Carnival Birthday Party Planning Ideas

Carnival Party Decorations and Party Setup Tips

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Colorful balloons add to the carnival party decor. - D Sharon Pruitt
Colorful balloons add to the carnival party decor. - D Sharon Pruitt
A carnival birthday party captures the best parts of a carnival at home. Plan the carnival party from the decorations to the carnival game rentals for a successful party.

A carnival birthday party is ideal for kids of all ages. Tailor the kids' party games and party decorations to fit the ages of the kids who will attend. A carnival party also works well for a wide range of ages at the party. Set up booths with carnival games of varying difficulty to accommodate all of the guests.

Carnival Birthday Party Game Booths

The game booths at the carnival make up a lot of the carnival party entertainment, whether homemade games or carnival game rentals are used. If tables are used at the booths, cover them in a bright tablecloth that matches the carnival color scheme. Add a fringed table skirt in a metallic material or drape streamers along the front. A bouquet of helium-filled balloons flanking each booth also adds a festive touch to the carnival booth decoration. Poster board signs by each booth with hand-drawn pictures also dress up the area.

Carnival games are easy to create at home using simple materials. Games such as the ring toss, duck pond, fishing game, balloon popping game and bean bag toss are easy to reproduce. Another option is carnival game rentals. Party rental shops often have carnival game rentals available to make the carnival games simple.

Tent

A brightly-colored tent is a key component to the carnival birthday party setup, especially if the event is held outdoors. A large tent over the tables or seating area adds decoration but also provides protection from the sun. Smaller tents over the booths are another option, although the cost of tents can add up quickly.

When hosting an indoor carnival, try using a child's parachute to recreate the party tent feeling. Suspend it from the ceiling and tie ropes around the perimeter to spread it out. Another option is to use a brightly colored tablecloth or sheet to create the feeling of a tent indoors.

Other Carnival Party Entertainment Ideas

Games aren't the only way to have fun at a carnival birthday party. Bouncy house rentals are available at almost any party rental store and add a big source of entertainment at the carnival party. Bouncy house rentals are appropriate for kids of all ages, but it's best to limit the number of people in the bouncy house at once to avoid injuries. Have an adult supervise the area to keep the kids safe. Bouncy house rentals may require specific dimensions and restrictions for the area where they are set up so read the fine print.

Photo booth rentals are another good addition to a carnival birthday party. Check with your local party rental store to see if they offer photo booth rentals. This idea allows all of the guests to capture happy memories of the day. Photo booth rentals are particularly appealing to older kids who might find it more entertaining then the games.

Carnival Birthday Party Decorations

A welcome banner greets the guests in a cheerful way. A large piece of colorful butcher paper works well for a temporary carnival banner. Paint the greeting with tempera paint using the primary colors or the color scheme of the event. Naming the circus after the birthday child makes it more personalized.

Balloons and streamers are a standard decoration for carnivals. Helium-filled balloons capture the attention of kids both young and old. Balloons and streamers are also very affordable, making them an inexpensive way to add a big splash of color to the carnival location. A series of balloon arches at the entry into the carnival creates a tunnel to fun for the guests.

Homemade cardboard cutouts are another inexpensive carnival decoration option. Make them any shape and use tempera paint to add the details. General carnival shapes might include balls, clowns or cotton candy. If you choose a specific theme for the carnival, make cutouts of related shapes. Painting both sides of the cardboard cutouts allows them to be suspended from the ceiling if the carnival is indoors.

Carnival Birthday Party Planning

A carnival birthday party lends itself well to many colorful and exciting decorations and party activities. Taking time to plan the carnival party decorations, carnival game rentals, photo booth rental and other party details ensures that the event is a success with guests of all ages.

Shelley Frost, Shelley Frost

Shelley Frost - Shelley Frost pursued a freelance writing career after giving up a traditional job to stay home with her two young children. Shelley ...

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Comments

Mar 1, 2010 4:54 PM
Guest :
Absolutely AWESOME!!! My mind is reeling with memories from Elementary School Carnivals, and if I can pull one off this summer! Bravo!
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