Send in the clowns for your child’s next birthday party. From costumes and recipes to circus games, crafts, and more, our clown party ideas will leave everyone full of fun and laughter.

Best For…

Kids aged three to eight will love this clown-themed party. Plenty of bright bubbly colors and fun big top activities will delight your young guests.

Party Planning

For peace of mind, begin planning your bash six to eight weeks in advance. This will allow you time to gather all the supplies that you need, including decorations, gifts, and menu items. Planning ahead also gives your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase your party’s attendance.

To make a fun clown invitation yourself, draw a clown head on card stock or construction paper. Trim the edges but leave the fold for the card. Cut a slit in the clown's mouth. Stretch out a party blower and write the party information on it, then insert the end into the clown's mouth. Mail them in bubble envelopes or deliver them by hand. Or, if you’re short on time, purchase personalized or pre-printed clown invitations online. We recommend mailing your invitations three to four weeks prior to the party—any sooner and your guests may forget, any later and your guests may already have plans.

To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, take a look at our When & Where to Have the Party page, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting decorations, supplies, activities, and more for your child's party.

What Do I Need for the Party?

If you plan to use paper tableware and themed party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be quite helpful. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.

For this party, circus colors are perfect. They include red and white for the big top and bright primary and secondary colors like yellow, blue, green, and red for a clown’s outfit. Use brightly-colored streamers to form a canopy over the center of the table, simulating a circus tent. Streamers should cascade from a point in the middle (i.e. the center of the ceiling or a chandelier), down and out to the sides of the room. Tie colorful balloons in bunches of three, and attach the clusters to the backs of chairs. For goodie bags, purchase jump ropes, clown stickers, temporary tattoos, jacks, small stuffed lions or other animals, and packets of animals crackers. Or, save time and money by purchasing clown-themed favor sets from our sister site, Birthdayinabox.com. Place all items inside clear or printed cellophane bags, and tie them closed with red chenille stems or yellow ribbons. For a different twist, use white paper lunch bags, and let the kids color clown faces on with crayons or markers, or follow our directions for making your own Clown Party Favor Bags.