How to Host a Carnival Birthday Party

If you’re looking for a carnival birthday party that’s fun, festive, and easy to put together, I’ve got you covered! From the carnival birthday invitations to the party food, decorations, and activities, I’ll share everything you need to plan a memorable event your child will love.

Planning an Easy Carnival Birthday Party

As I mentioned the other day when I shared Madeline’s Birthday Cupcakes – Sour Cream Cupcakes – we had an adorable carnival-themed birthday party for her last weekend.

Madeline hasn’t had a special birthday party since she turned 1, so I was extra proud of how this turned out and wanted to take a minute to share how I put the party together.

I’ll try my best to document all my sources should you wish to replicate anything from this party, however, if I miss something please don’t hesitate to ask!

Hosting a carnival birthday party was so much fun and honestly easier than I expected! The key was keeping things simple yet festive:

Planning a carnival birthday party? Here’s what we focused on for our party:

If you’re planning your own carnival-themed birthday party, I hope these carnival birthday party ideas help you create a magical and stress-free celebration!

click image to download the FREE PRINTABLE invitation, then right click > save to your computer

 Carnival Birthday Party Invitations

I designed our carnival birthday invitations myself, using a beautiful carousel image I purchased. Since I wanted a horse theme, this design quickly evolved into a full-fledged carnival-themed birthday party!

To match the carnival color scheme, I adjusted the colors in Illustrator to yellow, red, and turquoise, which felt perfect for the theme.

FREE Printable! I’m offering a printable version of our carnival party invitations and a matching thank-you card. These fit perfectly in 4-3/8″ x 5-3/4″ Greeting Card Envelopes.

Note: Copyright GoodLife Eats. These are for personal use only! If you share them, please credit appropriately and link directly to this post, not the file itself.

click image to download the FREE PRINTABLE thank you, then right click > save to your computer

Carnival Party Decorations

I kept the carnival party decorations simple but festive:

• Happy Birthday Banner: I purchased a custom Happy Birthday banner from Meringue Designs on Etsy—something reusable that matches our home decor!—something reusable that matches our home decor!
• Table Linens: I used a circus print fabric and a solid turquoise fabric for the food tables.
• Balloon Bouquet: Red, yellow, and turquoise balloons tied to a wooden circus train car (found at Michael’s and painted), with a toy giraffe placed inside for an extra playful touch. 

Carnival Party Food Ideas

Our party ran 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, so we served lunch. I kept things simple with the food and selected items that most 3-5-year-olds would be guaranteed to eat, while also being tasty enough for parents to enjoy.

Since some parents choose to stay at this age, I wanted a menu that was both kid-friendly and adult-approved.

Keeping the food fun yet simple ensured that everyone had something they liked without making meal prep overwhelming!

Easy Carnival Lunch

• Hebrew National Hot Dogs with classic fixings
• Sliced Watermelon Wedges
• Red & Green Apples
• Fresh Vegetables – Broccoli, mini bell peppers, and grape tomatoes
• IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate Juice served in a Galvanized Steel Beverage Tub
• Ice-Cold Lemon Water

✔ Money-Saving Tip: I ordered the IZZE juice through Amazon Subscribe & Save for a 15% discount + free shipping with Amazon Prime. After the party, you can cancel the subscription!

Sweets & Treats Table

After lunch, I set up a dessert table with treats that reminded me of a classic carnival sweet stand. To make things even more fun, I included goodie bags so the kids could take home a bag of treats as a party favor! 

• Orange Gumballs
• Blue & Clear Rock Candy
• Twizzlers – Served in a 1-Gallon Apothecary Jar
• Salt Water Taffy – Stored in a 3-Quart Apothecary Jar
• Popcorn – Made in a West Bend Theater Popper
• Sour Cream Cupcakes – Served on an Adjustable Tiered Tower.

I purchased the apothecary jars specifically for the party, and they worked out great! They are made of sturdy, thick glass and should last a long time. I plan to use them for a variety of purposes in the future, from party setups to everyday kitchen storage.

Carnival Birthday Party Ideas: Fun Activities

Since most of the kids were 3-5 years old, I kept the activities simple and focused on free play. Here’s what we did:

• Backyard Games: The kids played on the swing set, had fun with croquet, and enjoyed a classic ring toss on the grass.
• The Pony Surprise: The highlight of the party was two rented ponies from a local stable. Madeline is obsessed with horses, and we decided that rather than giving her more toys, this experience would be a birthday memory she’ll cherish forever.

Madeline’s Reaction: We kept the ponies a total surprise, and when she saw them, she was stunned! Her little face said it all—pure excitement, mixed with a bit of disbelief, as if she was wondering, “Is this really happening?”

Moments like these remind me why I love creating special memories through birthday parties. It was a magical moment—one that made the party so much more special than a standard goodie bag.

Tip: If your child loves animals, consider renting ponies or another unique experience instead of buying extra gifts!

Share Your Carnival Birthday Party Ideas!

Did you throw a carnival birthday party for your little one? I’d love to hear all about it! Share your favorite moments, creative carnival party decorations, or fun activities you included in the comments below.

On Instagram? Tag me @goodlifeeats with #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see your amazing party setups! Let’s inspire each other to create unforgettable celebrations.

More Birthday Party Inspiration

Looking for more fun birthday party ideas? Check out these creative celebrations:

• Space Themed Birthday Party – A fun and inexpensive party for your future astronaut! Get ideas for space-themed snacks, decorations, and favors.
• Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft, fluffy vanilla cupcakes topped with a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting—perfect for any birthday celebration.
• Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes – Tangy lemon cupcakes with fluffy blackberry buttercream, garnished with fresh blackberries for a beautifully delicious birthday dessert!

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