Easy Carnival Decorations for School Carnivals That Make a Big Impact

Planning a school carnival is exciting—but decorating for one shouldn’t be complicated or expensive. The right decorations can transform your space into a colorful, festive carnival atmosphere while staying within budget and minimizing setup time.

Here are six easy carnival decoration ideas that will bring your event to life with minimal effort—and the best part? Many of them can be reused year after year!

1. Bright and Colorful Pennant Banners

Nothing says “carnival” quite like strings of colorful pennant banners waving in the breeze. These lightweight, triangle-shaped flags are:

• Fast to set up – Drape them along fences, booths, or above walkways, woven in-between trees in minutes.

• Reusable year after year – Unlike balloons that deflate or pop, pennant banners store easily and last for multiple events. Please just tell your clean up team that you want to save the pennant banners and they can be easily folded up in just minutes for next year! (See our short video that shows you how)

• Eco-friendly – Reducing single-use decorations makes them a smart choice for schools looking to be greener.

Pro Tip: Hang them at varying heights across the main entrance for an eye-catching first impression.

2. Large Plastic “Welcome to the Carnival” Sign Banner

If your school has an outdoor fence or building wall near the entrance, a large plastic carnival sign is a must-have.

• Instantly transforms any space into a welcoming entrance. We have seen these set up days before the event as a great advertisement and reminder for parents!

• Weather-resistant and reusable for future carnivals.

• Easy to attach with zip ties or bungee cords and folds up for easy storage for next year!

Parents and kids will know exactly where the fun begins!

3. Red and White Table Skirts for Booths

Carnival booths are where the action happens—games, prizes, and food stations. Adding red and white striped table skirts instantly gives every booth a festive look.

• More than just decoration - They hide supplies under the table for a neat, professional appearance.

• The bright stripes create a classic carnival vibe in seconds.

Pair them with matching tablecloths for a coordinated look.

4. Use Air Filled Balloons at Entrances - No Helium Required

Want a dramatic entrance without the cost? Use inexpensive red and white balloons without helium and some added decorations to great your guests!

• Attach ordinary balloons to entryways - inflate with an electric balloon inflater for super fast and easy setup.

• Add additional carnival decor as shown is the giant popcorn box decoration - adds carnival flare to your school!

• The details make it fun! Notice the hanging carnival party treats and tickets hanging decoration - adds that extra touch to this fun school carnival entrance!

5. “Welcome to the Carnival” Fringe Sign for Indoors and Photo Booth for Inside and Out

For gym or cafeteria entrances, a fringe sign banner delivers a big impact with little work.

• Perfect for indoor school carnivals where you want to decorate walls or hallways quickly. The image above shows wrapping paper as a backdrop and a hand painted "Photo Booth" sign above topped off with the welcome to the carnival fringe decoration!

• Doubles as a photo booth backdrop so parents can capture fun memories of the day.

• It’s a low-cost decoration that goes a long way.
  

For outdoors - see our Welcome to the Carnival Photo Prop! We show this prop on a wooden stand, but it could be hung in a doorway as well. See the image at the bottom of this post.

6. Inflatable Bounce Houses and Slides

While technically an activity, bounce houses, obstacle courses and inflatable slides serve double duty as both entertainment and colorful decorations.

• They create a fun focal point kids can’t resist. The photo above shows a group of large inflatable activities making it a Carnival Activity Land within the school carnival!

• Kids see these oversized activities and are drawn into the bright colors and large size give your carnival a lively, energetic feel.

• Available in many shapes and themes—castles, obstacle courses, water slides for summer events, and more.

Make sure to book early; these rentals are popular for school carnivals.

Final Thoughts: Simple Carnival Décor That Delivers Big Results

Decorating for a school carnival doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few reusable, colorful decorations like pennant banners, carnival signs, table skirts, and inflatables, you can create a festive atmosphere quickly and on budget.

Best of all, many of these ideas are easy to store and use year after year, making them a smart investment for your school’s carnival committee.