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Pick a Door

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School Carnival Game: Pick a Door!

 pick-a-door-school-carnival-game.jpg

girl-behind-pick-a-door-game.jpg
Volunteers switch the signs between players.

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Kids have a 1 in 4 chance of winning a top prize!

PICK A DOOR - SETUP & DIRECTIONS

Short Carnival Savers video/gif shows a large wooden board with four doors. A young girl picks a door with Top Prize behind the door.

 Supplies for Pick a Door Game: 

bullet point 1 Large Piece of Plywood
bullet point 2 (2 x 4 Wood Boards) metal chains - for the support
bullet point 2 - 3 (1 x 6 Wood Boards) to construct the doors
bullet point 6 Hinges (2 for the stand, 4 for the doors)
bullet point 4 Door Handles or Knobs (not shown, but would be helpful)
bullet point Screws, Sandpaper & woodworking tools 
bullet point Assorted Acrylic Paints & Brushes
bullet point Clothespins and card stock or Lightweight Wood Signs (see details below) (Hot glue to attach clothespins)
bullet point Party String, Disappearing Ink or Squirt Toys to squirt water and a small bucket with water for refills
bullet point A table to display prizes, store supplies and for your Ticket Box (optional)
bullet point Carnival Prizes - an Assortment of Top Prizes - See Suggestions Below!
bullet point Ticket Box and Game Sign

Make This School Carnival Game:

Obviously, you will need an adult volunteer who is good at constructing things with wood and possibly someone else who can paint your game booth to add some color and personality!

First, your volunteer will need to cut 4 holes (about 18 inches square) into the plywood for each door (of varying heights) - see the example.
A clothespin will be attached above each door on the back to the board to hold the signs.

Next, the volunteer will need to construct the frame to support this game.

Also, the small doors need to be constructed from the sanded wood boards. Make sure they are rounded and sanded well to prevent splinters and sharp corners!

Finally, a few coats of paint will make this game really pop!

Game Setup:

Before the carnival, set out your game and have a table available for the supplies including the party string, disappearing ink or water squirts and the  top prizes too!

For this game it is a great idea to have a child (ages 4 - 7) help with the spraying part as they are shorter then the board and can easily hide behind the door! :)

How to Play the Pick a Door Carnival Game:

Players get to choose one door, in hopes of finding the top prize sign behind the door. 

Your Door Prizes Can Look Like This:

Door #1: Sign "BUMMER"

Door#2: Top Prize! Sign

Door #3: No Sign - Player is sprayed with the magic ink, party string or a water squirt toy!

Door #4: Sign "Frowning Emoji"

*After each player, have the booth volunteers switch the signs so the next player does not know what is behind each door! 

Additional Hints & Tips:

What a fun surprise type carnival game to add to this year's festival, fun fair, school carnival and more!

As far as figuring out your prizes - be sure to do the math! Players have a 25% chance of winning a top prize. So, if this is a fundraising carnival for your school, make sure to charge enough tickets to cover the cost of the top prizes with some left over for a profit too! 

For example, if your top prizes are worth $1 each, we don't recommend you charge 25 cents to play this game as you will lose money (you need to purchase the items for the squirt door too!). We would recommend you charge at least 75 cents - $1 in tickets for each player to turn a nice profit on this game. If you wish to charge just 50 cents for each player, then choose top prizes that are valued at about 50 cents each!

Note: This is a fun game for volunteers to run too! Don't be surprised if they get a little crazy with the party string, magic ink or squirt toys - so buy extra so they do not run out! If you are on a budget you may with to chose the squirt toys, as those can be reused year after year and you can refill water as you need!

Finally, as you most likely noticed, this is best played outside to avoid the indoor mess and possibility of slipping on water indoors.


 PICK-A-DOOR SUPPLIES & FUN TOP PRIZES for THIS CARNIVAL GAME!

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  • Magic Disappearing Ink (48 total pieces in 2 boxes) 38¢ each

    Magic Disappearing Ink (48 total pieces in 2 boxes) 38¢ each

    Retail: $26.98
    $18.50
    Magic Disappearing Ink a perfect novelty toy for outdoor carnivals - especially loved by older kids!! Kids squirt a small amount of this dark blue liquid on a friend's shirt it looks like a stain that will never come out BUT it dissapears quickly as it...
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    Retail: $26.98
    $18.50
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  • Ice Cream Cone Shooter Kids Novelty Toy

    Ice Cream Shooter (24 total toys in 2 bags) 94¢ each

    Retail: $27.68
    $22.50
    This novelty toy, shaped like a treat with the ice cream on top, is actually a foam ball attached with a string. When you press the lever (on the side of the ice cream cone) the foam ball pops off and flies through the air. Kids love trying to "get their...
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  • Fire Extinguisher Water Squirt Toys

    Fire Extinguisher Water Squirts (24 total squirts in 2 bags) 98¢ each

    Retail: $29.14
    $23.50
    Fun for all -- these mini Fire Extinguisher Water Squirts are sure to be a favorite of kids! They are great fun at the pool, in the backyard or even in the tub -- boys and girls are sure to love these fun water squirters shaped like fire...
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    $23.50
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  • Mini Stuffed Animals - Zoo Themed - Wholesale

    Mini Zoo Stuffed Animals (50/package) $1.11 each

    Retail: $61.00
    $55.50
    Such fun for your carnival prize booth -- these darling Mini Zoo Animals are sure to make kids go wild! These mini plush animals come in oodles of choices from wild cats, bears, hippos, turtles, zebras, elephants, seals, monkeys, ostrich and more! Add...
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    $55.50
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  • Mini Sea Life Animals - Bulk Small Stuffed Animals

    Mini Ocean Stuffed Animals (50/box) $1.15 each

    Retail: $61.00
    $57.50
    Such fun for your carnival prize booth -- these 50 cute Mini Ocean Themed Animals s is sure to make kids happy! These darling animals come in oodles of choices from dolphins, assorted fish, seals, jellyfish, sea horses, crabs, sea lions octopus and more!...
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  • Flashing Spiky Balls

    Flashing Spiky Balls (24 total balls in 2 bags) $1.81 each

    Retail: $49.98
    $43.50
    Flashing Spiky Balls...batteries are included in these fun light up balls kids are sure to love! Soft spiky balls light up when tossed back and forth. (Short Carnival Savers video/gif shows flashing spiky balls.) Flashing spiky ball is about 2".
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  • Large Puffer Ball (12/package) $1.87 each

    Large Puffer Ball (12/package) $1.87 each

    Retail: $25.78
    $22.50
    This is one of the most recent fads with kid's toys. These large squishy balls have a small finger loop and are easy to catch with their soft texture. Add this fun top carnival prize this year! 5 inches of squishy fun!
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