From the rides and games to the iconic eats and treats, carnivals are a delight for fun-lovers of all ages, which is why a carnival-themed birthday party for your baby or toddler is a guaranteed good time for all.
"A carnival-themed birthday party is a fun, whimsical and playful way to celebrate your little one," says Kat Robson, an experienced party planner and owner of Coastline Events in Long Island, New York.
Read on for professional advice on how to plan a birthday party that'll leave everyone in smiles and how to make the most of this unique birthday theme.
Carnival birthday party invitations
Send big top-inspired invites
Drum up some drama and get guests excited about your little one's upcoming birthday with circus tent-inspired invites. Incorporating red and white stripes — plus a few banners, balloons or circus animals — will help get your theme across. You could even include a few carnival tickets in the envelope to add to the fun!
Carnival birthday party decor
Establish the theme with the perfect color palette
"Keep the color palette simple and bright," Robson advises. "For a carnival-themed birthday party, go with primary colors like red, yellow and blue — all of which you can use in various shades, such as a more golden yellow and even a turquoise blue," she explains.
If you'd like a softer palette, "Try gold, white and different shades of pink, like baby pink or hot pink," says Carolina Reyes, a professional event planner and founder of HTX Urban Events in Houston, Texas.
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Include stripes throughout your decor
"Circus tent-inspired stripes are a must for any carnival-themed birthday party," Robson says. "Recreate that look for a backdrop." For example, you could hang red and white striped tablecloths behind the buffet table.
Bring your carnival-themed birthday party to life with props
Help your theme come alive with larger-than-life decor. "A giant popcorn box overflowing with 'popcorn' made out of balloons or life-sized animal props to use for photo ops are guaranteed to bring your party to the next level," Reyes says.
Carnival birthday party food
Serve an array of carnival-themed eats
"For the main meal, serve typical carnival foods, such as hot pretzels, corn dogs or hot dogs, fries and roasted corn," Robson suggests — things even the pickiest eaters will likely enjoy! "Sticking with the theme, you could even rent a popcorn or cotton candy machine where you can make fresh carnival snacks to serve guests."
Get your cake in on the theme
"Two-to-three-layer cakes work best for a carnival-theme birthday party, especially when one of the layers resembles a red-and-white-striped tent with banners or balloons adorning it," says Reyes. (If you're having a first birthday party, you can remove the top layer and use it as a smash cake for your little one.)
Serve donuts that double as decor
"One of my favorite tips is to serve donuts instead of a cake!" says Robson. "Donut walls are a fun yet colorful way to have a sweet, tasty treat double as party decor." Add a sign that says "concessions" above to play up the circus theme.
Carnival birthday party games
Delight partygoers with an array of carnival games
Entertain guests by setting up a few different carnival-themed activities around your event, suggests Robson: "You can have a ring or bean bag toss game, a 'pop the balloon' game, a face painting station or a crafty activity for kids." Provide adult supervision — especially for games that require popping balloons or throwing things — and follow these party safety tips for little ones.
Throw in some extra entertainment
Nothing says carnival quite like a bounce house! "There are big bounce houses that look like carnival tents you can rent, or you could hire a combination face painting and balloon artist to get two activities in one," suggests Reyes.
If you don't want to host your carnival-themed birthday party at home, "You could host it at a petting zoo and even include pony rides, which are a huge hit with kids," says Reyes.
Carnival birthday party favors
Let guests bring the entertainment home
"An interactive party favor that you can send your guests home with is a picture from a caricature artist," says Reyes. "This is a fun activity that both parents and children will enjoy — plus it's a keepsake they can keep for years to come!"
Send them off with a sweet thanks
Alternatively, send guests home with something sweet. "A candy table — stocked with items like cotton candy or animal crackers — is a great way to display bright, colorful treats," says Robson. "Let guests choose what they want from the assortment and bring them home in custom carnival-themed goodie bags," she adds. "It's a great thank you everyone can enjoy!"
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