Spring Carnival Game Idea – Lucky Duck!

Ducks Hold Prizes Kids Try To Match - No Water Needed!

Whoo Hoo - they found a match!!

LUCKY DUCK - SETUP & DIRECTIONS

This short video/gif shows the lucky duck game played without water.

Supplies for Lucky Duck Game:

36 – 48 Plastic Duck Containers (see below)
Assorted small carnival prizes that fit into plastic Duck Containers (see ideas below)
Basket or Bucket to hold "Reserve Ducks" (see information below)
Game Sign and Ticket Box
Table with blue poster-board "pond" and tablecloth
Medium and/or top prizes

Game Setup:

Before your event, choose how difficult you wish this game to be - think of this as a standard matching game with a few changes!

Take your blue poster board and cut out a "pond" shape.

For example, if you have 18 different prizes in 36 ducks, a child's chance of winning will be less than if you have six unique prizes in 36 ducks.

We recommend starting with 5 - 9 different types of small toys to fill the ducks. For example, you could choose a kind of toy with various colors, like the mini porcupine balls, and fill all the ducks with the balls. That way, the kids match the color of the balls.

Or, you can choose to have 9 different toys (for example, spin tops, mini ducks, flying frogs, fuzzy chicks, etc.) and have 4 of each of these items and place them in the 36 ducks. Try to have all the same colors and designs on these toys, as the children will be looking for an exact match!

Set up your table, tablecloth, and fake duck pond with most of your ducks - save out about 8 or so "Reserve Ducks" to have in your reserve bucket.

How to Play the Lucky Duck Carnival Game:

One player plays at a time. The player is allowed to choose 2 ducks. They will open them up to the side of the pond and see if the prizes match.

If the inside the ducks match, the carnival player has won and receives a prize. If not, the carnival player returns the ducks and has another try. If the player does not have a match after the third try, the volunteer replaces the unmatched toys with the ducks and places them in the reserve bucket to prevent an unfair advantage for the next player.

Players get a total of three chances to find a match. If there is no match, they get a consolation prize. 

After a player, the booth volunteer adds new ducks to the "pond" from the "reserve ducks" and then places the "used" ducks from the play to the reserve basket.

Optional: Add A "BONUS PRIZE":

Make this game a super fun challenge by making a straightforward change...

Have a "Bonus Prize" that is hidden inside two of the ducks. For example, you could conceal ONLY 1 Mini Fuzzy Chick in 2 different ducks. If the carnival player matches this Mini Fuzzy Chick, they will win more bonus prizes! Generally, the kids get excited over any stuffed animal - so this is a great way to award a small stuffed animal on a budget!

When we add a super fun bonus prize to a game, we have found that kids return for another chance to win!

Additional Hints & Tips:

Note: the players Do NOT keep the Duck Containers; they return them to a carnival volunteer so the duck can be refilled for the game and even saved for next year's carnival!

Note: We think the "reserve bucket" will help keep the game fair for all players! This, the volunteer replaces the ducks with new ducks, and no one knows what toys are hidden inside. After a player finishes, have the volunteers rotate the board or mix up a few ducks to ensure the next player does not have an unfair advantage!