I’m not sure there is a summer ritual I look forward to more than the carnival. The colorful sights and jaunty music combined with the whirring of the rides and the excited voices of kids deliver an excited energy to the air that delights the senses. Or maybe it’s just the smell of funnel cake. Either way, the carnival is one of those cherished childhood memories I feel lucky to relive through the eyes of my own kids.

Sadly, the carnival only comes to town once a year. A carnival party, however, provides a way to enjoy that special summer event anytime, anywhere. So, step right up and bring the excitement to your own backyard with some of these ideas for a carnival party theme!

Invitations

The carnival and circus themes seem to be a popular choice for party themes, so you should be able to find a few choices for ready-made invitations with carnival designs. If you prefer to make your own, however, here are some ideas for carnival invitaions:

• Popcorn box – write the party details on an index card or notecard. Slip it into a popcorn box. Hand-deliver these or fold them flat with the invitations inside and tape or staple the top closed. Paste a mailing label directly onto the box or slide into an envelope to mail.
• Flyer: make a flyer-sized carnival poster advertising the carnival party, just like you would see around town for a real carnival.
• Tickets: use a ticket template to create admission tickets that kids must bring to the party.

• Balloon invitations. Roll a flyer invitation into a scroll. Place the scroll inside of a balloon, then inflate the balloon and hand-deliver it. Kids will have to pop the balloon to retrieve the invitation.
• Photo cutout: Take a picture of your child in a carnival photo cutout. Use it as the image for a postcard invitation.

Decorations

Some suggestions for decorating your carnival party space:

• Carnival booths: You can buy these, rent them or make them yourself (out of cardboard or plywood) and paint them with red and white stripes.
• Red and white balloons, streamers and flag-style banners.
• Red and white tableware and paper goods.
• Props such as a popcorn vending machine, cotton candy maker or balloon cart.

Food

When planning your carnival party menu, think about foods that can be served on a stick, such as hot corn dogs, cotton candy, popsicles and corn on the cob. This is not only a good way to present the food in a carnival theme, but a fun way for kids to eat it.

More suggestions for carnival party food:

• Hot dogs.
• French Fries.
• Funnel cake.
• Soft Pretzels.
• Soda pop.
• Popcorn.
• Ice cream.
• Popcorn box cake.

Activities

Carnival booths: you don’t need to line your whole backyard with booths, but a couple of tables lined with red and white paper or boxes turned into booths can serve as both decorative and functional. Maybe you can’t build a dunking booth, but you can ask an adult to sit at a booth and tell fortunes, guess the children’s weight or give out prizes for simple games like a guessing game or bean bag toss.

More suggestions for carnival games and activities:

• Magnet fishing.
• Tin can knockout (toss a ball at a stack of tin cans).
• Ring toss.
• Lawn bowling.
• Rubber duck races (in a baby pool or tub of water).
• Photo booth.
• Face painting.
• Balloon animals.
• Bounce house.
• Hire a carnival performer such as a juggler or magician.

Favors

Most kids dream of leaving the carnival with a prize stuffed animal, which is why a plush friend tops the list of carnival party favor ideas.

Additional suggestions include:

• Cotton candy.
• Balloons.
• Boxes of animal crackers.
• Giant lollipops.
• Pinwheels.
• Mini gumball machines.
• Individual packages of microwave popcorn.