Inside: Fun Carnival Birthday Party Games + DIY Ideas
Okay, I am convinced I need to throw a carnival-themed party now! These cute ideas have me ready to throw a big birthday bash filled with carnival birthday party games, crazy balloon animals, some not so creepy clowns, shoot, maybe even a camel or two. The possibilities are endless folks, and the carnival-themed birthday party ideas are perfect for your next birthday celebration.
I love this theme because it is perfect for boys, girls, and kids of all ages. Plus, most of them can be DIYed which is a major bonus.
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How to Make Carnival Party Games
There seems to be just a few simple supplies to pull off a great carnival party. Below we have listed various games that you could buy or easily handmake.
You can make tons of fun games by using regular supplies like:
- Balloons
- Darts
- Ping Pongs
- Cups
- Rubber Ducks
- Kiddy Pool
- Jelly Beans
- Rings
- Glass Bottles
- Tin Cans
- Bean Bags
Check out our favorite ideas and how to make carnival games for a birthday party below!
Carnival Birthday Party Games
Balloon Shoot: Start off the fun at your circus party with a game of balloon shoot. Hang a bunch of colorful balloons on a wall and leave some darts out for your guests to have a go at seeing who can pop the most balloons!
Duck Pond Game: Kids love a try at the duck pond game. It’s pretty simple to prep. Just write matching numbers on the bottom of a bunch of rubber ducks. Place them in a pond with some water and let them float around. The aim is to catch a duck with a pole and find the matching hidden numbers on the bottom to win a prize!
Guess the Jelly Beans: Another awesome way to entertain your guests is to fill a jar with an ‘x’ number of jelly beans (you must count them first!). Let everyone have a go at trying to guess exactly how many are in the jar. Whoever comes closest to the actual number wins the jar!
Homemade Carnival Games for Birthday Parties
Ping Pong Toss: For more Carnival fun treat your guests to a game of Ping Pong Toss. Set up several rows of cups or jars and hand out 3 ping pong balls to each player. Your guest must try to throw a ball into any of them they win a prize!
Slam Dunk: Everyone loves a go at basketball so how about setting up a game of Slam Dunk at your party? Have your guests throw as many balls into the basketball hoop as they can to win. The only rule is that the ball has to bounce once off the floor before getting into the basket.
Ring Toss: A classic carnival game is ‘Ring Toss’! Set up a couple of rows of bottles and dare your guests to throw a ring and have it land bang on a bottle to win a prize!
Carnival Games for Birthday Parties at Home
Tin Can Knock Down: Stack up a tower of cans in a pyramid shape and let your guests’ can have a go at throwing bean bags at them to knock them down. Don’t forget to draw a “stand behind” line in chalk so people know where to stand.
Bean Bag Toss: Fill a basket with bean bags for your guests to pick up and use to play bean bag toss. Points are gained when you throw your bean bag and able to hit a certain number of points on the sheet.
Prize Board: The best part of playing a game at a circus party is always the array of cool prizes you get to win. Check out this awesome what to show them off! All you need to do is set up a board filled with pegs and have the prizes clipped on.
More Fun Ideas You’ll Love to Play
- Printable Bingo Games – One of my go-to games for classroom parties, birthday celebrations, or Sunday school activities are bingo games. They are fun for literally every age, from you oldest of game players to the youngest of fun-seekers anyone can play. What I love about these bingo games, in particular, are the fact that you can print them off before any get-together. These printable bingo game ideas range from holiday ideas, everyday party themes, and of course we had to throw in a few fun free options as well.
- Ping Pong Minute to Win It Games – There are so many different ideas when it comes to Minute to Win It Games, from toilet paper races to cookie face challenges. When planning the supplies list can become overwhelming quickly, since each challenge requires new items.
- Target Party Games – Oh Target, it’s no wonder it’s one of the happiest places on Earth. I mean from the decor, clothes, and games they truly have it all! When I am planning a party with my family or friends, Target is the first stop on my list! I can get everything I need to have one heck of a bash. One of my most favorite party items is their HUGE selection of games. They have everything from board games, card games, kids games, and more! Here is a list of my favorite target party games for your next celebration.