Circus birthday party (Ages 2 to 8)

Here's everything you'll need to turn your home or garden into a big top of celebration!

Invitation ideas
Make clown masks using thick craft paper, felt-tip pens, sequins and glitter. Use strong glue to attach a red rubber ball for a nose, then cut out eyeholes. Tie string to either side of each mask, write the party details on the inside of the masks and post them in large envelopes.

Costume ideas Ask guests to come dressed as clowns. Suggest they dress in colourful, baggy clothes. Decorate their faces with face paint. Ask guests to come as circus performers such as trapeze artists or jugglers. Award costume prizes for funniest, most creative, scariest and so on. Make sure that every child gets a prize. Make this easy clown costume

Decoration ideas Make your own big top tents by hanging sheets and blankets or crepe paper streamers from the ceiling. Create carnival game booths using large cardboard appliance boxes painted with poster paint. Fill the party room with multi-coloured balloons for a festive atmosphere. Place stuffed animals and clown dolls as an added attraction. Distribute items used in a circus, such as hoops, nets, and juggling balls throughout the party room.

Games Have the 'clowns' do circus stunts, taking turns being the ringmaster. The kids can jump through hoops, leap over skipping ropes, and duck under sticks. Play carnival games using the cardboard box booths. Include such games as Hoopla with rings cut from cardboard; Gone Fishin' with sticks, string, and magnets for fishing poles; Penny Platter with pennies tossed on a plate; and Water Gun Shooting Gallery with water pistols to shoot small plastic bottles off a ledge.