Set Up for a Carnival Theme Party

Creating the mood for a carnival party is essential to a successful event. For the most authentic carnival feel, hold the party outdoors with plenty of bright colors and festive props.

• Entice guests to step right up and play games with carnival booths. You can rent booths or make them yourself by draping striped fabric over folding tables. Create a backdrop with additional fabric hung from rope. Identify each game with signs pinned onto the fabric.
• Set up two rows of facing booths with a walkway between them to create your own carnival midway.
• Hang colorful bunting across the midway for extra carnival atmosphere. Paper lanterns have a similar effect and provide illumination for an evening party.
  
• Create a stunning entrance to your midway with a balloon display. Attach balloons to a garden trellis to form an arch or tie two big bunches of balloons to stakes in the ground.
• Set up a colorful canopy to serve as a food booth at one end of the midway. Decorate it with a hand-drawn menu, old-fashioned popcorn containers and additional bunting or balloons.
• Across from the food booth, use another canopy as the prize tent. Guests can pick up their prizes, which double as party favors, as they finish playing games along the midway. Some prize options include decks of cards, favorite candy, inexpensive jewelry for the girls and caps for the guys.