15 Fabulous Fall Festival Games to You Need to Try (DIY Delights)

I’ve got fall festival games so easy to set up, you’ll have more time to perfect your apple cider buzz.

No need for an engineering degree or a team of elves – these autumn antics are quicker to assemble than your grandma’s TV trays.

Whether you’re a last-minute Larry or a Pinterest fail (ahem, like me) waiting to happen, I’ve got you covered. Everyone’s gonna be falling for these games harder than acorns in October – kids, adults, teens, you name it.

So ditch the complicated crafts and let’s get this low-effort, high-fun party started

Psst! As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases-at no extra cost to you. But, I’m picky: I only share the good stuff. If it’s not useful or fun, it’s not on my list. Check this out if you wanna know more.

1. Candy Corn Toss: A Sweet Challenge

Objective: Land those candy corns in your partner’s cup and prove you’ve got the sweetest aim in town! This game is more addictive than pumpkin spice lattes, I swear.

Here’s how to set it up:

• Grab some plastic cups (solo work the best!) and a big bag of candy corn
• Pair up your players and have them stand 5 feet apart
• Set a timer for one minute

Players take turns tossing candy corn into their partner’s cup. The team with the most candy corn at the end wins a prize.

2. Water Coin Drop: Aquarium Meets Arcade

Objective: Prove you’re not just throwing money away (literally) by getting a coin in the shot glass. Here’s the splash zone setup:

1. Grab an aquarium, fill it with water, and plop a shot glass in the middle.
2. Give players 3 coins to toss into the aquarium.
3. If they manage to get it in the shot glass, they win a prize. And probably bragging rights for life.

3. Lucky Lollipops: A Sweet Twist of Fate

Objective: Pick a lollipop and pray for that lucky black stick!This game is like a sugar rush roulette, and let me tell you, it’s a crowd-pleaser. Here’s what you need:

• 100 lollipops (because go big or go home, right?)
• A Sharpie to color 25 sticks black
• A foam planter big enough to stick those lollies in

How to play: Stick those lollipops in the foam, making sure the sticks are hidden. Players pick a lollipop, and if they score a black stick, they win an extra prize and another turn.

But here’s the kicker – everyone walks away with a lollipop no matter what. It’s a win-win situation, folks!

4. Pumpkin Patch Walk: The Gourd-Stepping Cake Lottery

Objective: Strut your stuff on some pumpkin-shaped stepping stones and keep your fingers crossed for a sugar-filled jackpot. Get ready to channel your inner squash-stomping ballerina:

1. A couple weeks before the fall fest: Hustle up volunteers to bake a spread of homemade treats that would make grandma weep with pride. We’re talking cakes, pies, and cookies that could give you diabetes just by looking at them.
2. Slap some pumpkin-shaped cutouts on the floor in a circle. Laminate those bad boys or they’ll be mush by game three.
3. Crank up some tunes and everyone playing has to start walking in a circle on the pumpkin numbers. Nothing says “fall festival” like the Monster Mash blasting from your iPhone.
4. When the music stops, freeze like you’ve seen the headless horseman. The number you’re standing on could be your golden ticket to Cake Town.
5. Spin a wheel of destiny (or fish a ping pong ball out of a bucket if you’re feeling old school) to pick the lucky winner. The player who’s standing on a number that’s pulled, gets to pick one of the desserts that volunteered.

5. Fish Cup Frenzy: The Aquatic Sharpshooter’s Wet Dream

Objective: Prove you’ve got the aim of a drunken mermaid by landing ping pong balls in cups with plastic fish. Get ready to flex those wrist muscles and disappoint some fake fish:

1. Grab 24-36 clear plastic cups. The more cups, the more places for balls to NOT land in.
2. Snag a dozen squirt fish. These are your aquatic VIPs – Very Important Plastic-fish.
3. Hoard ping pong balls like they’re going extinct. You’ll need at least a dozen for all the missed shots.
4. Set up a table that can handle more water than a public pool on a hot day.
5. Get a plastic pitcher. It’s for filling cups, not your tears when you miss every shot.
6. Optional: Blue food coloring or tablecloth. Because nothing says “I’m totally a real ocean” like artificially tinted water.
7. Mini pails for holding ping pong balls. Because we’re fancy like that.
8. “Stand Behind” lines. To keep eager beavers from face-planting into the cups.
9. Prizes! Fish-themed, of course. Nothing says “winner” like a plastic goldfish keychain.

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Candy Corn Toss	Toss those candy corns into your buddy’s cup like a boss	It’s sweeter than your grandma’s pie and more addictive than TikTok	You might end up with a sugar rush and sticky fingers	Watch out for sneaky snackers eating the “equipment”
Water Coin Drop	Get that coin in the shot glass swimming in an aquarium	It’s like an aquatic arcade game, but you won’t get wet (hopefully)	You’re literally throwing money away if you suck at it	Prepare for splash zones and maybe a few accidental “swims”
Lucky Lollipops	Pick a lolly and pray for that black stick jackpot	Everyone’s a winner with a sweet treat, even the losers	You might get a sugar high before dinner	Be ready for potential lollipop sword fights
Pumpkin Patch Walk	Strut on pumpkin cutouts and score homemade treats	It’s musical chairs meets a bake sale, with a dash of Halloween	You might gain 5 pounds just by playing	Prepare for potential cake-induced comas and sugar crashes
Fish Cup Frenzy	Land ping pong balls in cups with plastic fish	It’s like beer pong for the whole family	You might question your life choices after missing for the 50th time	Expect water everywhere and potentially bruised egos

6. Guess How Many: For the Mathlete in Your Life

Objective: Channel your inner Rain Man and guess the number of gumballs (or Candy Corn) in a jar. Time to get your nerd on:

1. Find a ridiculously large jar. Those animal cracker bear jars or pretzel barrels work perfectly.
2. Fill that sucker with gumballs or candy corn. Like, a lot of them.
3. Let everyone take a wild guess on how many are in there.
4. Closest guess wins the whole jar. (Hope they have good dental insurance!)

7. Pumpkin Push: The Nose-y Navigator

Objective: Roll that mini pumpkin or gourd across the finish line using only your nose. It’s like being a dog with a ball, but way more seasonal!

This game is sure to bring out the competitive spirit (and maybe a few sneezes). Here’s what you need:

• Mini plastic pumpkins (or hey, use real ones)
• A clear race track with start and finish lines.

Line up your players and watch as they push their pumpkins with their noses from start to finish. First one back wins! Just be prepared for some red noses and lots of laughter.

8. Apple Relay Race: The Fruit-Fetching Frenzy of Champions

Objective: Prove you’ve got the speed of a caffeinated squirrel by hoarding apples faster than your opponents.Get ready to channel your inner fruit ninja:

1. Scatter a bunch of apples (15-20 per team) in baskets at one end of your makeshift orchard (aka race course). The more apples, the more chaos. Perfect.
2. Divide your crew into teams. The more competitive, the better. We’re talking “I’d-sell-my-grandma-for-victory” levels of rivalry here.
3. Line up your apple-hungry hordes at the starting line, salivating for sweet, sweet victory (and maybe a bite of their bounty).
4. On “go,” watch as the first player from each team sprints like they’re being chased by a hungry bear, snatches an apple, and races back to tag the next player.
5. Keep the fruity frenzy going until one team has pillaged all their apples. First team to hoard their entire harvest wins!

9. Lucky Leaf: For Those Who Love Games of Chance

Objective: Channel your inner leaf peeper and nail those golden beauties with your loose change. Time to get your fall fUN on:

1. Snag 24-36 leaf-shaped plates or bowls. Too bougie? Slap some paint on poster board or cardstock cut-outs instead.
2. Go full Bob Ross on those leaves with fall colors. Don’t forget to make 10-15% of them solid gold – these are your jackpot leaves, baby! And laminating them, would be a great idea, too.
3. Spread ’em out on a table covered in fake grass (or a green tablecloth if you’re rockin’ this game basic).
4. Give each player three pennies and watch them try to land on gold like leprechauns on St. Paddy’s Day.
5. Whoever lands a penny on a gold leaf wins a prize. If not, hook ’em up with a consolation prize.

10. Candy Corn Ring Toss: The Glowing Gourd Game

Objective: Toss as many glowy rings onto candy corn cones as you can. Here’s the scoop:

• 9-inch orange traffic cones (because we’re not made of money, honey)
• Yellow and white spray paint to paint the cones to look like pieces of candy corn (splurge here, your cones deserve it)
• Glow necklaces (for that “ooh” and “aah” factor)
• Regular 9 inch tossing rings (have at least 9 handy)
• Optional: Hay bales (for peak autumn vibes)

Set up your cones on hay bales (if you’re feeling extra festive), mark a throwing line, and let the games begin! Full ring scores 2 points, leaning ring gets 1 (if you wanna be generous like that).

First team to 21 points wins the Candy Corn Crown (BYO crown, we’re not royalty here).

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Guess How Many	Channel your inner Rain Man and guess the number of gumballs in a jar	You might win a lifetime supply of gumballs	You’ll look like a total nerd while counting	Make sure you actually count the gumballs before starting, or you’ll have a real facepalm moment
Pumpkin Push	Roll a mini pumpkin across the finish line using only your nose	It’s like being a dog with a ball, but way more seasonal	You might end up with a sore nose and grass stains on your face	Watch out for sneeze-induced pumpkin launches
Apple Relay Race	Prove you’ve got the speed of a caffeinated squirrel by hoarding apples	It’s a fruit ninja workout in disguise	You might pull a hammy trying to be faster than your grandma	Beware of apple-induced chaos and potential fruit fights
Lucky Leaf	Nail those golden leaf cut-outs with your loose change	It’s like gambling, but with a autumn twist	You might go home with empty pockets and leaf-shaped dreams	Don’t be surprised if kids start a black market leaf trade
Candy Corn Ring Toss	Toss glowy rings onto candy corn cones and prove you’ve got the sweetest aim	It’s like a rave met a county fair	You might get a sugar rush just from looking at it	Prepare for potential glow stick sword fights

11. Bucket Toss: The Ping-Pong Precision Challenge

Objective: Show off your ping-pong prowess by landing that ball in increasingly distant buckets!This game will test your aim and make you feel like a carnival pro. Here’s what you need:

• 12 big buckets (think car wash size)
• Ping-pong balls
• Prizes for each bucket level

How to play: Line up those buckets in a row, each one a bit further than the last. Players toss the ping-pong ball, trying to land it in the farthest bucket possible. The further the bucket, the better the prize. It’s like golf, but way more fun!

12. Fall Photo Booth: The Autumn Selfie Sensation

Objective: Create the most Instagram-worthy fall photos and make your friends leaf with envy. Here’s what you’ll need to get those likes rolling in:

• A rustic backdrop (think reclaimed wood or burlap, darling)
• Hay bales (because nothing says fall like an itchy seat)
• Pumpkins and gourds (the more misshapen, the better)
• Fall foliage (fake it if you must, we won’t tell)
• Props (mustaches on sticks are so last season, think apple baskets and scarecrows)

Set up your backdrop, arrange those hay bales like you’re a farmhouse chic expert, and scatter pumpkins like autumn exploded. Hang a frame for that meta photo-in-a-photo look. Then, let the posing begin!

13. Pin the Bowtie on the Scarecrow: The Straw-Stuffed Shenanigans

Objective: Slap that snazzy bowtie on the scarecrow’s neck and prove you’ve got the fashion sense of a blindfolded farmer!

This game is more hilarious than watching your uncle try to do the “Floss” dance, I promise. Here’s what you’ll need for this haute couture hoedown:

• One giant scarecrow poster (because go big or go home to the barn)
• A bunch of paper bowties (get crafty or buy ’em, we don’t judge)
• Blindfold (preferably not made of hay)
• Tape or pushpins (depending on how permanent you want this fashion disaster to be)
• Optional: Hay bales for seating (for that authentic “my butt itches” experience)

Slap that scarecrow poster on a wall, blindfold your victims—I mean, players—and watch the fashion faux pas unfold! Spin ’em around three times for extra dizzy fun.

Closest bowtie to the neck wins the Farmer Fashionista Award (trophy not included, but a corn husk crown works too).

14. Pumpkin Ring Toss: The Gourd-geous Tossing Extravaganza

Objective: Fling those rings onto pumpkin stems and prove you’ve got the autumn aim of a seasoned scarecrow!This game is more addictive than pumpkin spice everything, I swear. Here’s what you need for this gourd-tastic good time:

• 5-7 pumpkins with stems longer than your autumn to-do list
• Glow stick necklaces (because we’re fancy like that)
• Masking tape for your “don’t you dare cross this” lines
• Optional: Glow-in-the-dark paint (for when you want your pumpkins to be seen from space)

Set up your pumpkin patch like you’re staging a veggie beauty pageant. Mark your throwing lines with tape – put the chickens (I mean, younger kids) closer, and the brave souls further back. Crack those glow sticks and let the ring-slinging begin!

Full ring on a stem? That’s 2 points, baby! Leaning ring? 1 point (generous, right?). First to 21 points wins the coveted title of Pumpkin Patch Overlord (crown not included, but a wreath of dead leaves works too).

15. Pumpkin Head Balancing Relay: The Gourd Jog-a-thon

Objective: Balance a mini pumpkin on your noggin and sprint like you’re running from a sugar crash!

This game is more hilarious than watching your uncle try to carve a jack-o’-lantern after too much “adult” cider. Here’s what you need for this gourd-tastic relay:

• Mini plastic pumpkins (because real ones are for amateurs)
• A yard or hallway long enough to make your participants question their life choices
• Teams with more competitive spirit than a Black Friday shopping spree

Set up your race course like you’re prepping for the Pumpkin Olympics. Divide your pumpkin-heads into teams, and get ready for some squash-tastic shenanigans!

Players balance their mini pumpkin on their head and race to the finish line. Drop it, and you’re back to square one, pumpkin!

First team to get all their gourds across the finish line wins a prize!

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Bucket Toss	Land ping-pong balls in increasingly distant buckets	It’s like golf, but way more fun and less walking	You might question your life choices after missing the closest bucket 50 times	Watch out for rogue ping-pong balls; they’re sneakier than ninjas
Fall Photo Booth	Create Instagram-worthy fall photos that’ll make your friends leaf with envy	It’s your chance to be a pumpkin-posing supermodel	You’ll be picking hay out of your clothes for weeks	Prepare for prop hogs and unexpected photobombs by the family dog
Pin the Bowtie on the Scarecrow	Blindly slap a bowtie on a scarecrow and pretend you’re a fashion genius	It’s haute couture meets haystack chic	You might accidentally pin your friend instead of the poster	Watch out for dizzy players stumbling into walls or each other
Pumpkin Ring Toss	Fling glowy rings onto pumpkin stems like a pro gourd-thrower	It’s more addictive than your PSL obsession	You might pull a muscle from your victory dance	Beware of flying glow sticks and competitive grandmas
Pumpkin Head Balancing Relay	Sprint with a mini pumpkin balanced on your noggin	It’s like a gourd-juggling Olympic event	You might develop a permanent neck crick	Watch for pumpkin projectiles as they fall off heads at mach speed

How to Save Some Money WITHOUT Sacrificing Fun

Certainly! Here’s the revised version with the first words bolded:

1. Quirky Gourd Decor: Embrace those weird-looking pumpkins and gourds from the farmer’s market. They’re cheaper and add character to your decor. Arrange them creatively for Instagram-worthy autumn vibes without breaking the bank.
   
2. DIY Leaf Confetti: Turn fallen leaves into free, eco-friendly confetti. Gather crispy leaves, punch holes in them, and voila! Nature’s glitter that won’t stick around until next fall.
   
3. Fall Flavor Face-Off: Host a potluck with a competitive twist. Ask guests to bring their best autumn-themed dish for a friendly contest. You’ll save on food costs and get free entertainment as everyone debates the merits of pumpkin vs. apple.
   
4. Thrift Store Costume Contest:
   Challenge guests to create costumes from thrift store finds or household items. It’s budget-friendly, reduces waste, and guarantees some hilariously creative outfits.
   
5. Pumpkin Fishing [ BONUS GAME!]:
   Upgrade apple bobbing with a kiddie pool full of mini pumpkins hiding small prizes. Let guests “fish” for them with dollar store butterfly nets. It’s cheaper than renting games and just as fun.

These ideas will help you throw a fabulous fall festival that’s easy on the wallet but big on autumn spirit!

If You Like These Games, You Might Like…

• 23 Low Prep Halloween Games (Easy and Fun for All Ages)
• 27 Epic Alternatives to Bobbing for Apples That Are Just as Fun