We brought the festivities to our backyard and created a colorful and festive carnival party theme! Sharing carnival party ideas, supplies, fun food, and charming details for hosting your own!
Personally, I’m the one begging my kids to go to the carnival and fighting my way to the front of the line at the cotton candy booth. I love a good carnival and I really love a good party too.
So let’s start off by acknowledging that carnivals are not just for KIDS! This party is created for adults! It’s the perfect backyard carnival party with homemade corndogs, trays of sweets and candy, and delicious cocktails all set up in front of our 1958 vintage Airstream. Does it get more charming than that?!
If you’re hosting a carnival birthday party or any carnival party, you’ll love these ideas! For more party themes check out our ice cream bar and garden cocktail party.
Carnival Theme Party Ideas
These are fun and easy ideas for hosting your own backyard carnival theme party!
Decorations
When you think of carnivals, it’s all about color. Keep the party colorful and fun with these ideas:
Streamers and Ribbon – Inexpensive and easy to tie into trees for flowing decor. Ribbons tied in trees give the party a whimsical look.
Flowers – Flowers add instant decor to a party. For a carnival party, make colorful ombre flowers for the tables.
Tablecloth – Cover tables with beautiful, colorful fabric. You can also buy this at craft stores.
Colorful Plates and Flatware – Check thrift stores for colorful plates. They don’t need to match! Have fun with this carnival theme! Remember, fun is the theme here because carnivals are FUN!!
Large Balloons – Easy and fun decor!
I found these vintage Texas Ware plates in all different colors at an antique store! How fun right?!
Throw Pillows – Colorful throw pillows and a low table is great for outdoor!
Confetti – Sprinkle confetti over tables for a fun and festive decor!
Sparklers – If the party is at night sparklers are fun to have in a jar!
Carnival Party Food Ideas
There are so many options when it comes to re-creating carnival food! We made a carnival food tray filled with some of our favorite snacks, treats, and carnival food! Here are some ideas:
- Corndogs
- Pretzel Croissant
- Donuts
- Popcorn – Caramel, Colorful, Different Flavors
- Corn Salad
- Potatoe Salad
- Pasta Salad
- Watermelon and Berries
- Cotton Candy
- Caramel Apples
- Churros
- Mochi Ice Cream
Entertaining Tip – Since you’ll be serving food outside, make sure you use a food covers to keep buys away!
Carnival Food Recipes
Recipes for a backyard carnival party:
Truffle Potato Chips with Prosciutto
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Colorful Dessert Ideas
For an easy dessert, put together a platter filled store-bought treats like donuts, churros, mochi ice cream and chocolate covered apples!
Homemade Brownies with Whipped Frosting
Easy Caramel Sauce with Sliced Apples
Lemon Bars – Check out all of our lemon recipes too!
Colorful Carnival Party Drinks and Cocktails
If the party is for adults, make a colorful cocktail punch to serve!
Spiked sparkling water is also great for a hot summer day! We’re fans of Truly Spiked Sparkling Water or White Claw! They’re low sugar, low calories, and have a hint of flavor. Guests totally enjoy them!
Here are more ways you can use a tired galvanized tray too! They’re great for outdoor parties.
Also check out more great cocktail recipes, the best-mixed drinks, tequila cocktails, gin cocktails, vodka cocktails, and cheap drinks to make at home!
Festive Drink Ideas
Use colorful tassels as drink markers.
Make pink and blue ice cubes to serve in drinks.
Carnival Party Games
It can’t be a carnival party without games! Depending on how elaborate you want the games to be, you can rent carnival games from local party rental stores. Here’s a list of fun yard games you can also buy for your party:
Carnival Party Supplies
Here’s a list of fun supplies you can use for your party!
Paper Cups – Use these for popcorn and fruit.
Large White Tray – Perfect for serving food.
Popcorn Maker – A classic popcorn maker is perfect for a carnival party. We also used it for our Halloween movie night.
Large Bucket – Fill with ice to put water and spiked waters on here.
Tassels – Use these as drink markers for bottles!
Colorful Ribbons – Hang ribbon from trees for a festive look.
Hay Bales – These work as extra seating.
Oh Happy Day has wonderful, colorful party supplies too!
More Party Ideas You’ll Love!
If you love this colorful party theme, be sure to check out more fun ideas!
Guide to Hosting a Tropical Party
How to Throw a Last-Minute Birthday Party
If you host a carnival party theme, please leave a comment and let us know how it turned out!
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Carnival Party Theme – Purple Gin and Tonic
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Empress Gin, this is a purple gin
- 6 ounces Tonic Water
- 1 ounce Lime Juice
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