Throw a Circus Carnival Party for Adults

When Life Throws You a Circus…

Step right up, plan your party! This theme is for all you circus and carnival lovers who want to bring the fun to life in your own home. People often think of the circus and carnival as primarily kids events. Wrong! These amusements are just as much fun (if not more) for adults! This carnival theme party for adults will satisfy everyone’s inner child and inspire us to enjoy life’s more imaginative side.

While a circus and carnival are technically two different events, this carnival party theme encompasses both. A circus includes specifically skilled performers while a carnival is more for rides and games. But the ambiance is similar and so, just for fun, our carnival theme party also embraces a circus theme party to enjoy both events in one fantasy.

Whether your life feels like a crazy circus already and you just want an outlet of pure entertainment to trade the stress for some childlike joy, or whether you’re an avid circus/carnival fanatic, we’ll discover some fun finds and cover the how-tos for an exciting carnival party!

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How to Throw a Carnival Party

1. Transform Your Space into a Carnival

Picture large red and white striped tents, bright colours, balloons, and exotic circus costumes. Carousels, Ferris wheels, clowns. You can create quite a scene with plenty of circus and carnival decor! This is a popular party aesthetic so you’ve got lots of options for carnival decorations. You’ll always want to establish your party budget to make a spending plan, and remember that you don’t need to deck out your whole space. You can go as lavish or as simple as you want. Here are a couple ideas to get you started!

• Circus carnival rosettes
• Red and white striped vintage-style circus paper plates (set of 8)
• Red and white striped popcorn boxes (set of 6)
• Red and white striped cups (set of 6) and paper straws (set of 10)
• Spiral-striped paper straws in red, blue and yellow (set of 25)

2. Prepare Carnival Food

Luck would have it that pretty much every themed food you can offer at a carnival party is unhealthy…and delicious! Corndogs, cotton candy, fried everything. Do offer some healthy dishes, though. You can go to town with carnival treats, but at least make sure guests have options that are equally delicious but also nutritious (and that meets anybody’s dietary restrictions/needs)! Same goes for drinks: while your carnival-themed drinks also wax unhealthy (think super-sweet lemonade, sweet tea, sodas, etc.) you’ll want to provide your guests healthy options as well, such as flavored sparkling water or juice. Same goes for alcoholic beverages: always have some healthy (yet palatable) non-alcoholic drinks to share for guests to choose.

Try your hand at these popular refreshments:

• Caramel apples
• Chicago-style popcorn
• Carnival Funnel Cake
• Broccolini in Blankets (a healthier take on pigs in a blanket)
• More carnival food recipes

3. Set a Carnival Ambience with the Perfect Playlist or Video

This fitting circus playlist alternates some great lo-fi takes on well-known circus tracks with the traditional circus/carnival music we all know. Another apt music choice is The Greatest Showman soundtrack. Thematic music will certainly complement a carnival atmosphere, but any music that lends a playful and upbeat vibe will fit the bill!

4. Create a Circus of Scents

Imagine walking into a carnival or circus: what do you smell? Popcorn? Cotton candy? Peanuts? Funnel cake? These are all nostalgic scents you can harness at your carnival party by preparing any of these treats! (Just make sure that none of your guests have peanut allergies if you choose to share peanuts). You could also light this enticing Night Circus candle with notes of gingerbread, pumpernickel and spice to greet your guests with a delectable scent. Or try this Night Circus candle with aromas of sweet popcorn, candied berries and bonfire wood, or another Night Circus candle for caramel popcorn, green apple and vanilla. Mmm!

5. Plan Carnival Party Games and Activities

This is a chance for your fire dancer/juggler/acrobatic friends to shine. Whoever you know with a rare talent, invite them to entertain at your circus party! Maybe your performer friends charge each guest a dollar (or drink) a show. Maybe they get in character and dress up in fun circus pants. All that matters is that everyone has fun! There are also plenty of traditional carnival games you could play, as well as digital printouts for carnival or circus themed activities.

6. Invite Others to Join the Circus

If you conveniently know people who can offer circus-esque tricks and talents for party entertainment, you can of course invite them to share their skills. Whether you request general guest participation is up to you. This could include inviting people to bring a snack or drink. Or you could encourage everyone to wear a wacky ‘carnival costume.’ Think colourful knee-high socks and clownish clothes. If anyone needs clarification with this, just remind them of the last time they went to a carnival and what sort of fashions they encountered there (anyone who’s been to any fair knows what I’m talking about!).

As the host, remember to lead your party as the #1 participator. If you encourage wacky outfits, don’t forget your own! And if you are having others contribute food, make sure you provide at least one large dish that is both tasty and healthy (to balance out all that carnival junk food!)

Checklist of Stuff You Need for Your Carnival Party

This is a list of all of the physical things you need for this party:

1. Circus/carnival decorations and party supplies
2. Carnival foods and refreshments
3. Music playlist and speakers
4. Aromatic foods to prepare and/or circus-scented candles
5. Carnival games (optional)
6. Circus or carnival costume (optional)

Checklist of Preparations for Your Carnival Party

1. First, establish that your efforts aren’t in vain by confirming that people can come on any chosen date:

1. Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well
2. Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
3. Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
4. If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your carnival party!

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning!

1. Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
2. Create invitations with all of the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
3. Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
4. Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
5. In your planned time slots, DIY any party supplies and decorations
6. In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
7. In your planned time slots, set up/decorate with any supplies and decorations
8. In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks accordingly (depending how long things keep)

3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):

1. Complete any last-minute food/drink prep that can’t be done in advance
2. Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations that you didn’t want up before now
3. Prepare ambience (music, scents)
4. Get dressed in carnival outfit (or favourite party outfit) with plenty of time
5. Once everything’s ready, meditate or do whatever self-care you need to clear your head so that you feel relaxed, energized, and excited to be the ringmaster! Guests will pick up on your contagiously good vibe and automatically be happier as well – everybody’s best interest!

Ringmaster Prepared

Come one, come all! With your menu planned, your atmosphere mapped out, and your party plans in place, you’re ready to show your friends just how much fun a dazzling carnival party for adults can be!