Frugal Coupon Living

Enjoy loads of laughter and low-cost entertainment with our fun Carnival Party Games printable. These DIY Carnival Themed Ideas & Activities create the best circus birthday party ever! Print today.

Carnival games are a great way to add some excitement to any party. Whether you’re throwing a birthday party, a block party, or just a fun get-together, carnival games are always a hit. And the best part is, they’re easy to put together! By putting your own spin on classic carnival games, you can create an unforgettable party that your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Get started planning your carnival party today with these amazing tips.

How do you plan a carnival party?

Planning a carnival themed party is actually a lot of fun, but there are some things you’ll want to consider BEFORE you have the party. The budget is always important. Most people don’t think a carnival party can be affordable. It actually can be with the right planning and prep ahead of time.

When it comes to a circus themed party, plan the venue space, your party decorations, the number of guests, types of carnival booths, and of course your entertainment. Don’t worry, I have plenty of carnival birthday party ideas to share with you soon. Here is how to plan and affordable circus party that is a ton of fun for your birthday guy or gal!

Carnival Party Theme Ideas

Before we begin with the party entertainment, let’s chat about the party organization. When planning a circus party, there are a few things you need to get in place before the fun and games.  Make sure you have the right circus party invite, create a list of carnival party food, and choose the best location for a carnival birthday party.

Create Fun Invitations

Welcome to the big top! Your invitations set the tone for your party, so make sure they’re fun and festive! You can find some great carnival-themed invitations online, or you can get creative and make your own.

In this day and age, I especially appreciate an Evite to keep record of who is coming or a digital carnival birthday party invitation.

Choose the Location

If you’re having the party outdoors, you’ll want to make sure you have enough space for all of your games and activities. If you’re having the party indoors, choose a location that has high ceilings so you can hang decorations from the ceiling and have enough room for balls to be thrown and party booths to fit.

Gather Everything You Need

Now that you know where the party is going to be and who is coming, it’s time to start gathering everything you need.

Supplies Include:

• Carnival games
• Prizes for the winners of the carnival games
• Carnival food (like these easy popcorn cupcakes)
• Cotton candy machine
• Popcorn machine
• Snow cone machine
• Candy station

This is just a short list of what you’ll need for your carnival party. Let’s dive into backyard carnival games and entertainment you can incorporate!

Carnival Party Games & Ideas

What is expected at jamboree of this magnitude – entertainment!   The circus party that you’re throwing needs to have a list of creative games. Bring on the laughter with carnival themed party games. You can use traditional games or come up with your own twist of classic party games by adding a little flair.

First let’s look at common festival games.

What games does a carnival have?

There are many types of carnivals. You can have your own DIY backyard carnival or you can attend a carnival held by a large organization or traveling circus. In both places, common carnival games might include…

• Ring Toss
• Bean Bag Toss
• High Striker
• Milk Bottle Knock Down
• Skee Ball
• Rubber Duck Pond
• Spin the Wheel
• Water Coin Drop
• Basketball Free Throw

Of course each of these games has a different price value and if you bring them all together, the carnival games can be quite expensive. Instead of cost, let’s focus on frugal fun. Homemade games. It’s time to bring the play back into the party plan without break the bank.

We are going to discuss ideas for DIY Carnival Themed Games. Below, these DIY carnival birthday party ideas incorporate may of your favorite traditional carnival-themed games only adapted to your backyard or party venue space. They use common low-cost party supplies so no carnival rental is needed.

Take a look at some of these Carnival party game examples. Make your own carnival games and have a fun time!

Dart Balloons

This is a classic game that is always a hit with kids and adults. Fill the balloons with air and let the kids pop the balloons with the darts. You can have small prizes for each balloon players pop. Alternatively, player can collect tickets for a prize table at the end of the celebration. Have enough miniature balloons blow up ahead of time so you can keep adding new balloons to the board.

DIY dart board game supplies include water balloons, plywood, and darts. Optional items include prize tickets and tiny circus party favor treasures.

Face Painting

Face painting is a great way to get everyone in the party mood. You can either hire a professional face painter or have someone at the party who is good at painting faces. Have examples of face painting ideas for kids available so guests can pick their favorite. If hosting a circus birthday party, consider adding circus animals like lions, tigers and bears.

Face painting party products are easy to obtain. Supplies include face paint and paint brushes.

Donuts on a String

This fun kids party game is adapted from apple bobbing and germ free as people are not sharing a bowl of water to dunk. This great carnival game idea is a lot of fun and it’s also a great way to get everyone to eat some yummy donuts. Hang donuts from strings and let the kids try to eat them without using their hands.

Donut game supplies include doughnuts, string, and something to hang the donuts from.

Dunk Tank

A carnival and dunk tank booths go hand and hand, no? Instead of having an expensive dunk tank, get water balloons ready and then designate someone that wants to get wet. All the kids will get a chance to throw water balloons at this person and get them wet in this adapted DIY Dunk Tank game.

Homemade dunk tank supplies include water balloons and googles. Easy peasy carnival themed party ideas.

This game is an example that low-cost small carnival party games do exist! Party equipment rental services are not cheap. Imagine the cost of renting a dunk tank?

The fun doesn’t end there. Carnival games appear costly, but it is possible to get them at a low price when you make fun and easy adaptions. With this Carnival Party Games printable, you can check out the games listed above and more!

With this Carnival Themed Birthday Party Games printable also enjoy…

• Naughty Clown

• Fish Bowl

• Animal Eating Contest

• Target Game

• Human Elephant Relay Race

• Duck Pond

• Marshmallow Pong

• DIY Skee-ball

All games include full instructions and a carnival party supplies list so you are fully prepared.

Carnival Party Printables

You’ll find these homemade carnival party games and more on the Carnival Party Games printable! This printable allows you to be super creative and put together an unforgettable party for your child and their friends.

What you get with purchase:

• 12 Carnival Themed Party Games List PDF Instant Download
• Game Directions and Supply List

Save on your birthday party entertainment and download our Carnival Birthday Party Games printable.

Get-Download-Print the Carnival Party Games PDF

Free Printables

Not ready to purchase these DIY Carnival Games? Take a look at our free printable library. Get ready to plan an amazing birthday party with our Birthday Party Planner. If you enjoy this printable set, come back for the DIY circus party games.

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How to Print at Staples

Don’t have a printer? You can print at your local print shop or your Staples Printing Center. Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final carnival party ideas.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

It’s time to toss out the traditional carnival games and get even more creative. Which homemade circus game on this list makes you most excited for the party you’re planning? Happy Birthday!

More Party Ideas

Party Games are what bring the entertainment. It’s easy to shop for party décor, recipes, party favors and more but often we forget – how are we going to busy the kids? If you are looking for frugal birthday party entertainment, take a look at this list of low-cost party games including games for many themed parties. For other themed birthday parties for kids, you can also download the birthday party games bundle, so you have all you need!

Enjoy these kids themed birthday party games as well.

• Jungle Party Games
• Construction Party Games
• Nerf & Camo Party Games
• Neon Glow in the Dark Party Games
• Spy Party Games
• Pirate Party Games
• Mad Science Party Games
• Wizard Party Games
• Pup Party Games
• Train Party Games
• Space Party Games
• Football Party Games
• Birthday Scavenger Hunt

… and a lot more party games.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.