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Pop-A-Pumpkin

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DIY Pop-A-Pumpkin Fall Fest Game!

 pop-a-pumpkin-fall-festival-game.jpg

clothespin-nailed-to-board.jpg
Attach clothespins (on side) to Board with a 1" Nail

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Tack "Off Center" to Prevent Too Many Pops!

POP-A-PUMPKIN FALL FESTIVAL GAME - SETUP & DIRECTIONS

Short gif/video below shows a bean bag being tossed at a pumpkin patch painted game board to pop attached orange balloons.

Supplies for Pop-a-Pumpkin Game:

bullet point 1 Large Piece of Plywood (1/2 inch plywood shown above in picture)
bullet point Acrylic Paints & Paint Brushes (we used fall colored paints)
bullet point Medium Sized Clothespins - about 25 
bullet point Orange Balloons (9 inch balloons shown in picture above)
bullet point 2 or more Large Garbage Sacks to hold inflated balloons AND weights like rubber baseballs to prevent the balloons from blowing away
bullet point Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks (for tacks)
bullet point 1 inch, thin nails for attaching the Clothespins (about 25)
bullet point Bungee Cords for securing the game board
bullet point 12 bean bags
bullet point Stand Behind Lines for players (tape, cones or chalk on the sidewalk)
bullet point Fall themed Prizes and Top Prizes for the winners!

Make This Game:

Click to Download your FREE Pop-A-Pumpkin board pattern and enlarge (or use your own design). Using acrylic paint, have a volunteer paint a fall design on your plywood board on one side.

Tip: Keep it Simple! We found that acrylic paint works well, but if you do only one coat, some of the natural wood design will show through the paint. Once the painting was finished with our board, one coat seemed to be just fine!

Next, after the paint has dried, have an adult nail each clothespin on the side to the board directly on the stem of each pumpkin where you plan to place a balloon.

Note: Resist the temptation to hot glue the clothespins flat to the board. We found in our testing that the bean bags can cause the balloons to come off the board frequently unless they are on their sides! By attaching the clothespins on their side using a nail through the metal part of the pin, this does not tend to happen!

To attach the tacks to the board, each tack should be about 4 - 5 inches below each clothespin AND "off center" by about 2 inches, using the hot glue gun.

NOTE: In testing, we found if the tacks were centered under the clothespins balloons were far to easy to pop!

bungee-cords-to-keep-game-safe.jpg*Don't forget if you set this game up outside,
to attach with bungee cords to ensure that a
gust of wind does not knock this game over!

Game Setup:

A few days before your festival, have adult volunteers inflate balloons and store in large, yard garbage bags so they are ready for the game.

balloons-in-bag.jpg
Note: prevent balloon bags from blowing away
by weighting them with baseballs or other weights.

How to Play the Pop-A-Pumpkin Carnival Game:

Players are given 3 Bean Bags for a chance to pop 2 balloons to win a top prize.

0 balloons popped = a consolation prize
1 balloon popped = a middle prize
2+ balloons popped = a top prize

Feel free to test this game with a few dozen throws to make sure it is not too easy or too hard! For most festival games, you want to shoot for about 1 in 10 kids to win a top prize. If the game is too easy, move your lines back a bit (but remember to allow younger children to stand a little closer to have a chance to hit the board.)

Kids love to pop balloons, and this ia a fantastic and safer alternative to dart balloon game with a fall flair! Also, this DIY Fall Festival Game is sure to attract a crowd with its large size, and bright colors that you can place leaning against a tree in the shade, a brick wall or even indoors!

Note: For younger children, you may wish to give them 4 bean bags or let them stand 1 - 2 feet closer to the board so they have a chance to win at this game too!

Additional Hints & Tips:

Please follow the guideline of the Consumer Product Safety Commission with regards to balloons, broken balloons and young children. Click here to download this child balloon safety pdf.

Allergy Information: We just learned that people who have severe latex allergies can have a reaction to bursting balloons. For schools, it may be wise to talk with administrators to verify all child allergies first. Also, consider changing this game to the "Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss."

Use our UPDATED Free printable pattern, and cut out 4 - 6 pumpkins as holes for the bean bags!

 
 

FALL PRIZES and DIY SUPPLIES for the POP-A-PUMPKIN BALLOON GAME!

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  • Sticky Pumpkin on a String

    Sticky Pumpkin on a String (144 total pumpkins in 2 bags) 14¢ each

    Retail: $23.98
    $19.50
    Kids really seem to love these small sticky toys!!  These bright orange jack-o-lanterns on a string are sure to be a favorite prize at your fall festival or Halloween party! Each sticky pumpkin on a string toy comes individually wrapped --...
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  • Wooden Bright Colored Clothespin

    Wooden Bright Colored Clothespins (50/package) 15¢ each

    Retail: $7.99
    $7.50
    Wooden Bright Colored Clothespins are a fun way to display arts & crafts, carnival signs, and can be used in various carnival games.  A great supply to keep at the ready for those pop up projects! Check out our DIY Clothespin Drop Carnival Game...
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  • Mini Clear Slime with Glitter

    Mini Colorful Slime (48/package) 20¢ each

    Retail: $16.98
    $9.50
    Maybe not a Mom FAVORITE - but Girls and Boys sure love these Mini Colorful Slime! Each colorful toy putty container has brightly colored slime (that is non-toxic of course). A great small carnival prize at a low price! Colorful mini slime...
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  • Candy Bracelet Candy Bracelet Individually Wrapped

    Candy Bracelet (96 total pieces in 2 bags) 20¢ each

    Retail: $30.68
    $19.75
    Wow - less than 20 cents each! These yummy candy bracelets come individually wrapped and children will love to wear them during your fun event! Be sure to add some to your order - a classic carnival candy!!2 1/2" stretchy bracelets. NOTE: To keep all...
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  • Colorful Bean Bags for Games

    Bean Bags (12/package) $1.12 each

    Retail: $22.55
    $13.50
    These colorful nylon "Bean Bags" are actually filled with plastic pellets - to help them last year after year of tossing fun. These double stitched bean bags are a great weight to toss for your favorite carnival games including our ready to...
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  • Mini Stuffed Toy Owls  Wholesale

    Mini Stuffed Owls (24 total plush toys in 2 bags) $1.65 each

    Retail: $52.78
    $39.75
    Mini Stuffed Owls are a wise choice for school room or library prizes. Children love stuffed animals as prizes and these mini owls will be a hoot of a prize!  The below gif/video shows the plush owls hanging outside on a string with tree background...
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