A Carnival theme party offers endless possibilities for creativity and entertainment. With colorful setup, tasty dishes and lively games, it is the perfect occasion for all ages to enjoy the fun atmosphere.
If you are planning to throw this party on your own, you’re in the right place because in this blog, CustomAny has rounded up 4 simple tips to help you. From setting up an inviting atmosphere to choosing the right food and drinks, or hosting activities that get everyone engaged, these little planning can turn your Carnival theme party into an unforgettable event. So, let’s get started!
Tip 1: A Carnival Theme Party starts with Carnival Colors
Whether you are throwing an outdoor Carnival theme party or an indoor Carnival themed party, the key for its success is using bold and vibrant colors that bring the festive atmosphere to life.
The Carnival colors are red, blue, yellow, and white. They are classic shades that we always see in carnival tents, popcorn stands, or Ferris wheels. Using these colors as the foundation for your party decor will help you set the tone and ensure other preparations feel well-coordinated.
These colors should be applied to:
Invitations with Carnival Flair
Start with incorporating carnival colors into what creates the first impression of the Carnival theme party in your guests’ mind: the party invitations. Consider these Carnival theme party ideas:
- Striped red-and-white designs that look like a carnival tent. You should use blue or yellow for the texts to make sure they look clear on this vibrant invitation design.
- Ticket-inspired invitations: Let’s mimic a real Carnival ticket by using a mix of red and blue as the primary colors, with white and yellow accents.
Decor that pops
Carnival colors will make any decorations pop:
- Tablecloths: with alternating stripes of red and white or with patterns such as polka dots, zigzags, or stars, also with these two shades.
- Banners: combine red, blue, yellow, and white.
- Streamers: you can twist red and blue streamers together or layer them with yellow.
- Party hats: with mixed patterns like stripes and polka dots in carnival colors.
Lights that Dazzle
Carnival colors can also be incorporated in lighting to enhance your Carnival theme party’s atmosphere with colorful lighting, such as:
- Hang red, yellow, and blue lanterns throughout your party venue
- If your party is at night, let’s use string lights with white bulbs and place them against a backdrop of bold carnival colors. This setting will create a magical glow.
With recommended ideas we’ve talked about, you can thoughtfully blend vibrant colors and patterns throughout your Carnival theme party, creating a celebration that’s truly festive and lively.
Tip 2: You Have to Invest in Festive Decorations
Going into detail of decoration for your Carnival theme party, we need to invest in vibrant and playful decorations to bring a carnival spirit to life. Here are some decorating ideas that can be applied for an original Carnival-themed gathering, a Carnival theme birthday party, a Carnival theme party for adults or kids alike:
Balloon Arch
Place a colorful balloon arch at your entrance and you’ll sê it become the guests’ favorite photo background.
You should use red, yellow, blue, and white balloons, and consider adding striped or polka-dotted ones as highlights of the arch.
Red-and-White Striped Curtains
Red-and-white striped curtains instantly transform any space into a carnival tent. You can use them:
- As backdrops
- As entrance drapes
- To section off different areas like game booths or food stations
Bunting and Colorful Banners
Decorating your Carnival theme party space with bunting and banners in bold carnival colors is another great choice. These banners can be hung on walls, ceilings, or around tables to tie the theme together.
Additionally, we recommend combining stripes, polka dots, and solid patterns for a playful look.
Faux Ticket Booth
Think about setting up a faux ticket booth for your Carnival theme party so guests feel like they are going into a real Carnival.
To create this booth, you’ll need a cardboard or wooden frame. Then, you paint it in red and white stripes. Use the same material to create the “Tickets” sign. Finally, hang this sign on top of the frame to create the booth.
This ticket booth can be used as a decoration, a station entrance for snacks, or even party favors.
Game Booths
In the same way you’ve just created a ticket booth, use red-and-white paint and cardboard to build another booth. Then add colorful signs with names like “Ring Toss” or “Balloon Pop” to use at your game area.
Oversized Props
Oversized props can make your guests wow when they arrive at your Carnival theme party. Consider using huge props of:
- Giant clown faces
- Cotton candy cones
- Ferris wheels
- Carousel model
You should place these props around the party area as fun elements for guests to take pictures with.
By investing in these festive decorations, your Carnival party will look nothing but carnival-authentic and fun!
Tip 3: Carnival-Themed Food and Drinks are a must-have
No Carnival theme party is complete without iconic food and drink options that send the guests to a real Carnival event just by their flavors. Here are some suggestions for dishes that match the theme:
Iconic Carnival Snacks
You can start planning your party’s food and drink with the options everyone expects at a real Carnival:
- Popcorn: Serve it in red-and-white striped boxes or colorful cones.
- Cotton candy: Popular colors for classic cotton candy are pink and blue. Besides, you can surprise your guests with unique flavors.
- Hot dogs and corn dogs: Guests of all ages will enjoy these easy-to-eat Carnival classics.
- Pretzels and funnel cakes: These cakes should be sprinkled with powdered sugar or cinnamon for extra flavors.
Colorful Carnival Treats
Your food table will look “Carnival” with some colorful twists:
- Rainbow popcorn: Create a mix of red, blue, yellow, and green kernels.
- Candy apples: Dip apples in red or colorful candy coating.
- Colored Cupcakes: We recommend using frosting in shades of red, blue, yellow, and white on these cupcakes. You can also label them with carnival-themed die cut stickers placed on toothpicks for more eye-catching decorations.
Refreshing Drinks
Next, it’s time for Carnival-inspired drinks:
- Lemonade or soda: Serve in clear cups with striped straws. Additionally, consider using Carnival-themed clear stickers, which blend seamlessly with a transparent background to create a fun and lively look for these drink containers.
- Slushies: Offer guests a variety of bright flavors, like cherry, blue raspberry, and lemon.
- Fruit Punch: Your party will be amazing with colorful, refreshing fruit punch served in a large bowl or drink dispenser. You can add floating fruit slices (oranges, strawberries, and lemons) as decoration.
Decorate with Stickers
Like we suggest above, food and drink can be even more festive if you label their containers with carnival-themed stickers. Popular designs include:
- Clowns
- Circus tents
- Ferris wheels
- Cotton candy
- Balloons
- Popcorn boxes
- Carousel horses
- Ticket stubs
- …
For drink cups, you can also use text stickers.
UV DTF transfer stickers are best suited for this case because they have no background, suitable for making intricate designs like text and logo pop. These stickers are also full-color printed and have the glossy, 3D raised surface finish. These features make them look like they are printed directly to the cups.
So, you can use transfer stickers in Carnival colors and featuring fun phrases like “Carnival Punch” to add a fun and custom touch to the drinks.
With these delicious treats and creative decorations, your Carnival theme party food and drink will leave guests talking about both the taste and the presentation long after the party ends.
Tip 4: Don’t forget to Include Carnival Rides or Activities
An essential part of any Carnival theme party is the fun activities that bring everyone together. We have some simple yet entertaining games to share with you here:
Ring Toss
The ring toss is a classic carnival game that’s easy to set up and fun for all ages. You should:
- Use brightly colored bottles arranged in rows.
- Provide hoops in matching or contrasting colors for guests to toss.
- Give winners small prizes like candies or small toys.
Balloon Pop
You can turn popping balloons into an exciting game by hiding surprises inside some balloons. Hang them on a board or string them up in rows so guests can use darts or push pins to pop the balloons and get their lucky gifts.
Face Painting Booth
A face painting booth is a hit with kids and adults alike. You can either hire a local painting artist or set up a DIY station with stencils and washable paints for guests to do by themselves.
Duck Pond Game
This simple water game is perfect for kids. To organize it:
- Start by filling a small pool or tub with water
- Add floating rubber ducks to the pool
- Let kids go inside and play
To make it more exciting, you can prepare some small prizes. How to get the prizes? Kids will need to pick their duck toy and whoever has the duck with written numbers or symbols on the undersides will get the corresponding gift.
Photo Standee Booth
Lastly, you can create a fun photo booth with carnival-themed standees. They are life-sized standees featuring characters like a strongman or clown. Cut out holes for guests to place their faces behind and pose for hilarious and memorable photos.
These interactive activities will keep your Carnival theme party lively and entertaining, ensuring that everyone leaves with a smile!
Last thoughts
With these 4 tips as well as practical Carnival theme ideas, your Carnival theme party can be the most exciting and memorable experience for guests of all ages. Choose the right decorations, food, drinks, as well as activities to bring the lively atmosphere and festive spirit to your celebration.
If you find this themed party interesting and you’re curious about how to throw other themed parties, be sure to check out our blog page for more creative ideas.
