Traditional Carnival Booth - Duck Pond!

Decorative or Shaped Ducks Tend to Tip Over.

See This Example of a Cute Duck Pond Sign!

DUCK POND GAME - SETUP & DIRECTIONS

This short Carnival Savers video/gif shows floating rubber ducks in a pool being caught with a net.

Supplies for Duck Pond Game:

Wading or Toddler Pool
Permanent Marker
24 or more Plastic Floating Ducks (We recommend the Matching Ducks as they tend to float better than the multicolored ducks)
Ticket Box & Game Sign
Table (optional - to hold prizes and ticket box etc.)
Small, Medium, and Large Carnival Prizes

Game Setup:

Before the carnival, mark your floating ducks with 3 different numbers "1", "2", or "3" on the bottom.

Generally, ducks with "1" are considered the consolation prizes ducks, ducks with a "2" will get a different prize and the ducks with a 3 are the top prize. So you will want to have more ducks with 1's than 3's.

Here is an example of how you may choose to number 24 ducks:

10 Ducks with #1
8 Ducks with #2
6 Ducks with #3

How to Play the Duck Pond Carnival Game:

Children pick a duck and look for the number on the bottom.
Children win the prize that corresponds to the number on the duck.
Hint – have the prizes displayed to show what prize is won with each number!

Additional Hints & Tips:

Safety Note: This is another favorite booth for preschoolers. Have some items that are considered “safer” for young children such as mini beach balls, sand molds or even small packages of fish crackers that you can have on hand to pass to younger children.

The Duck Pond is a traditional carnival game loved by young children, but be aware by about age 8 or so, some kids will think this is a game that is for babies, and they will walk right by. So when planning prizes, you may wish to purchase for the estimated preschool and younger grade-school kids.

We also love to have Toddler Prizes available at all booths where children under the age of three years would like to play. Toddler prizes can be simple like min fish crackers or toddler fruit gummy packets that are safer for younger children.

Allow parents to have a Toddler prize instead of the other small toys that are not designed for children under the age of three.

Warning: Because this game involves water, be sure to have an adult present with this game at all times and please follow the recommendations of The Consumer Product Safety Commission with regards to water and children. Click here to learn more.