CIRCUS CARNIVAL

Below are the components of the party

Invitations
Make on computer with any card/graphic program. Graphics of clowns, balloons etc.
 
Decorations
Crepe paper to form a big top over table. If outside, consider under a tree and use a sheet tied to branches to cover like a big top, or you could always use a canopy.  Lots of balloons (tape them on the ceiling if indoors). Crepe paper streamers. Banner that says "Welcome to the Big Top"

Additional Ideas from a reader:
LOTS of Balloons-12 dozen.
Primary color table cloths
Table Decorations: 
  (Need to purchase small old-fashioned red and white popcorn boxes)  Fill heavy duty ziploc type bags with couple ounces of water and insert these into a a popcorn box.   Sit the box upright on the table and attach a bouquet of balloons to each box.  
Room Decorations: 
  Drape streamers across the room and use balloon bouquets to hold up the streamers in the middle so they won't sag--separate the bouquet and let them go.
  Make Trapezes out of paper towel holders and streamers.  You can hand Fisher Price monkeys from them.  Becareful, the kids may try to pull them down.
  Make Circus Posters-Bearded Lady, Strong Man
Food
Popcorn mix with animal cookies, punch, cake and ice cream.
Additional Ideas:  Popcorn served in popcorn boxes.
P'nut Butter & Jelly-phant sandwiches (pb&j) cut out with an elephant cookie cutter, iced with cream cheese and strawberry jam mixture. (You can make and freeze the cut out sandwiches ahead of time.  Thaw before use, then ice after they are thawed).
Celery & Carrot sticks with raisins in small cups (elephant food)
Cake
Three-ring circus cake. Use four round cake pan cakes (two singles and 1 double). For base to set them on use cardboard box (those Variety Pack boxes of 27+ bags of chips works great). Decorate the box with paper. Place cakes on top. Decorate to look like a circus. Lollipops make great balloons. Use animal cookies and make other animals out of snack cakes and decorate.

Goodie Bags
        Use popcorn boxes.   Prizes from the games will be their
          Goodies.

GAMES and ACTIVITIES

(I had a point system for the games.  1 pt, 2 pts & 3 pts.  Each child received a prize for each game.  The prize received depended on the points)

  1. Mouse Holes:
    Need: Cardboard box and three balls (small plastic golf balls work well). Cut off flaps on box and on one side cut three holes at the cut edge to resemble "mouse holes". Make the holes three different sizes, make sure the ball goes through the smallest. To play: Roll the balls, one at a time, and try to get it through the mouse holes.
  2. Hungry Elephant:
    Need: Stiff paper or cardboard, cut in the shape of elephant ears (one piece with both ears). Paper rolled into a cone shape. 10 peanuts. String or wire. Attach the cone mid way down the ears with glue or other. Draw eyes and decorate the elephant. Attach string to top. Hang on a chair, fence or wall. To Play: Toss one peanut at a time into the elephants trunk.
  3. Bucket toss:
    Need: 4 buckets, 4 balls. Set up buckets in a straight line with the spacing of 1/2 foot between. To Play: Toss one ball at a time into each bucket. Begin with the closest and try to end with the farthest.
  4. Lollipop Game:
    Need: Small Styrofoam circle and one lollipop per child. Place a mark on the end of one lollipop. Or, if you wish more winners, others may be marked. You could even have different colored marks for different prizes. To Play: A child picks one lollipop and checks to see if there is a mark, if so, they win that prize.
  5. Lion Tamer:
    Need: This is somewhat similar to musical chairs. So, you need a chair for each child minus one. To Play: The "Lion Tamer" walks around the group and names different circus animal. Each child should be given the name of one animal. After all the "animals are walking" the "Lion Tamer" call out "The Circus is Over" and all try to sit down. The one left standing is the new Lion Tamer.
    Additional Games/activities:
  6. Walk the High Wire:  Use a wide board suspended about 4" from the ground.
  7. Pin the tail on the Tiger
  8. Face Painting Tent
  9. Coin Toss: Take coffee cups or other cups that will not tip over or break. Rubberband a prize onto each cup. The kids can then toss a coin into the cup. If they get it in a cup, they win that prize.

Please e-mail me with additional ideas
boardlr@coupeville.net
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