How to: Carnival
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Backyard Carnival
If you can secure a location that has a large grassy area, you could hold a small carnival. Have booths set up with games and activities. Charge a small fee for each activity at each booth (you can also sell tickets and charge a certain number of tickets per booth). Hand out small (inexpensive) prizes to winners at each booth. Some fun things to do at the booths include:
Winter Carnival
If you live in a colder climate, you could transform the backyard carnival idea into a winter theme.
Pony/Horse Rides
Little kids eat this up.
Dunk Tank
You could get some important people from Young Life or those in the community who support Young Life to sit in the tank. People like the area director, leaders, teachers and committee can get wet to help raise some funds.
Petting Zoo
If you live in an area where there are farms, you may have access to small farm animals. Kids love to pet and feed animals that they are not used to being around, like sheep and goats.
Carnival Games
There are a million different kinds of games you can play. Ring toss, balloon darts, basketball free-throw shooting, fishing games, knocking down items with a baseball, etc.
Rides
Some rental centers can set you up with small rides that the kids will enjoy. A favorite with most kids is the Bounce House, a large inflated "house" kids can jump in like a trampoline.
Hay/Tractor Rides
Kids love to ride around on tractor trailers.
Food Booths
What good is a carnival without good old-fashioned, greasy food? Set up a booth(s) that serves sausage sandwiches, corn dogs, cotton candy, candy apples, etc.
Side Show
No, don't go out and hire deformed people. Just make up some fun things that will entertain people. A four-foot man eating chicken can be a 7-year-old eating a bucket of KFC; a snake man could be someone you know who owns a boa constrictor who offers to let people pet it. You get the point; be creative ... this can be a lot of fun.