10 Best Circus Party Games for Kids Birthday Parties Indoor & Outdoor Ideas

If you’ve been surfing the internet looking for the perfect circus-themed games to add to your next party your search ends right here. I’ve put together a list of games that are going to add so much carnival fun to your circus party– this birthday is going to feel just like a real carnival fair. Think sack races, prize wheels, and coin tosses and so much more circus fun. So step up and pick your games and get the circus animals rolling with excitement! For a full guide on how to plan the most amazing circus party, read my post on that here!

1. Sack Race 

What You’ll Need:

• 1 Potato sack per child
• Tape or cones to mark the start and finish lines
• Whistle  

How to Play: Each child steps into a sack and stands just before the start line. At the blow of the whistle, they hop toward the end line. The first child to reach the finish line wins. To make it exciting, blow the whistle as the winner reaches the end of the race. 

2. Spin the Prize Wheel

 

What You’ll Need:

• A spinning prize wheel (store-bought or DIY)
• Prizes (stickers, candy, small toys, party favors)

How to Play: Each child takes a turn spinning the wheel. The child wins whatever the wheel lands on. Each section represents a reward. This is a fantastic carnival-style game that kids will have a great deal of fun playing.   

3. Coin Toss in Cups

What You’ll Need:

• 5-10 plastic cups
• Coins (tokens)
• Table or flat surface
• Paper and pen to record points

How to Play: Place cups in two to three rows. Assign points to each row of cups. The first row is worth 10 points. The second row is 20 points and the third row is worth 50 points. Place each row so it's spaced out where the first row is an easy target, the second row is medium and the third difficult. Make children stand in a line. Have each child take turns to toss 5-7 coins. Add up the points. The child with the highest score wins the coin toss challenge. 

4. Cup Stack Challenge 

What You’ll Need:

• Plastic cups (6-10 cups per child)
• Table or flat surface
• Whistle 

How to Play: Give each child a set of cups. On hearing the whistle each child must stack their set of cups into a pyramid (like 3-2-1) for younger children or (4-3-2-1) for older children. The first to build the pyramid wins the challenge. 

5. Balloon Dart Board

What You’ll Need:

• 20-30 balloons (depending on the number of children)
• Safe darts (I like using balloon pop darts because they use soft tips and are kid-friendly)
• A large board or wall
• Tape or push pins
• Small notes
• Prizes (stickers, candy, mini toys)

How to Play: Add small notes to some balloons. Inflate the balloons and attach them to the board or wall space. Assign each balloon with a number so it has a point value. Children aim at the balloons with a dart. Each child gets 2-3 chances to win prizes and points. Add the total points per child. The child with the highest score wins the balloon dart challenge. This game is super fun and feels just like the kids are at a carnival fair.  

6. Lollipop Pull Game

What You’ll Need:

• Lollipops (20–30 depending on party size)
• Foam block
• Cardboard box, or a container with holes, Markers or stickers, Small prizes (for “winning” sticks)
• 2 Dice (optional)
  

 

How to Play: Insert the lollipops into the foam then place it in place in a cardboard box or use a container with holes, mark the end of some sticks with a marker or stickers for making the “winning” sticks. Each child pulls one lollipop from the container and they win a prize as well if it turns out to be a winning stick. If not, they still get the lollipop. To make it more exciting, number each lollipop and have kids roll the dice so they pick the number they get. 

7. Milk Bottle Knockdown 

What You’ll Need:

• 6–10 Plastic or metal bottles (milk bottles, soda cans, or similar)
• Sand or water (to slightly weigh down the bottles)
• Small balls (tennis balls) or bean bags
• Table or flat surface

How to Play: This one is another classic carnival game and the best part is that it’s super simple to set up. Arrange the bottles in a pyramid (3, 2, 1 or 4, 3, 2, 1). Each child gets 2–3 balls per turn. Kids must stand a few feet away (adjust by age). They throw the balls, trying to knock down all the bottles. Whoever knocks down all the bottles wins a prize. 

8. Popcorn Scoop Relay

What You’ll Need:

• Popcorn
• 2 Buckets (one per team, 2 large plastic bowls per team
• 1 Small scoop or spoon per child
• 2 Tables or flat surfaces (one for each team)

How to Play: Set up each table with two buckets each, a scoop per child and fill only one of the buckets on each table with popcorn. Divide the children into equal teams. At the blow of the whistle the teams must work together to scoop out all the popcorn and fill the empty bowls. If anyone uses their hands they get disqualified and the team continues with one less team player. The first team to empty out the bucket wins. 

9. Guess the Number Jar 

What You’ll Need:

• A clear jar
• Colorful candy
• Slips of paper and pens
• An empty box
• A game sign

How to Play: Count the candy and record the number. Set up the table with the game sign, the jar filled with the candy, and the paper slips and pens. Have children write their guesses down on the slips of paper. Once they write down the number they must fold in their paper slip with their name and toss it in the empty box. Toward the end of the party, announce the winner. The closest guess wins the candy jar. 

10. Face Paint & Clown Dress Up Game 

 

What You’ll Need:

• Face paints (non-toxic, kid-safe)
• Brushes, sponges, and wipes
• Clown accessories (red noses, wigs, hats, bow ties)
• Costume items (colorful scarves, magician outfits, suspenders, colorful suits, clown outfits)
• Mirror

How to Play: Set up a “Circus Dress-Up Station”. Let kids take turns choosing face paint designs (clown face, animal, star, rainbow, etc.). Once painted, let kids pick costume accessories to complete their look. After dressing up, kids can join a mini “circus parade” and have photo moments. I like to keep it open-play so kids rotate freely through the station and have fun with different looks.  

To make your games feel like a real fair, don’t forget to add matching circus signs and label each game station carnival-style like “Lollipop Pull Game”, “Balloon Dart Board”, “Spin the Prize Wheel” and a “Prize Corner Station” to have winners collect their prizes.

 

Which of these circus-themed birthday party games would your kids be most excited to play, and which one are you definitely adding to your party? I would love to know in the comments below!