Circus Birthday Party

When planning your spread, consider your theme and the time of day. For a midafternoon party, plan to have snacks and cake, as well as a few drink options. If you host your party over lunch or in the evening, plan heavier items to satisfy everyone.

Invite guests to the party by sending invitations that include tickets for your attractions. The tiny ticket on the bottom of the invite pulls the theme together.

If your party's outside, don't forget about having a rain plan. If your yard can't hold a big-top inspired tent, then alert guests to a rain date by including a cute note along with their invitation.

Use your too-cute cake as a centerpiece that adds to your decor before the guests arrive and dig in. The fondant elephant balancing on the ball is a classic circus moment, and the red stripes bring back memories of nights under the tent.

Serve a treat that's easy to make and fun to look at. Dipped marshmallows add a sweet spot to your spread without being messy. Adorn the sticks with thin ribbon that matches your theme, and pick bright candy melts for a pop of color.

Bring the fun of the circus to your backyard with cute lollipops. Make yours in the shape of your favorite circus animal, or freeform, if you prefer. Just match the colors to your party's theme.

Honk honk! Keep the theme going by serving "clown noses" for a sweet treat. Pair with pint-sized party bags so that guests can take home these treats as favors.

Invite guests to get decked out in Ringmaster's hats, clown noses, and fake barbells by creating a photo booth. Set up your digital camera with a hand held timer to let guests control the fun. Bonus: You get a copy of all the pictures! If you prefer, suggest guests take snaps with their own cameras.

Transform store-bought cupcakes into theme-ready treats by adding theme-ready wrappers and too-cute cutouts. Prefer to make your own cupcakes? Try our Lemonade Cupcake recipe topped with cream cheese frosting.