The Great Birthday Carnival

STEP RIGHT UP, folks! Don't be shy! What you are about to witness occurs just once a year! It's nothing less than (drum roll, please!) a kid's birthday party. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it's that annual extravaganza in which your child and his friends are the stars of the show. And to celebrate, we've conjured up a full-blown carnival with a midway of games, food, and prizes. Challenge yourself in exciting tests of skill! Gobble down our Balloon Cupcakes! Dare to plumb the secrets of the Mystery Box! All have been tested extensively in the backyard of FamilyFun reader and amateur ringmaster Shelley Cronin. No birthday on the horizon? Throw a Carnival Party as a fund-raiser for a Scout troop, school, or sports team. The big top's all ready, and tickets are going fast -- it's carnival time!

Crafts & Activities
THE BEST CARNIVAL PRIZES
When does a seemingly worthless trinket become priceless? When it's won at a carnival, of course. To buy prizes in bulk, look in your local yellow pages under Party Supplies or check out the booty offered by Oriental Trading Company, which has inexpensive bulk toys for all occasions (800-875-8480; www.orientaltrading.com).

LOOT BAGS
A sturdy loot bag does double duty, holding tickets during the party and all those hard-won prizes after. Plus, decorating one serves as a great icebreaker for arriving guests. Write each guest's name on a white paper party bag (available at party or craft stores), then turn the kids loose at a table of markers and stickers.

TICKET BOOTH
No carnival would be complete without a ticket booth, so here's a simple way of making one that spruces up your backyard party.

FACE-PAINTING
The key to having a successful face-painting booth is to provide a chart of sample images, easy-to-draw items like a rainbow, balloon, lollipop, heart, and lightning bolt. This lets kids know exactly what their options are and serves as a handy reference sheet for your volunteer artist (a great job for a steady-handed older sibling or grown-up).

INSTANT CARNIVAL BOOTHS
Carnival booths need not be elaborate. Consider these, all made from everyday items:

Basketball Shooting (draw a line on the driveway, 3 shots per ticket)

Ball Toss (toss 3 softballs into a basket, win a prize)

Putting Challenge (borrow Dad's putter and putt returner)

Guess the number of jelly beans or animal crackers in the jar (and win them all!)

Quarterback Test (throw a football through a hanging hula hoop)

MYSTERY BOX
Do you have the courage to place your hands in the mystery box and identify what lies within?

HOT DOG VENDOR
Get 'yer Hot Dogs! Well, that's what you'll be saying when you're decked out like a real life Hot Dog Vendor in your backyard.

PHOTO BOARD
Stick your head in these fun yet "tamed" photo boards and take some memorable snapshots of your day at the great backyard carnival!

Treats
BALLOON CUPCAKES
What's a carnival without balloons and sweets? To prevent this snafu from happening, why not have the best of both worlds in one confectionary creation called, well, balloon cupcakes.

Games
HORSE RACE
Add some western flair to your carnival by having this horse race and western themed prizes.

STAR SEEKER
Like a cross between roulette and pinball, star seeker is near irresistable.

PENNY PITCH
Don't be a Penny Pincher, be a Penny Pitch-er and play this simply addicting carnival game.

Great Rental Ideas
To give your carnival the look, feel, or taste of the real thing, consider splurging for one of the following from your local rental center or party supply house (all prices are estimates for 24 hours):

Bounce castle. Inflatable trampolinelike houses that let kids literally bounce off the walls ($200).

Popcorn machine. Worth the price for the smell alone ($40).

Cotton candy machine. Nothing says carnival (or "wash your face") like this sticky treat ($40).

Snow cone or slush machine. A cooling option for hot summer carnivals ($40).

Dunking tank. Easier to rent than it is to staff ($150).

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