I'm planning my daughters 6th birthday party and I need some help with ideas .

At her request we are going with a circus theme (even though I really dislike the circus ) anyway so far we have a circus themed bouncy castle/house organised as well as Alyssa's costume...


(Its the only 'girlish' clown costume I can find).


I would love some ideas for...

*Invitations- maybe a big top with flaps that open? The guests will be coming as performers or animals (I think).

*Games- I'm thinking Pass the parcel, pin the nose on the clown (if I can find one)....

*Food- the usual and maybe popcorn in individual striped cups?

*Music- Hmm.....

*Decorations- streamers arranged like a big top in our alfresco area? Bunting?

*Craft table- I've found some nice circus themed printouts that the kids can colour in but I can't seem to find any templates for masks (I'd like them to make their own). Although I'm not a fan of animals in the circus I guess the masks would need to be elephants, lions etc. Oh and maybe a clown one. Any help would be very appreciated in finding these online!!

Oh and our little dog will be dressed in a tutu .

I should also mention that I refuse to hire a 'real clown' as they are just plain creepy!

that sounds like such an awesome party!
i found this site which has a few ideas for games i hope it helps
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/party.circus.htm

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Balloon animals:

A fun thing to do is blow up lots of long balloons beforehand and put them all in a big empty trash can.

Place the balloon can in a corner of the party area. This is where the kids can come to make balloon animals.

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Clown Faces:

Staple together two paper plates - one on top of the other (the top parts facing each other). Cut out triangles beforehand for the clown's hat. Provide kids with markers, glitter, glue, construction paper, yarn or cotton balls for hair, red pompoms or little red balloons for noses, etc. so that they can decorate the plates to look like clown faces


*Musical Clown Noses: This game has the same concept as musical chairs. Place a pile of red sponge clown noses on a table or on the floor and have the kids walk around them in a fairly large circle while music is playing. Once the music is turned off the kids need to grab a nose and put it on (there needs to be one less clown nose than there are kids). Whoever is left with no clown nose to put on needs to leave the game. The game continues until there is one kid remaining (who is the winner).


*Gypsy: It's always fun to get a palm reading, tarot cards or crystal ball experience. You can have one of your friends dress up as a psychic or gypsy and give them their own booth. Then when kids come they can look into a crystal ball (or even just an 8 ball) while the Gypsy says funny things about them (make sure that they don't get too serious with their readings.. Keep it light and funny, like: "Oooohhhh, I can see that you are a carrot eater", etc.).


Knockdown

For this carnival game, put empty tin cans on a table in the form of a pyramid and let the kids throw beanbags or balls at them. If they knock down a certain amount, they get a prize. You can also have the kids use water guns to squirt water at the tin cans and knock them down.



Feed the Lion

On a big cardboard box paint the face of a lion with a hole for his mouth. Designate a throwing line and let the kids toss beanbags into the lion's mouth.



Elephant Ring Toss

Paint big ears and the shape of an elephant's face on a box. Then take an old vacuum hose and connect it to the box as the elephant's nose. Use thick metal wire to hold the hose up and let the kids try and throw rings onto the elephant's nose.



Some game ideas I love the idea of a circus themed bday party... For music you could try and get circus music.. Maybe ebay..

I always get great ideas from this site

http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/circus_party.html

Check out

www.hullabalooparties.com.au

for lots of ideas.

Thanks everyone .

It's our first party at home with 20 children so I am a little nervous (especially since I will be 34 weeks pregnant!). Luckily my MIL loves helping so I am planning on giving her as much to do as possible.

Some great ideas on those sites, there was one childs party that the parents spent $6.5K on . It sounds great but what a huge amount of money!

I like the musical clown nose idea but since the kids will be 5 or 6 (and likely to bang into each other) I might go something bigger like those sparkly top hats.... And maybe the elephants ring toss?

*Balancing act- set up something for the kids to walk along like a tightroke- anything from a skipping rope lying on the group to a plank of wood/metal. Dad used to prop up the planks painters use (I think on paint tins )- but I'm sure there are more safety-friendly alternatives out there

*A lot of $2 shops have juggling ball sets- very entertaining for the people attempting to juggle...and the people watching

For your invites, you could make them to look like tickets to the circus.

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Sounds like a cool party!

For the music what about putting that circus music on repeat

"do do doodle dodo do do dodo, do do doodle dodo do do dodo"

OR NOT! That would drive you mental!!!!

All the best with the planning, sorry I have nothing constructive to add! Looking forward to seeing photos!

Not sure if I'm too late or not but this site has a circus party ideas for decorating, invites, etc.:

The Party Parlour

I love these invites

http://www.enchantedenvelope.com.au/produc...=301&page=1


PB is blocked at my work for some reason Sorry

Not too late, the party is on Sunday .

I am suprisingly organised! We have a bouncy castle (clown themed), pin the nose on the clown game, pass the parcel, musical bobs and a craft table (colouring in pages and decorating circus animal puppets with glitter, felt, textas, paper etc.). My daughter and I made a ringmaster on the weekend and some funny clown faces to stick around. I just have to create a trapeze for her monkey toys and decorate our alfresco to look like a big top.

I'll be back with some pics next week .

Oh and I would post some pics of the invites but I 'took inspiration' from some I saw online so I'd better not!

Sounds like it's well and truly under control, and also sounds like it will be fantastic!!

Hope your daughter has lots of fun!

Heres some pics of the party .

The kids had a wonderful time, it was hectic but so much fun! Unfortunately we didn't get a great photo of the decorations but it's all on video camera so I will try to take a still shot from that.

*Pics removed..sorry*

Leanne, it looks so brilliant!!