Players weren’t too into the carnival :’)

Hey! I’m starting this campaign for the second time as a DM with a whole new friend group. I tried a few years ago with some old friends, but schedules didn’t pan out and I also ended up moving away.

Anyway, 4 out of 5 of my current players are new to DnD. They seemed really into the concept of this campaign after I ran a couple of one shots based loosely on Delian Tomb to get their feet wet with the mechanics.

They LOVED our first session of the game and praised my props and little extras like butterfly stickers and index cards with prizes and goodies written on them. They rode 4 rides and got some Candlefoot/Palasha lore which they totally bought into.

Second session comes around and we SHOULD have been able to finish the carnival and get to Prismeer. They decided to investigate to find Kettlesteam, who they encountered at Silver Lake the previous session. That’s when things kind of deflated for them. Once they found her and questioned her, it seemed like all they wanted to do was get to the bottom of the mystery and go to the Feywild. We were only at hour 3 and I was going to trigger hour 4 in order to get them over to Mr. Witch and Mr. Light, but they ended up meeting them in the staff area.

Anyway, after hour 4, which they didn’t participate in the big top extravaganza, they headed over to the small stalls, as Burly suggested they do to “kill time” in game but also to experience everything else the carnival had to offer! I’m not sure if they were just tired or not, as we are in our mid 30s and early 40s lol, but they didn’t seem too enthralled with spending time at the carnival now that they had a tangible goal.

I wish I had a better way to get them to enjoy the carnival. I prepped sooooo much for it. For our session today I’m just going to get them over to Prismeer and level up. I have a snowman mini, so I was thinking of letting them fight this guy who would be a shaved ice vendor, just so they have some combat in there. I think my party has more of a murder hobo vibe than the puzzle and whimsy vibe. I think I’ll save the other stuff I’ve prepared in the carnival for my middle school club instead. They might like it more!

Has anyone else encountered this? I think my group wants more combat and violence. I know you can solve this campaign by more than just fighting, but I guess I need to inject that element in here a little bit more.