Birthday party ideas: Carnival

Think inside the box for serving up carnival goodies, such as popcorn, pretzels and ice cream. Set up a lemonade stand for little partiers to wash it all down.

Carnival games are a blast! Set up such classics as the beanbag toss, clothespin drop, three-legged race and bowling. This time, forgo face pain and stick on fake tattoos instead. Give kids a ticket for each game they play to cash in at the prize table before leaving! 

Include an “admit one” ticket with each colourful invitation for kids to get into the party.

Have partiers decorate paper bags to carry their prizes from the day. Fill jars with prizes, such as rubber balls, kazoos or penny candy. Kids love a pick-your-own-prize table!

Ice vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Place a large white marshmallow in centre of cupcake. Use red, yellow and green candies to create a ruffled collar around base of the marshmallow. Using icing as glue, poke in a red cinnamon candy for the nose, chocolate sprinkles for eyes and a colourful cone-shaped candy for a hat.

Wrap hot dogs in store-bought puff pastry squares. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until golden and crispy. Once cool enough to handle, insert a Popsicle stick into one end of the hot dog. Serve with dipping bowls filled with ketchup and mustard.

With games, prizes, and tattoos, your child will never forget this bash.