The first time I read about having a prize table instead of giving away prizes at games, it seemed like a great idea.  The prizes the kids had been getting at the games were less than impressive - cheap bits of plastic and stickers that had an annoying tendency to accu...

Ordering prizes is one of the most difficult tasks of the carnival organizer.  How does one calculate how many prizes will be won?  And how can you make sure you have enough prizes, without buying too many or running out?  When your budget is limited, it can be a tough...

We’ve seen a lot of carnivals, some of them good and some of them….less good. So here are some of the biggest mistakes we’ve seen this year, and how you can avo

So you're feeling creative and want to DIY some games for your party or carnival.  But which one to try?  

Surprise, a lot of the DIY carnival games you see on the internet are not really DIY - I've seen pictures of games from well-known manufacturers come up...

This school carnival had something for everyone. Find out what they did and how you can do it too.

After I finished my candy cart and made my husband admit that it wasn’t a piece of junk, I turned to the chairs.  They had a lot of rust and chipping paint, and looked pretty sad.

But I just didn’t have time to get out the wire sanding  brush again.  I decided to do it...

I got a little carried away at a going out of business sale for a rental company, and brought home what my husband described as “a pile of junk.” 

I was determined to prove him wrong, but even as I was pulling this flower cart out of the store, it was falling apart. Som...

OK, disclaimer, I do make money by renting carnival games, but honestly, there are very good reasons why you should stop killing yourself to make those cute DIY carnival games you see on Pinterest and just rent the stuff.  Or buy it, even.   

I’m a crafty pers...

DO recruit local businesses to sponsor your event.  This is a great way to raise funds and promote community involvement!  Businesses that provide services to children, such as after-school classes and sports leagues are great choices.

DOconsider your school demogr...

Is your carnival stuck in a rut?  Tired of the same old moonbounce?  Here are some ideas to freshen up your annual event. 

Skip the bounce house and spend the money on interactive games instead.  First, bounce houses aren’t all that safe.  According to the Con...