30+ school carnival ideas for games, food & fundraising

A school carnival is one of the best ways to bring students, families, and teachers together while raising money for your school. But planning one isn’t always easy. Between choosing games, organizing volunteers, deciding what food to sell, and finding ideas that fit your budget, there’s a lot to coordinate.

That’s why we’ve put together this collection of 30+ school carnival ideas. From classic games and crowd-favorite food booths to low-cost prizes and practical fundraising tips, you’ll find everything you need to plan a fun, memorable event that helps your school raise more.

Classic carnival games 🎯

The best school carnival games strike a balance between simple DIY favorites and bigger crowd-pleasers. Here are some popular picks.

Ring toss 🥏

This carnival game is fun for all ages. Buy some plastic rings and stakes from the dollar store, and charge $1 per try or $2 for three tries.

Beanbag toss 🎪

Also known as cornhole, beanbag toss involves setting up two boards with holes in the middle. Then, teams of two face off to score the most points by landing the beanbags in the holes.

Cardboard boxes work in a pinch, or cornhole rentals typically cost $50–$150.

Dunk tank 💦

The dunk tank is always a crowd-pleaser, especially with a teacher or the principal as the target!

Participants aim at a bullseye that triggers a mechanical seat, dropping a willing volunteer into a tank of water. Dunk tanks typically cost around $300-$500.

💡 Pro tip: Start selling tickets in advance to build excitement and raise money before carnival day.

Duck pond 🦆

All you need is a wading pool, a hook, and some toy ducks for a hook-a-duck game that kids love. Paint the bottom of each duck with colors corresponding to different prize tiers.

Balloon pop 🎈

Inflate some balloons and secure them to a sturdy board. Secure some darts (or beanbags with thumbtacks for younger kids), and assign different prize levels based on balloon color. Charge a few tickets or $1 per throw.

High striker 🔨

High strikers usually cost $250 or more to rent, but the competitive element keeps kids coming back over and over. Charge a few tickets or dollars for each attempt to hit a target with a rubber mallet, hoping to launch the lever high enough to ring a bell at the top.

Cake walk 🎂

Participants walk in a circle over numbered squares while music plays. When the music stops, draw a number, and the person standing on the matching square wins a cake. This is sure to be a low-cost crowd-pleaser, especially if you ask parents or local bakeries for cake donations.

Lollipop tree 🍭

Make or rent a “lollipop tree” (a board with several lollipop-sized holes), adding colored dots to the end of each lollipop that correspond to different prizes. Kids walk away with a prize and a tasty treat.

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Food & concession booth ideas 🍕

While games bring families in, food booths often generate the highest overall revenue at school carnivals. If you don’t have access to a full kitchen, a big budget, or hours for prep time, try these simple carnival food ideas for your school fundraiser.

Popcorn machine 🍿

Popcorn kernels cost pennies, but bags of popcorn sell for a few dollars—don’t forget the butter and salt! Popcorn machine rental usually costs $60–$100 per day, and they’re easy to use.

💡 Pro tip: Pre-bag your popcorn to keep the line moving quickly.

Cotton candy 🎡

Nothing feels as nostalgic as enjoying cotton candy at a carnival. Pre-bag it for faster service, or freshly spin it for extra novelty. This stand is highly photogenic, so have someone available to take pictures for social media. Machine rental is typically $65 or more per day.

💡 Pro tip: Use Givebutter’s donation forms to sell food at your carnival. They’re easy to set up and accept multiple payment methods.

Hot dogs + nachos 🌭

These classic carnival staples are easy to prepare in bulk. Charge $2–$3 per item for a strong fundraising margin, and don’t forget to offer ketchup and mustard on the side.

Snow cones 🍧

Snow cone machines cost around $80 or less per day to rent, and they’re sure to be a favorite for spring carnivals. Snow cones are inexpensive to make, so pricing them between $1 and $2.50 can bring in significant revenue.

💡 Pro tip: Foster school pride by selling snowcones in your school’s colors.

Baked goods 🍰

Ask parents and teachers to donate homemade cakes, cookies, and pastries for a delicious, low-cost bake stand.

Prepackaged candy and chips 🍬

Buy bags of chips and wrapped candy wholesale, and set up a table full of treats for your carnival guests to enjoy, with minimal prep for your team. Charge $1–$2 per bag.

Soft pretzels 🥨

Have students (or their parents) bake soft pretzels to sell. Serve them salted or with a side of cheese and charge a few dollars each.

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Activity & experience stations 🎉

These school carnival booth ideas are all about creating memorable experiences. From photo opportunities to hands-on activities and fitness challenges, there’s something here for every age group and interest.

Face painting 🎨

Recruit an artistic parent to volunteer, or hire a local face painter (typically $150+). Even basic, simple designs like butterflies, superhero masks, or sports logos are sure to generate excitement.

Temporary tattoos 🦋

All you need to pull off this school carnival booth idea is some packs of temporary tattoos, a bowl of water, and a sponge. Charge a few dollars or tickets per tattoo.

Photo booth 📸

Make or rent a fun backdrop, collect props like oversized accessories and inflatables, and create Instagram-worthy moments. You don’t even need a volunteer to run it. Just set up a camera and let families stage their own mini photo shoots.

Group photo with the school mascot 🦁

Set a specific time and invite carnival attendees to take a picture with your school mascot. Allow them to order a copy in exchange for a small donation, and don’t forget to share the photos on social media to promote your next school carnival.

Karaoke and lip-syncing booth 🎤

Appeal to the performers in your school. Rent or borrow a karaoke machine, and set up a small stage at the side of your event. Every singer receives a prize for their first performance, making this a fun attraction for both participants and spectators.

Obstacle course 🏃

Set up a school obstacle course using P.E. equipment or inflatables. Let parents and students participate for a small fee, and don’t forget to capture video clips and photos for social media.

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Fundraising-focused carnival ideas 💰

These ideas aren’t just about having fun. They’re about raising some serious funds, too.

Prize wheel 🎡

Prize wheels are easy to make yourself, rent, or buy. Charge a few dollars per spin and assign a different color to each prize tier. Leave a few spaces without prizes to build excitement and anticipation.

Raffle 🎟️

Sell raffle tickets, then host 2–3 prize drawings throughout your event, with one drawing at the end of your event for a memorable finale. Offer themed prize baskets, gift cards, or a teacher-for-a-day experience. For the lowest-cost way to host a raffle, try a 50/50 raffle where the prize pot is 50% of raffle ticket sales.

💡 Pro tip: Raffle rules vary significantly from one location to another, so check your state’s laws before getting started.

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Pie-in-the-face 🥧

This popular booth is sure to get people talking. Attendees pay to pie a teacher or principal. The better known the target, the longer the line will be. Use shaving cream for less mess, and don’t be afraid to charge $5–$10 per throw.

Guess the number jar 🪙

Fill a glass jar with marbles, jelly beans, or anything small and colorful. Then, charge event attendees to guess how many are in the jar. The closest guess without going over wins a prize.

Bundled ticketing 🎟️

Instead of charging a per-activity fee, sell bundled tickets and assign a ticket value to each game or booth.

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Prize & reward ideas 🏆

You don’t have to spend your entire event budget on prizes to get guests excited. Entice attendees with these low-cost, high-impact school carnival prizes.

Dollar store prizes for younger kids 🎪

Opt for a range of low-cost prizes that younger kids can pick out for themselves. An assortment of small toys, sticker packs, bubbles, bouncy balls, stationery, and costume jewelry will guarantee there’s something for everyone.

Certificate & experience prizes for older students 🏅

Create an extra recess pass, an off-campus lunch pass, a homework-free night, or a VIP seat at the next school event. These types of experiences are free to offer, but they have huge value for the students competing for them.

Local business donation prizes 🏪

Reach out to local stores, restaurants, sports studios, cinema, and theatres for prize donations in exchange for recognition. Recognize sponsors by displaying their logo and company name at each prize booth.

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Unique school prizes 🎒

Offer prizes unique to your school, like a whole class art piece, principal for the day, or assignment extension passes. They’re free to offer, but don’t underestimate their value. In fact, school fundraising organizers share that VIP parking for the semester is often the top raffle prize.

Run your school carnival with Givebutter

Planning a school carnival doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right mix of affordable games, crowd-pleasing activities, and smart fundraising strategies, you can create an event your community will love while reaching your fundraising goal.

When it’s time to put your plan into action, Givebutter makes the logistics simple. Sell tickets online before the event, accept QR code and Tap to Pay donations on carnival day, and automatically track registrations and send receipts—all from one easy-to-use platform, so your volunteer team can spend less time managing payments and more time enjoying the event.

Sign up for your free Givebutter account today and host a carnival that raises more for your school.

FAQs about school carnivals

How do you organize a school carnival?

Start planning at least 3–6 months to give yourself enough time to organize food, games, booths, and volunteers. Determine your event budget based on your fundraising goal, and decide which activities you can create yourself and which you’ll need to rent or buy. Recruit parents, teachers, older students, and community volunteers to each manage one booth.

Givebutter makes it easy to run a school carnival fundraiser, with event ticketing, easy scan-to-donate QR code payments, and automatic donation receipts.

What games are best for a school carnival?

The best school carnival games are high-energy, low-cost, and use classic game skills so that anyone can participate. Here are some great examples:

• Ring toss
• Duck pond
• Balloon pop
• Dunk tank
• Bean bag toss

What food sells best at a school carnival?

Popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, chips, and candy are some of the most popular school carnival foods because they’re inexpensive to prepare and easy to sell at a profit.

How much does it cost to host a school carnival?

School carnivals can cost $500–$5K+, depending on the size and scale of your event. The largest expenses are often equipment, game rental, food preparation, and prizes.

Keep costs low by choosing DIY games, inexpensive food with strong profit margins (like popcorn or snow cones), and asking local businesses to donate prizes or sponsor booths.

What is the best platform for school carnival ticketing?

Look for a platform that lets you sell tickets in advance, accept multiple payment methods, process on-site payments with Tap to Pay and QR codes, and keep costs low.

Givebutter is a free all-in-one fundraising and event management platform. With optional donor tips enabled, Givebutter’s core fundraising and event management tools are free to use, so your school can keep 100% of funds raised.