Circus Party

[barefootcook]

I need some ideas for a 5 year old boys bithday party. There will be about ten 4 year olds ( mostly boys) and 5 cousins all slightly older. The venue is the local church hall with good indoor and outdoor spaces. It will be summer time. He would like to have a clown - hence the theme. I know some people are scared of clowns (his granmother for one!) so I want to down play that a little and focus more on the circus/fete type idea. I am thinking more Enid Blyton rather that Disney!

So, my questions are:

1. Does anyone know of a wedsite to buy tableware that would suit? Printables are fine too.

2. I would like to have 30 minutes at the beginning ( before the clown arrives) where they can choose activities to do. What sort of things would work? I should be able to get 3 or 4 helpers for this.

3. What type of cake/ food would be fun?

Thank you ladies. All ideas would be gratefully received.

I always find a good trawl of Pinterest helps when I'm trying to come up with ideas for parties.

Ebay is a good place to look for plates etc as is Tesco as they have a surprisingly wide selection. Specialist websites like Party Pieces and Party Delights will have lots too.

For your first 30 minutes I would have a look at somewhere like Baker Ross and pick out some simple craft things that they can do while they wait for everyone to arrive. They need to be simple so that the late comers have a chance to have a go too without holding the start of the party up. You could also just set up a simple game like tag or duck, duck, goose for them to play.

Pinterest is great for food ideas. I would definitely have jelly and ice cream. Maybe a big cream pie - for eating rather than splatting. Other funfair type food would work too - maybe hot dogs and candy floss?

Ive posted ideas and links on the shirley party thread for you

I always have an activity table at children's parties.

Masks would be great for a circus party. I brought cut outs, sticky gems, feathers etc from Baker Ross. Also had colouring pens etc from home. The kids can all make a mask which they can wear at the party and/or take home with them.

I've also glued 2 cd's together (shiny side out), strung them on coloured string and the kids threaded the string with beads and decorated the cd's. I've been to friends homes and nearly a year on there are some CD's still hanging around. Some of them wore them as necklaces

I've seen candy floss on glow sticks on Pinterest. Looks ace.

Food-
Popcorn mix with animal cookies, punch, cake and ice cream.
Additional Ideas: Popcorn served in popcorn bags or boxes
Peanut Butter & Jelly-phant sandwiches (pb&j) cut out with an elephant cookie cutter, iced with cream cheese and strawberry jam mixture. (You can make and freeze the cut out sandwiches ahead of time. Thaw before use, then ice after they are thawed).
Celery & Carrot sticks with raisins in small cups (elephant food)

Cake-
Three-ring circus cake. Use four round cake pan cakes (two singles and 1 double). For base to set them on use cardboard box (those Variety Pack boxes of 27+ bags of chips works great). Decorate the box with paper. Place cakes on top. Decorate to look like a circus. Lollipops make great balloons. Use animal cookies and make other animals out of snack cakes and decorate.

If you want to hire any magician or birthday party characters then you can check out here