15 Pumpkin Games for Kids at Fall Parties and Festivals

Pumpkins are the one prop every fall party already has, and kids will do anything with them: roll them, toss things into them, paint them, jump on a giant one or ride a mechanical one that bucks like a bull. The games below are the ones that keep a pumpkin patch party, a classroom fall party or a festival kid zone busy for an afternoon, with a bounce for the toddlers, a bowling lane for the elementary crowd and a carving station for the older kids.

Here are 15 pumpkin games for kids organized by type: pumpkin toss and roll games, pumpkin bounces and big pumpkins, pumpkin craft games and the harvest booths that round out the party. Every one of them is rentable from the Halloween and fall rentals collection at Perfect Parties USA, and each comes with a planning tip on ages, space or staffing, whether your party is in Peabody, Providence or Hartford.

Pumpkin Toss and Roll Games

Quick games with a pumpkin as the target or the ball.

1. Pumpkin Toss

Pumpkin Toss: Toss bean bags into the pumpkin targets for points, with the small openings scoring high and rounds under a minute. It is the first game to set up and the last one to empty out, because a four year old and a ten year old can both win it. Planning Tip: Chalk two throwing lines so the four year olds stand close and the ten year olds stand back. Rent the Pumpkin Toss.

2. Pumpkin Bowling

Halloween Pumpkin Bowling: Roll a real or foam pumpkin down a full lane at the seasonal pins, the game every age understands on sight. A lane attendant resets the pins in seconds, so the line never stalls. Planning Tip: Let the youngest players roll from halfway down the lane and let the big kids roll from behind a line. Rent Halloween Pumpkin Bowling.

3. Pumpkin Darts

Fall Carnival Stall- Pumpkin Darts: Throw darts at the pumpkin target board for points, the booth the older kids gravitate to. Planning Tip: Rope a lane behind the booth and keep it for ages 8 and up. Rent the Pumpkin Darts booth.

4. Candy Corn Ring Toss

Halloween Carnival Stall- Candy Corn Ring Toss: Toss rings over oversized candy corn cones, with the back row worth the bigger prizes. Planning Tip: Three rings per turn and a candy for one ring keeps the line moving. Rent the Candy Corn Ring Toss booth.

Pumpkin Bounces and Big Pumpkins

The pumpkins kids climb on.

5. The Jumpin Pumpkin

Jumpin Pumpkin: A 40 by 60 foot pumpkin jumping pillow, the biggest pumpkin at any party and the one every child runs to first. Planning Tip: Mark a stroller parking area beside it and post an age rule at the entrance. Rent the Jumpin Pumpkin.

6. The Pumpkin Bounce

Pumpkin Bounce: A smaller pumpkin bounce sized for toddlers and preschoolers. It fits a backyard or a classroom lawn where the big pillow will not. Planning Tip: Run it beside the Jumpin Pumpkin with an age split so the little ones have a pumpkin of their own. Rent the Pumpkin Bounce.

7. The Mechanical Pumpkin

Mechanical Pumpkin: The mechanical bull dressed as a pumpkin, with an operator setting a gentle ride for kids and a real one for the teenagers and parents. Planning Tip: Post the ride times by age group and the tweens will line up to beat each other’s. Rent the Mechanical Pumpkin.

8. A Pumpkin Carved in Front of the Crowd

Live Pumpkin Sculptor: A sculptor carving an oversized pumpkin in real time, which kids will watch for an hour and photograph at the end. Planning Tip: Place the sculptor where the line for the bounce can see it. Book the Live Pumpkin Sculptor.

Pumpkin Craft Games

The games every child takes home.

9. A Pumpkin Painting Station

Pumpkin Painting: A staffed station where every child paints a pumpkin to carry home. The attendant runs the paint, the brushes and the drying table, so the host only supplies the pumpkins. Planning Tip: Hand out a numbered ticket at the door, one per child, so the pumpkins last until the end. Rent the Pumpkin Painting station.

10. A Pumpkin Carving Station

Pumpkin Carving Station: A supervised carving station with tools and templates for the older kids and their parents. Planning Tip: Run it as a contest by age group and judge by sticker vote. Rent the Pumpkin Carving Station.

11. A Face Painting Chair

Makeup Artist: A professional makeup artist who paints pumpkins, foxes and superheroes on a steady line of kids. Planning Tip: Post a menu of five or six quick designs so each turn stays under five minutes. Book the Makeup Artist.

Harvest Booths to Round Out the Party

The fall games that fill the gaps between the pumpkin games.

12. Apple Toss

Fall Carnival Stall- Apple Toss: A striped fall booth with apple themed targets, three throws per turn. Planning Tip: Put it first in the loop so the smallest kids get an early win. Rent the Apple Toss booth.

13. Ring A Corn

Fall Carnival Stall- Ring A Corn: A ring toss over ears of corn, gentle enough for preschoolers. Planning Tip: Pair it with Apple Toss as a two-booth corner one volunteer can run. Rent the Ring A Corn booth.

14. Witch’s Brew Toss

Witch’s Brew Frame Game: A tabletop toss into a bubbling cauldron frame that fits on a folding table and needs no attendant. Planning Tip: This is the game to hand to a teenager to run. Rent the Witch’s Brew Frame Game.

15. A Prize Wheel

Prize Wheel: A spin-to-win wheel where every slice pays out something, so the party ends on a guaranteed win. Stock it with candy on the small slices and a donated prize on the big one. Planning Tip: Make a spin the reward for a full punch card so every child visits every game. Rent the Prize Wheel.

How to Choose Pumpkin Games for Your Event

Start with the ages. A preschool or a classroom party of 25 wants Pumpkin Toss, the Pumpkin Bounce, the painting station and Ring A Corn, all gentle and all easy to win. An elementary fall party of 100 adds pumpkin bowling, the Jumpin Pumpkin and the Candy Corn Ring Toss. A festival kid zone of 300 adds the carving station, the sculptor and the Mechanical Pumpkin for the older kids, and the fall festival ideas guide covers the rest of the grounds. For the games without a pumpkin on them, the carnival game ideas for school fairs and carnivals guide has the full booth list.

As a rule of thumb, plan for one game per 25 to 50 kids and one bounce per 100, and give the toddler pumpkins their own corner. Parties and festivals across Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island book October weekends early, so reserve the Jumpin Pumpkin and the bowling lane first. If you are on the North Shore, the carnival game rentals in Peabody, MA page shows what is nearby, and the school fall festival ideas guide covers the PTA version of the same afternoon.

Rent Pumpkin Games From Perfect Parties USA

Perfect Parties USA is based in Peabody, Massachusetts and owns hundreds of attractions, including every rentable item on this list, so the games you book are the games that arrive, maintained and ready to play. Every rental includes delivery, professional setup, trained attendants and prizes for staffed games, and complete teardown. We are fully insured, with a certificate of insurance available for venues and schools, and we have produced events of every size across New England and the Northeast for decades, from Massachusetts, Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island to New Hampshire and New York.

Ready to get this party started? Contact Perfect Parties USA to talk to one of our Party Pros. Request a Quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best pumpkin games for kids?

The best pumpkin games for kids are Pumpkin Toss, pumpkin bowling with real or foam pumpkins, Pumpkin Darts for the older kids, a pumpkin painting station and a pumpkin bounce for the toddlers. Add the Jumpin Pumpkin jumping pillow for a festival and every age has a pumpkin game. Perfect Parties USA rents all of them across New England.

What pumpkin games work for toddlers and preschoolers?

Toddlers do best with Pumpkin Toss from a short line, the small Pumpkin Bounce, Ring A Corn, the pumpkin painting station and pumpkin bowling from halfway down the lane. Keep those in one corner with stroller parking beside it and the youngest guests will stay busy for an hour.

How many pumpkin games do you need for a fall party?

Plan for one game per 25 to 50 kids and one bounce per 100. A classroom party of 25 runs well on Pumpkin Toss, the Pumpkin Bounce and a painting station, while a festival kid zone of 300 wants six or seven games plus the Jumpin Pumpkin. Perfect Parties USA sizes lineups for schools and towns across New England.

Can you rent pumpkin games for a school or a birthday party?

Yes, every game in this guide is available to rent, from Pumpkin Toss and pumpkin bowling to the Pumpkin Bounce, the Jumpin Pumpkin and the painting and carving stations. Rentals from Perfect Parties USA include delivery, professional setup, trained attendants for staffed pieces and complete teardown.

Does Perfect Parties USA deliver pumpkin games in Massachusetts and New England?

Yes, Perfect Parties USA delivers pumpkin games and fall rentals across Massachusetts, including Boston and the North Shore, and throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and New York. The company is based in Peabody, Massachusetts and owns every game it rents.

Are pumpkin games good for a classroom fall party?

Pumpkin games suit a classroom fall party because they are quick, easy to win and playable in a small space. Pumpkin Toss, the Witch’s Brew Frame Game and Ring A Corn fit on tables in a classroom or a gym, and a pumpkin painting station sends every student home with something. A parent volunteer can run each one.

How far in advance should you book pumpkin games for a fall party?

Book pumpkin games four to six weeks before your party, and earlier for the Jumpin Pumpkin and the pumpkin bowling lane, which are reserved first for October weekends. Booking early with Perfect Parties USA also leaves time to plan the kid zone layout with a Party Pro.