Can you help me create a carnival themed birthday cake?

Question

I am looking to create a birthday cake for my daughter's 3rd birthday. We're going all out and doing a carnival themed birthday party with a tent, petting zoo, games, etc. I'm not really interested in buying a cake, I'd rather make it myself. The only problem I'm having is that I can't seem to really find any good ideas. I did see one for a popcorn box but it looked "sloppy". Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Carnival Party

A carnival themed party can be lots of fun for both the parents planning the party and the kids who are lucky enough to attend. With carnival style games as the entertainment and the prizes as the favors this party is sure to be a hit. A little imagination and some store bought supplies makes it easier than it sounds.

Invitation

On your computer you can print out a large ticket for "admission" into the birthday bash or if you can find popcorn bags at a restaurant supply store print the information on a card and place in the bag. There are also really cute store bought clown invitations you can purchase at party supply stores that will fit with the theme.

Decorations

Balloons in primary colors tied everywhere. If you have a good artist in the family have them draw up some carnival type posters onto poster board and hang throughout the back yard. A large canopy tent for the presents, cake, eating area can be set up to look like a big top and decorated with streamers.

Food

Serve all of your food at once or have a booth set up as a concession stand. The age of the children might be a deciding factor on this one, younger children might not take time out to eat unless they are instructed. Some suggestions for carnival style food are popcorn, hot dogs, corn dogs, ice cream bars, cotton candy (you can buy it already made), and for the cake you may want to decide to do cupcakes on this one (it will save serving time, you'll be busy with so many other areas of the party).

Games

Set up carnival style booths by using card tables, large boxes, plywood, sheets or any prop you may have to set up your games. Three or four games will be good you will need to have an adult or teenage child to work each booth. You can either make up tickets to play each game once or buy a roll of tickets to hand out a bunch of tickets and let them play for a certain time limit. If you've ever been to a carnival you probably already have some ideas in your head about the types of games you can play. In case you need some help here are a few to get you going. You can give small prizes at the booths such as stickers, candy, rings, etc. or have them win tickets to redeem prizes.

Ring Toss: Buy some plastic rings at a toy store and place some plastic soda bottles filled with water or you can have them unopened and drink them later.

Set them up in your "booth" and let the game begin.

Go Fish: You can buy a toy fishing set or make your own with a stick and some string. Tie a magnet to the string, make paper fish out of construction paper and clip a paper clip on the end. Using color-coded fish the player wins the prize that corresponds with the color of fish they caught.

          

Ball Throw: Use a TV tray or some other small surface to make a small pyramid out of aluminum cans, for older kids you can use something a little heavier. Use a lightweight ball to have the players knock the cans off of the surface.



Bean Bag Toss: Use a piece of cardboard and cut holes large enough for a beanbag to go through, larger for younger children.  You can draw a funny face and use the mouth as a hole or have several holes on the board. The object of the game is to get the beanbag through the hole. You can use a chair or stepladder to support the cardboard.

Pick a Pop: Get a half of a Styrofoam sphere and a bag of lollipops. Color with a marker a few of the bottoms of the lollipops. Stick the lollipops into the sphere so you can?t see the colored marking, the guests pick a pop and if it has a color they win a special prize if it?s just plain they win the lollipop.

Activities

Along with the game booths you can also set up some other fun activity booths such as face painting, a tattoo booth (with removable tattoos of course), a finger painting table, and a photo booth (cut a hole for the face on plywood or thick cardboard and draw a funny body, take a Polaroid to give as a party favor). If you have a larger budget you can actually hire some entertainment like a clown or magician.

Party Favors

The prizes for the games become your party favors, make sure everyone gets to take home a prize by giving out something at each both (redemption ticket or small token prize). You can also give out pre-packaged cotton candy or animal crackers as part of their favor. A great place to find carnival favors and supplies is Oriental Trading Company, Inc.

Answer 2

Try http://www.cake-design-gallery.com/. Their birthday cake gallery has a couple of really good carnival cakes.

Answer 3

You could put animal crackers around the sides, and pipe "bars" over them, so it looked like they were in a circus train:)  Or buy some fondant at Michaels, JoAnn's (wherever they sell cake decorating supplies) and cut out animal shapes with cookie cutters.....Oh!  You could even do the "cake" in smaller loaf pans, and put them in a line like the circus train! Use Oreos for the wheels........There are also animal sprinkles at kitchen stores, if you wanted to use those......