, tip the whole row over instead of reaching into each bowl.
Tip: Gentle underhand tosses work best.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for 2 or 3 balls in the bowls, a small prize for 1, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for any ball in a bowl, or let players keep playing until they win.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 2 dozen ping-pong balls
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Rattlesnake Roundup Game Rules
How to play: Players toss the rattlesnake rings onto the cacti. Score it by adding up the points or by counting the rings.
Tip: Underhand throws work best.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for all 5 rings, a small prize for fewer, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for 2 or more rings, and no prize for fewer than 2.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 5 rings
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Basketball Toss Game Rules
How to play: Players stand no more than 5 feet back and try to make a basket with each of 3 balls.
Tip: Underhand tosses work best. That’s why it’s called basketball toss.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for 2 or 3 baskets, and a small prize for 1.
- Option B: A prize for any basket.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 basketballs
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Wiffle Ball Toss Game Rules
How to play: Players toss wiffle balls onto the board, aiming for the few holes a ball won’t fall through. Land on one of those and win; otherwise the ball falls through and they try again.
Tip: Underhand throws work best.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for 2 balls, a small prize for 1, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for any ball that stays on the board, and no prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 15 wiffle balls, basket for the balls
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Down a Clown Game Rules
How to play: Players throw bean bags to knock over the clowns. The more they knock over, the bigger the prize. The clowns tip backward; to reset, pull them back upright.
Tip: Overhand throws work best.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for 5 or more clowns, a small prize for 1, and no prize for none.
- Option B: A prize for knocking down any clowns, and no prize for none.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 6 bean bags
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Leaping Lizards Game Rules
How to play: Set a lizard on the end of the launch pad and swivel the pad left or right to aim. Hit the other end with the mallet to send the lizard flying toward the lily pads and stump, which are marked with points.
Tip: It takes real force to launch the lizard, but too much sends it off course. Find the happy medium.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for the 50- or 100-point lily pad, a small prize for a 10-point lily pad, and no prize for no points.
- Option B: A prize for landing on any lily pad or the stump.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 4 lizards, mallet
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Alien Pinball Game Rules
How to play: Balls load just up and to the right of the pull handle on the right side of the game. Pull the handle down to load a ball into the launch chamber, then let go to launch it. Players aim to land the ball in the cradles on the board for the most points; a ball that misses lands in the slots at the bottom. Let each player shoot all of the balls.
Tip: Pulling the handle all the way down can be too much. Try 75–85% of the way.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for landing in any cradle, and a small prize for a bottom slot.
- Option B: Go by points: under 500 points is a small prize, and over 1,000 points is a big prize.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 5 colored golf balls
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Ricochet Game Rules
How to play: Players roll the ball to the far end of the board, where it bounces off the bungees and back toward them. The goal is to land it in one of the holes marked with points.
Tip: Roll at a slight angle. The ideal roll hits the first bungee, then the second, and heads for the target holes.
Prize idea: A big prize for 2 balls in a hole, and a small prize for 1.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 yellow balls
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Kiddie Hi Striker Game Rules
How to play: Test your strength! Kids swing the mallet at the black rubber target to send the ringer up the tower. The harder the hit, the higher it goes. Hit it hard enough and the bell rings.
Tip: This game is for kids only. Teens and adults can’t play.
Prize idea: A prize for ringing the bell.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 1 mallet
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Bull’s Eye Game Rules
How to play: Players toss 3 magnetic darts at the target, aiming for the bull’s-eye.
Tip: Light overhand throws work well.
Prize ideas:
- Option A: A big prize for the center of the target, a small prize for anywhere else on the target, and no prize for a miss.
- Option B: A prize for landing anywhere on the target.
Operators needed: 1
Supplies to return: 3 magnetic darts
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Carnival Game FAQs
How do you play the duck pond carnival game?
Players pick one of the floating ducks. If it has a star on the bottom, they win. Most hosts give each player 1–3 picks. See the Duck Pond rules above.
How far back should players stand?
It depends on the game and the players’ ages. Our guidelines: no more than 3 feet for Tic-Tac-Toe, 1–4 feet for Ring-a-Bottle, and no more than 5 feet for Yeti Tooth Knockout and Basketball Toss. For horseshoes, younger players stand closer and older players farther back.
What prizes should I give at carnival games?
Each game above lists its own prize options. Most follow one of two patterns: a big prize for a full win and a small prize for a partial win, or a prize only for a full win. Plinko adds a third option: players call a slot before they drop the puck and win if it lands there.
How many people does it take to run each game?
One. Each game needs one operator, and many hosts give the job to volunteers. Share this page or the PDF with them before the event.
Which carnival games are best for young kids?
The Kiddie Hi Striker is for kids only; teens and adults can’t play. Stand-a-Bottle takes patience and isn’t recommended for young children. For toss games, have younger players stand closer.
What do I need to return after the event?
Every piece listed under “Supplies to return” for each game, such as the balls, rings, bean bags, pucks and ducks.
Can I print the rules for my volunteers?
Yes. Download the PDF from the link at the top of this page and print just the pages for the games at your event.
Can I pick up carnival games myself?
Yes. Many of our carnival games are customer pickup rentals. You pick them up from our location in Byron Center, near Grand Rapids, and return them after your event. Most fit in an SUV, minivan or pickup truck, and we’ll give you pickup and return times when your reservation is confirmed.