How does this sound? Circus/Carnival Party...

[SassyMummy]

It's DD's 6th Birthday at the end of July, and as she's decided she wants most of hte class to come, I'm inviting the entire class, plus a few extras... meaning lots of kids. The list is 35 kids long... though of course some will likely not come... so it should be smaller. Parents are invited to stay, or they can leave if they've got other kids to take care of (I'd allow siblings if the amount of children wasn't already so huge).

We've got a big backyard, so I can cater to that amount of children.

Anyway... I've ordered this pack: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62215955...nivalprintable

That's the general colour scheme.

For food...
*Either mini hot dogs or mini dagwood dogs (DD wants dagwood dogs but I'm scared of having to make so many of them)
*sandwiches cut into an elephant shape
*(or maybe just strawberries on a stick, I dunno)
*popcorn in little white-and-red striped popcorn bags
*I'll have a small gumball machine (or 2) with lollies in them (jelly beans or smarties or something probably).
*fairy floss
And then a cake with little cupcakes too

It'll be in the afternoon (starting at 1 or 2pm then finishing 2 hours later) so hopefully kids will come fed and won't be too hungry.

Loot Bags:
For a take-home treat, I don't want to do loot bags, but will give each child a rainbow lollipop (I'll be ordering ones that look pretty much hte same as this: http://www.awise.org/files/productsi...BS_P/43450.jpg
They're about 1.5 inches diameter so not gigantic. I was considering toffee apples but DD hates them.

Or a handmade pinwheel/windmill thing... which do you think is better?

Games:
*a tin game game where you use balls to knock down the cans
*A rubber duckie game where some will have a "prize" thing on hte bottom
*I'll fill up our huge trampoline will balloons (it's 14ft)
*If I can manage it, I"ll do some really basic clown-themed face painting
*Pass the Parcel games
*Pin the Nose on the Clown
*Thinking of another luck-based game too (ideas appreciated)
*Maybe a table with stuff to decorate your own plain party hat

I'll have a wall with a plain bit of fabric/plastic/etc on it with prizes clipped on. Either colour-coordinated or just "pick your own" or maybe a lucky dip type of prize bucket. In there I'll have...
*Paddle Ball (carnival-themed - you colour your own)
*mini pinball things
*carnival themed pencils
*carnival themed tattoos
*carnival-themed sticker scenes
*clown noses
Etc

I can't afford a clown or face painter or any such thing, or that'd be awesome...

I've already figured out how much this'll cost me and it's not too bad, and I've got places to buy all these things... just wondering if it's a good idea?

I know it'll be a lot of work, and I'll have to enlist the help of a few adults I know so they can man the games and stuff...

Nobody will need to dress up either. I might though... lol... I'll decide how I feel closer to the day. DD might as well, but not full costume... just a little bit here and there.

Anyway, what do you think? Do you think this would be okay? Enough food and drinks (oh yeah, I dunno wtf I"m doing for drinks - most kids will be 5/6 ish so I was thinking maybe a sh*t load of cordial? It's more fun than water, but less fun than soft drink. If I did provide soft drink, it'd just be lemonade anyway. Or yellow-coloured lemonade. If i had the time I'd do homemade lemonade, but DD hates that as well anyway. What drinks do you think? I'm not making anything - too much hard work.

I'll have red and light blue plates and bowls, and napkins, same with balloons and streamers, and if I am able, I'll make a ticket booth out of a fridge box (just need to find a fridge box...lol). I'm thinking I"ll just get heaps of clear cups and some red and blue straws (striped paper ones if I can find some for a good price).

Um... I think that covers everything.

Thoughts?

[MsTruth]

I think it sounds fantastic.

Food looks fine, Drinks maybe pop ups of juice and water so there is choice.

We had a circus theme party for DS last year and we had similar games, as well as I bought a blow up castle and we also had a decorate your own cupcake table - your daughter and her age group may enjoy doing that also?

[Lemonhead]

That sounds AMAZING! DSs 4th is a toss up between a circus party or a farmyard party and awww now I wanna do the circus one so bad haha.

She's gonna have a great day!

[bumMum]

That sounds so awesome!!

[duckduckgoose]

That sounds sooo amazing. I think you should dress up!!

[SassyMummy]

As a ringmaster? lol.

Ta guys.

Any ideas whether I should do the lollipop or the pinwheel for the "thanks for coming" type of favour/gift thing?

[Lemonhead]

I think the lollipops are great, I did them last year
The year before I made a heap of homemade caramel corn and put it in those chinese noodle boxes...that was a hit and very cheap too.

I think you should wear THIS.

[SassyMummy]

LMAO Lemon... not sure they come in size "FAT".

[himherandhe]

good luck lol we just did a party for 15 and it was hectic, we did it at 2-4pm and they were all hungry as!!!

I wanted and really liked the circus theme, I would also do balloon modelling eg making poodles, swans etc

Maybe juggling??

Dont know if sack races would be approriate but we picked up grain feed bags from the local farm produce shop for free.

We did pick your own prizes and did find that they did get a bit picky so it came down to "you picked it up, thats your prize"

I made punch for something 'special' just half juice half lemonade not that healthy but the kids loved it.

Also jelly cups were a huge hit aswell

Omg parties are fun but exhausting. Good luck

[Trusty Chords]

If you invite that many people you are going to have to think about parking. I had a big party for my son's 3rd birthday and everyone parked the street out. It was a public holiday but bin day which caused even more chaos. I wish I had of thought about the fact everyone would block the the street off and **** off the neighbours.