Animal invitations, face painting, a magic show and a popcorn box cake- everything you need for a budget-friendly circus celebration!
Whether the birthday kid is into taming lions or Disney’s JoJo the clown, a circus themed party is a fun-filled way to commemorate turning another year older. Use the ideas below to plan a big top birthday party that won’t blow the budget.
Invitations
- Save money by sending out circus postcard invitations. Buy a package of blank postcards from a stationary or office store.
- Follow the directions to print, “Lions and Tigers and Magic…Oh My!” on the front of the postcard. On the back print, “Join us for a big top birthday!” followed by the party information.
- Have the birthday kid draw and color circus themed pictures on the front of the postcards.
Decorations
- Using a piece of poster board and tempera paint create a sign reading, “The Birthday Big Top!” Hang it on the front door to welcome guests to the party.
- If the party is outdoors borrow or rent a pop-up tent as the celebration’s focal point. Or for a budget-friendly alternative go to an automotive store and buy a carport. They are easy to put together and a lot less expensive.
- If the celebration will take place indoors create a tent using a colored, king-size sheet. Use thumb tacks to secure the four corners of the sheet over the party area. Take another thumb tack and push it through the center of the sheet to produce a tent-like effect.
- Buy bright colored crepe paper and hang it from the edges of the tent to form streamers. Affix the streamers using clear tape and twist the crepe paper for visual impact.
- Purchase a bag of balloons in assorted colors. Blow them up and hang them from the tent in between the streamers.
Food
- Make your own popcorn box cake from a box cake mix.
- Order pizza from your local pizzeria and ask the chef for a “party-cut”. The pizzeria will cut the pizza into smaller slices that are more appropriate for children and help you stretch the party budget.
- Buy boxes of frozen corn dogs from the bulk aisle of your grocery store. Heat them according to the directions on the box and serve them with a napkin on a bright colored platter.
- Fold a colored piece paper to form a cone and tape the end into place. Fill the cones with popcorn to serve to the guests. Take a card board box and cover it with wrapping paper. Cut three inch holes into the top of the box and place the cones in the holes for a creative presentation.
Games/Activities
- Have an adult or older child dress as a clown by creating a silly costume of mismatched clothes and accessories. Use face paint to complete the transformation. Have the clown greet guests at the door and lead everyone in silly games of Simon Says and Mother May I.
- Print out JoJo coloring pages and gather a bowl full of crayons. Set out at the party for the kids to color as they wait for the other guests to arrive.
- Purchase a magic book or go online to learn how to perform easy magic tricks and put on a magic show for the kids. At the end of the show teach all of the kids how to perform one of the tricks.
- Create circus party favors by making animal masks to pass out to all of the children. Buy a package of animal face paper plates and glue Popsicle sticks to the back.
A circus themed party is an easy and inexpensive way to celebrate a birthday. With these ideas you’ll have guests saying, “Wow! That was the greatest show on earth.”
More birthday party ideas: carnival party, horse themed party, football party, bug themed party
The copyright of the article A Circus Themed Party in Children's Parties is owned by Megan Sheakoski. Permission to republish A Circus Themed Party must be granted by the author in writing.
