Game Features
• Inspired by the classic folk song "There's a Hole in the Bucket"
• Fast-paced card game for 2–3 players
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Quick rounds lasting approximately 1–3 minutes
• Pocket-sized and travel-friendly
• Easy to learn and teach
• Minimal table space required
• Great for families, classrooms, and game nights
• Encourages pattern recognition and strategic thinking
• Portable entertainment for trips, vacations, and waiting rooms
• Colorful artwork inspired by the traditional story
• Designed for repeated play and quick rematches
Fix the Bucket is a fast-paced card game for 2–3 players inspired by the classic folk song "There's a Hole in the Bucket." Easy to learn and quick to play, each round lasts just a few minutes, making it a great choice for families, classrooms, travel, waiting rooms, restaurants, game nights, and anywhere people want a fun challenge without a long setup.
The game is based on the famous looping conversation between Henry and Liza from the traditional folk song. In the song, Henry discovers there is a hole in the bucket and asks Liza what he should do. Liza suggests fixing the bucket, but every solution creates another problem. To fix the bucket, Henry needs straw. To cut the straw, he needs an axe. To sharpen the axe, he needs a stone. To wet the stone, he needs water. To carry the water, he needs the bucket—which still has a hole in it. The conversation loops endlessly, creating one of the most memorable circular problem-solving stories ever passed down through folk music.
The song itself dates back hundreds of years and has roots in European folk traditions before becoming popular throughout the English-speaking world. Many people first encountered the song as children, learning the repeating verses in school, at camp, or from family members. The simple melody and repeating structure have helped it survive for generations.
Fix the Bucket transforms that famous loop into a competitive card game. Players race to play matching cards in the correct sequence, moving forward or backward through the loop as they try to empty their hand before their opponents. The game captures the same circular logic that made the song memorable while turning it into a quick and engaging challenge.
The card deck features the familiar items from the story, including the bucket, water, stone, axe, straw, and additional cards that keep the game moving. Because the cards connect to one another in a continuous cycle, players must think ahead, react quickly, and watch for opportunities to play multiple cards before someone else does.
One of the best features of Fix the Bucket is its portability. The game is small enough to fit into a pocket, purse, backpack, glove compartment, travel bag, desk drawer, or carry-on luggage. It requires very little table space, making it easy to play almost anywhere. Whether you're waiting for a meal at a restaurant, sitting at an airport gate, taking a road trip, visiting relatives, camping, or looking for a quick break between activities, Fix the Bucket is ready to play.
Unlike many card games that require lengthy explanations or large play areas, Fix the Bucket can be taught in minutes. New players often learn the basics after a single round. The familiar imagery from the folk song helps players remember how the cards connect, making the game approachable for children while still providing enough strategy to keep older players engaged.
Because rounds are so short, players often find themselves saying, "Let's play one more game." A single match may last only one to three minutes, making it easy to fit several rounds into a short break. The fast pace keeps everyone involved and minimizes downtime between turns.
Teachers, parents, and grandparents often appreciate the game's connection to a traditional folk song. Fix the Bucket introduces players to a piece of cultural history while encouraging pattern recognition, sequencing, observation, and strategic thinking. Players naturally become familiar with the loop as they play, reinforcing the same chain of events found in the song.
The game is designed for ages 7 and up and works well for mixed-age groups. Younger players enjoy the colorful illustrations and simple rules, while older players enjoy finding ways to outplay their opponents. Simple setup and short playtime make it especially useful for families looking for a quick activity that everyone can enjoy together.
Whether you're discovering the classic folk song for the first time or remembering it from childhood, Fix the Bucket offers a fun new way to experience the famous loop. Shuffle the cards, deal them out, and see who can escape the endless cycle first. Just remember: if there's a hole in the bucket, fixing it may be harder than it looks.
FIX THE BUCKET 250 PHOTO SWEEPSTAKES
OFFICIAL RULES
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SPONSOR
The Fix the Bucket 250 Photo Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes") is sponsored by 4AM Brain LLC ("Sponsor"), headquartered in Poulsbo, Washington.
Questions regarding the Sweepstakes may be directed to:
4ambrain@gmail.com
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ELIGIBILITY
Open to legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry.
Void where prohibited by law.
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ENTRY PERIOD
The Sweepstakes begins upon announcement by Sponsor and ends at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on July 5, 2026 ("Entry Period").
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HOW TO ENTER
To enter, participants must:
• Create a public post on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
• Include the hashtag #FixTheBucket250.
• Tag the applicable 4AM Brain social media account.
• Publish the post during the Entry Period.
One public post equals one entry.
Maximum ten (10) entries per person.
No more than one (1) entry may be submitted per calendar day. Multiple qualifying posts made on the same day will count as a single entry.
Entries must remain publicly visible until at least 11:59 PM Pacific Time on July 7, 2026.
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QUALIFYING FIX THE BUCKET ENTRIES
Eligible Fix the Bucket entries include public posts featuring the Fix the Bucket card game.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
• The game being played by one or more people.
• The game displayed at a family gathering, picnic, barbecue, campsite, classroom, vacation, or similar setting.
• A photo featuring the game box, cards, gameplay area, or related components.
• Creative photographs incorporating the game into summer activities or celebrations.
Sponsor reserves the right to determine whether an entry reasonably depicts the Fix the Bucket card game.
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ALTERNATE METHOD OF ENTRY
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
Individuals who do not own a copy of Fix the Bucket may enter by posting a public photo inspired by "There's a Hole in the Bucket," the traditional folk song that inspired the game.
Alternate entries must:
• Include the hashtag #FixTheBucket250.
• Tag the applicable 4AM Brain social media account.
• Be posted during the Entry Period.
• Remain publicly visible through July 7, 2026.
Alternate entries shall receive equal treatment in the random drawing.
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CONTENT REQUIREMENTS
Entries must:
• Be family-friendly.
• Be substantially created by the entrant.
• Not consist primarily of AI-generated imagery.
• Not infringe upon copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights, publicity rights, or other rights of third parties.
• Comply with applicable platform rules and policies.
Each entry must contain substantially different content.
Reposts, duplicate photographs, materially identical photographs, or entries that Sponsor determines are substantially similar may be disqualified or counted as a single entry at Sponsor's discretion.
Sponsor reserves the right to determine whether entries are sufficiently distinct to qualify as separate entries.
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PRIZES
Grand Prize:
• One (1) winner will receive $250 USD.
Runner-Up Prizes:
• One (1) runner-up will receive $25 USD.
• One (1) runner-up will receive $25 USD.
Total prize value: $300 USD.
No substitution of prizes except at Sponsor's discretion.
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WINNER SELECTION
Winners will be selected through a random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Entry Period.
Odds of winning depend upon the total number of eligible entries received.
Sponsor may have the drawing witnessed, validated, or verified by an independent third party selected by Sponsor.
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WINNER NOTIFICATION
Sponsor will attempt to contact selected winners no later than July 8, 2026 through direct message or another reasonable method available through the platform used for entry.
Selected winners must respond within seventy-two (72) hours of notification.
If a selected winner:
• Cannot be contacted,
• Does not respond within the required period,
• Declines the prize,
• Fails to provide information necessary for prize delivery, or
• Is later determined to be ineligible,
Sponsor may select an alternate winner.
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PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
Sponsor intends to publicly announce winners on or before July 10, 2026.
By entering the Sweepstakes, participants grant Sponsor permission to identify them as winners using their first name, social media username, city and state, submitted entry, or similar identifying information for promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.
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PRIZE DELIVERY
Cash prizes will be delivered electronically through PayPal, Venmo, or another mutually agreed electronic payment method.
Winners must provide any information reasonably necessary to receive payment.
Sponsor is not responsible for delays resulting from incorrect payment information provided by a winner.
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LICENSE TO USE ENTRIES
By entering the Sweepstakes, participants grant 4AM Brain LLC a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to:
• Repost submitted content.
• Display submitted content.
• Publish submitted content.
• Share submitted content.
• Use submitted content in social media, websites, advertisements, product listings, promotional materials, and other marketing efforts.
Sponsor may provide attribution at its discretion.
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DISQUALIFICATION
Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry that:
• Is fraudulent.
• Is misleading.
• Is generated through automated means.
• Violates these Official Rules.
• Uses multiple accounts for the purpose of improperly increasing chances of winning.
• Is determined by Sponsor to be inconsistent with the spirit of the Sweepstakes.
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MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION
Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Sweepstakes if fraud, technical failures, legal concerns, platform issues, insufficient participation, or other circumstances beyond Sponsor's reasonable control impair the integrity or proper administration of the Sweepstakes.
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LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
By participating, entrants agree to release and hold harmless 4AM Brain LLC, its owners, employees, contractors, agents, affiliates, and representatives from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses arising from participation in the Sweepstakes or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize.
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PLATFORM DISCLAIMER
This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Meta Platforms, ByteDance, or any of their affiliated companies.
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AGREEMENT TO RULES
Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and to the decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes.