Whether searching for birthday party ideas for your kids, or hosting a fun pool party and are in need of a unique theme, creating a carnival for guests to enjoy with entertaining games and decor will definitely make your event a memorable one! We have found a variety of different DIY carnival party decor and game ideas that will make planning this event all fun and games!
Decor for this theme can be as simple or as extravagant as you want! Pinwheels, streamers, flags, and red and white stripes all scream carnival and are easy to incorporate to an outdoor setting for a carnival themed party! Below are some ideas we put together.
Use scrap fabric to make a tassel garland to decorate the carnival with. No sewing required! Another decor idea is to make a collection of pinwheels to give to the party guests or decorate the yard with. Streamers are always so easy to create and are a great way to decorate a party with. Keeping with the carnival theme, ticket streamers are such a fun decor idea and an easy one for the kids to get involved in. Make them by stapling rings of tickets together in a chain and hang them around the party area!
Tassel idea from: Pretty Prudent
Ticket streamer idea from: Pam Garrison
Pinwheel idea from: Style me Pretty
Games for guests to enjoy are essential at any carnival-themed party. There are so many clever and simple ideas out there, but here are a few that we thought were too cute not to share! Games for guests to partake in are also trending in vintage/outdoor weddings, and all these ideas can easily be recreated for a wedding as well!
Set up a pyramid of cans on top of a barrel and see who can knock them all down. This game definitely enhances the carnival theme, but the rustic feel of the barrel and cans also adds a unique vintage flair to the decor as well. Another game idea to incorporate at your carnival party, is to set up a pretty ring toss game by painting the bottles and covering hoop rings with fabric. This balloon dart game shown below is created by sticking balloons through a pegboard and seeing who can pop the most by throwing darts. So much fun!
Barrel and cans game idea from: Casa Sugar
Balloon dart game idea from: Landee See, Landee Do
Ring toss game idea from: Two Shades of Pink
A couple of more game ideas include the Spray Away Game where guests get a ticket for each ping pong ball they can knock off the tee with a water gun, and a Bean Bag Toss where bowls are lined up in a row and guests attempt to throw bean bags to rack up the highest points. To end the festivities, we found the “fish in a bag”, a clever game prize idea to give guests at the carnival. You make fish shaped soap and set it inside bags of water. How cute!
Spray away game idea from: Martha Stewart
Bean bag toss idea from: Morgan Moore
Fish in a bag prize idea from: Cap Creations
What do you think of this theme for your next party?
Keith Watson Events 