Carnival Party on a Budget

So as promised here is my first entry for Budget Friendly Friday!

I came across this super cute idea for a Carnival Party at the Budget Diet. I was impressed with how easy throwing a Carnival party on a budget was.

All below wording belongs to the Budget Diet!

A Carnival Birthday Party is another budget birthday party idea from The Budget Diet girl!

A carnival birthday party works for most any age and can be done both indoors & out!

Here are the ingredients for success:

Carnival Ideas – Homemade Carnival Games:

The key to keeping this a budget birthday party is to use things you have. Take a walk around your house, and I’m sure you’ll come up with all sorts of carnival ideas!

Basketball Throw – if you have a basketball goal, use it!

Pie in the Face – pie tins, whipped cream & willing volunteer!

Wet Sponge Toss – just like pie in the face, but it’s a wet sponge!

Golf – if you have a putter & a golf ball…let the children try to putt into a plastic cup! This works best indoors on carpet.

Guess Your Weight – pull out your bathroom scale, the children guess their own weight & then stand on the scale.

Fortune Teller – have a friend or family member dress up like a fortune teller (scarves, lots of jewelry) & tell fortunes.

Fish Pond – keep it simple, use a toy fishing pole & attach the prize with a clothes pin!

Penny Drop – put a shot glass inside of a big glass bowl, fill it with water & the children try to drop a penny into the shot glass!

Hula Hoop

Face Painting

Concession Stand – popcorn & sodas

Carnival Prizes:

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ is a great place to pick up inexpensive prizes! If your child is old enough…set a budget & let them choose the prizes!
Everybody’s a winner! If they don’t win the game…give them a piece of candy.

Carnival Tickets & Goody Bags:

Each child gets a bag with their name on it when they arrive. The dollar store & Hobby Lobby both have lots of inexpensive, colorful bags.

Each child will get enough tickets to play each game 1 time.
The bags will be used to collect their prizes, and it becomes their “instant” goody bag!

Carnival Cake:

A cupcake walk is great fun…think mini-cake walk!
Use sidewalk chalk to number the spaces in your driveway or if you’re indoors…set-up chairs.
Start the music, stop the music, choose a number & that person chooses their cupcake! Continue until everyone has a cupcake!
I made all white cupcakes, & I just changed the frosting & decorations!

Carnival Helpers:

This is a great opportunity for family & friends to get involved in the birthday celebration!

Carnival Invitations:

Just a simple piece of clip art mounted on pink & green paper!"

Image for the Budget Diet

I love all of these ideas from the Budget Diet .  If you are looking to add food to your party keep it simple. Think carnival - Hot Dogs, Pizza, some chips, etc. You can find Cotton Candy for a $1.00 in most CVS, Rite Aids and Walmarts.

I find that Walmart is a great place for paper good and utencils. In their party section they have a great selection of colors for $1.50.

Party on People!!