Funfairs are not always about the rides and food booths. Sometimes, all it takes to have a good time is to play games and explore being a kid at heart again. In fact, before the more technologically advanced aspects of a funfair were introduced, one of the main attractions was the many games that were offered. Even teenagers were impressed with the games offered, and oftentimes a young boy would attempt to win the affection of his sweetheart by winning her a prize. Every day there are new ideas for games, and there are many classic games that are still played around the world. The list goes on and on, but let’s take a look at some of the more well-known games.

One of the original funfair games was the coconut shy. It was a game of skill, in which participants would throw balls at coconuts that were balanced on poles or posts. If they managed to knock the coconut off of the post, they would win the coconut as a prize. Many games originated from that idea. More recently there have been games that involve knocking down stacks of milk bottles or aluminum cans.

Another common game involves putting a ball in a basket or through a hoop. This could be a lightweight, plastic ball that has to stay inside a tilted basket, or a basketball that has to go through a hoop. The deception behind these games was that they were designed to be difficult to win. For example, the hoop that the basketball was supposed to go through would be more of an oval shape, instead of round, or the basket would be angled in a way that made it almost certain that a lightweight ball would bounce out. Whatever the game, you are sure to find a challenge when you attempt to win at a funfair!