Nothing has to be explained
Hammer, target, shooting, funhouse mirrors. Anyone understands what to do from three metres, which is exactly what a fair with all ages needs.
Municipal Fairs
Municipal fairs
The village fair works because everybody knows how to play without being told
We build complete municipal fairs: classic game booths, strength hammer, shooting, funhouse mirrors, marquees and rides, with the traditional look, certified equipment and documentation for the council.
There is a reason classic fairground games still work decades on: they need no explanation. A hammer, a target, a shooting range, distorting mirrors. Anyone, at any age, understands what to do from three metres away, and at a municipal fair that is exactly what is needed, because the audience spans every age and has not come to learn rules.
That intergenerational quality is their greatest advantage. At the same booth the grandfather, the father and the grandchild all play, and all of them know what it is about. Few proposals achieve that, which is why at municipal fairs we still recommend a core of classic games even when the budget allows more spectacular things.
What has changed is safety and documentation. Structures carry certificates, anchoring is calculated by surface, equipment meets regulations and everything comes with public liability insurance. That is what lets the council authorise the occupation without reservations and what separates a fair built by a company from one thrown together.
We work with councils and with festival committees, adapting to whatever level of organisation is on the other side. With a municipal officer the conversation is one thing; with a volunteer committee organising for the first time, more guidance and clearer explanation are needed. Both are fine, they just require different handling.
- +15classic fairground games
- all ageswith no rules to explain
- 24 hquote turnaround
- 100%certificates and insurance
Three generations play
At the same booth the grandfather, the father and the grandchild play. Few proposals achieve that, which is why they remain the core of a municipal fair.
With today's safety
Structural certificates, anchoring calculated by surface, certified equipment and insurance. It is what lets the council authorise without reservations.
How we set it up
Tell us about the fair
Town, dates, available space, budget and whether other rides are already booked.
We propose the set
Which booths and games, how they are laid out in the space and how many people they move per hour.
We process the paperwork
Insurance, certificates and technical sheets for the municipal occupation authorisation.
We build and staff
Build the evening before, staff at every booth during the fair and takedown at close.
Formats and ideas that work
- Classic game booths with traditional fairground prizes
- Strength hammer with a scoreboard and daily record
- Shooting and target games for all ages
- Distorting mirrors as a visual draw
- Fair marquee covering the games area
- Axe throwing with a monitor and safety zone
- Giant wooden games for families
- Candy floss and popcorn stall beside the booths
Small prizes work better
At a municipal fair the temptation is few, large prizes. It works worse than the opposite. Many small prizes create a sense that winning happens, keep the queue active and bring children back three times. A single large prize produces a long queue, considerable frustration and a fair number of arguments with staff.
Our recommendation is always to spread: frequent small prizes, an occasional medium one and, if wanted, a larger prize for the day's best score presented at close. That way the booth runs all afternoon and the big prize moment becomes a small event that concentrates a crowd.
Frequently asked questions
Are prizes included?
We can include them or the council can supply them, as you prefer. Usually we include them, with classic fairground prizes, and the council decides whether to add a larger prize for the day's record.
How much space does a booth need?
Four to eight square metres depending on the game, including player space. With the site dimensions we tell you how many fit and how to lay them out so circulation works.
Can it be built on any surface?
On asphalt, compacted earth or cobbles, yes, with ballast or anchoring as appropriate. On grass there are limitations and on steeply sloping ground some structures cannot be built; we check beforehand.
Do you work with festival committees?
Yes, frequently. We adapt to whatever level of organisation exists: with a municipal officer we go straight to technical detail; with a volunteer committee we guide more and explain the whole process.
Do you cover several fair days?
Yes. It can stay built with agreed security or be built and dismantled daily. At multi-day fairs it usually stays up, with our staff working the agreed hours.