Hosting a circus-themed party is an exciting way to create an unforgettable experience. Whether it’s for a birthday, a special occasion, or just a fun gathering, a circus theme is guaranteed to dazzle your guests and bring out the child in everyone.
So, step right up and discover how to turn your party into the greatest show on earth!
From big top decorations and fun games to delicious treats and captivating entertainers, our guide will walk you through everything you need to know about hosting a circus-themed extravaganza.
Choosing the Perfect Venue
Whether indoors or out, selecting the appropriate space can elevate the entire experience. Options include:
Garden
During the summer months you may want to consider hosting the party in your garden. This could be the perfect option for smaller parties, and you can easily create a carnival feel by renting a marquee.
Park
Don’t have a garden? Your local park will have plenty of space for activities like face painting, juggling acts, and clowns. Don’t forget to check on permit requirements and whether there are amenities such as toilet facilities and picnic tables.
Community or sports centre
During the colder months, a community centre or similar indoor building will provide ample space and facilities for your party. These large venues also offer plenty of scope for installing circus themed decorations and inflatables, or even a small stage.
Invitations
A circus-themed party promises fun and excitement, and your invitations should reflect this. Whether you create your own or purchase them ready-made, we suggest:
- A big top tent design – invitations in the shape of a circus tent with boldly coloured stripes
- Tickets – invitations resembling a vintage circus ticket, complete with perforated tear off slip and phrases such as ‘Step Right Up!’ and ‘Admit One”.
- Digital animation – go modern and create a digital invitation with animated elements like juggling clowns or acrobats.
Creating a Circus Atmosphere – Décor
Wherever you decide to hold your party, you’ll want to bring the magic of the circus to life with vibrant decorations that capture the essence of the big top extravaganza. Ideas include:
- Drapery: Use red and white striped fabric or streamers to mimic the appearance of a circus tent. Hang them from the ceiling or along walls to create a cohesive theme.
- Balloon Animals and Arches: Incorporate balloon animals and colourful balloon arches throughout the venue to add whimsy and colour.
- Circus Posters and Signs: Create vintage-style posters and signs to direct guests to different areas of your party, such as the “Games Corner” or “Snack Station.” Try Etsy for personalised posters.
- Rope Lights and Festive Banners: String lights around the venue to mimic the glow of a circus at night and hang banners proclaiming: “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
Engaging Circus-Themed Games
No circus is complete without a lineup of fun and entertaining games. Keep your guests engaged and entertained with these classic and creative ideas:
- Ring Toss: Set up a ring toss game using bottles and colourful rings.
- Bowling: Create a bowling alley using skittles
- Ping pong jars – three balls per guest with a prize for getting one or more balls in a jar
- Scavenger hunt – Create your own circus themed scavenger hunt or purchase a printable version from Etsy
- Balloon competition – if you’re hiring a balloon artist, get them to show guests how to make models and organise a competition for the best balloon figure
- Bouncy castle – not a game as such but guaranteed to keep kids entertained.
We suggest providing game winners with tickets which can be exchanged for their choice of prize later. This works well with adults and older children, but you may wish to reward little ones with a small, instant prize.
Hire a professional entertainer
Hiring a professional entertainer for your circus-themed party can transform it from a simple gathering into an amazing experience. We suggest:
- Clowns – with their silly antics and slapstick humour, clowns can provide endless laughter and fun
- Fire dancer – create an exciting atmosphere with brilliant visual effects!
- Face painter – from wild animals to clowns, kids will love getting their faces painted in keeping with the circus theme
- Magician – hire a magician to perform awe-inspiring tricks that will captivate guests of all ages.
- Balloon artist –can make animals, silly hats, and other circus-themed creations for guests to enjoy
- Fortune teller or mind reader – Whether your guests are sceptics or believers, everyone enjoys the novelty of having their fortunes told. The experience can easily be tailored to suit guests with light-hearted and fun predictions, or deeper, more mystical readings.
- Jugglers and Acrobats – add excitement with jugglers or acrobats who can perform daring feats and impressive balancing acts.
- Unicyclist – brings a unique blend of skill, entertainment and charm that perfectly captures the traditional circus vibe.
- Sword Swallower – if you’re looking for a ‘wow’ factor – this might just be it!
Rather than confining your chosen entertainer/s to a single performance area, why not get them to mingle with your guests? This means that guests are no longer merely spectators, but an integral part of the performance, sharing in all the excitement and magic of the circus.
Photo booth
Create lasting memories with a dedicated photo area where guests can capture all the fun of your circus-themed party. Provide a photo booth complete with circus-themed props such as clown noses, top hats, and animal masks.
Circus-themed party food and drink Ideas
Circus-themed party food is more than just food – it’s part of the spectacle. Here are some creative ideas to make your circus-themed party an unforgettable experience:
Fun and Festive Mains
- Burger station – create a burger bar with mini burgers, pulled pork, or plant-based options. Provide toppings like lettuce, tomato, cheese, and various condiments
- Pizza – mini pizzas with creative toppings arranged to look like clown faces. Use olives, peppers and mushrooms to craft fun and edible designs
- Popcorn chicken – serve in striped paper cones.
- Hotdogs – serve in striped trays.
Drinks
- Lemonade stand – provide a refreshing lemonade station with options such as strawberry and mint lemonade. Serve in mason jars or fancy paper cups with colourful straws.
- Cocktails and mocktails – create a menu of circus-themed drinks such as Ringmaster’s Punch or Trapeze Tea. Decorate drinks with fruit slices and cocktail umbrellas
- Ice cream soda bar – Guests can mix and match soft drinks with different ice cream flavours.
Classic Carnival Treats
Classic circus snacks like popcorn and fluffy candy floss are a must-have. If your budget allows, it’s definitely worth hiring popcorn and candy-floss machines to produce these on demand. Don’t forget to buy striped paper bags for the popcorn.
Your food choices are only part of the story here; thoughtful presentation is essential if you want to evoke a fun, carnival atmosphere. And if you want a little help with all that, the why not hire a party food provider here.
Party bags for your circus-themed party
Send younger guests home with a goody bag that will help to keep the circus spirit alive for a little longer. Here are some suggestions:
- Mini clown noses
- Mini juggling balls
- Mini magic tricks
- Mini bags of popcorn or candyfloss
- Lollipops or other brightly coloured sweets
- Circus stickers or temporary tattoos
- Circus-themed stationery items
- Face paints
- Balloon animal
And there you have it! With careful planning and a bit of creativity, you can host a circus-themed party that your guests will remember long after it’s over. Don’t forget, the key to a successful party is to embrace the spirit of the circus – fun, excitement, and a touch of whimsy. So, step right up, take a bow, and enjoy the greatest show on earth!
PartyWizz helps you book the best entertainers and party services in UK and Ireland. From magicians and face painters to DJs and photographers, you’ll find those in your area on our easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, a wedding, kids or other private party, go to PartyWizz to find the perfect service providers in just a few clicks!
