How to Plan a Circus Themed Party Guests Will Talk About for Years

Choose your circus

Before booking anything, settle on the mood. A classic circus suits family days, summer parties and corporate events with a broad audience. Think red and gold, ringmasters, jugglers, stilt walkers and acrobats.

A twisted circus works best for adult crowds and late nights. Picture moody lighting, creepy clowns, contortionists, sideshow-style characters, cabaret and burlesque. It is a brilliant talking point, but make sure it suits your guests and the venue's rules on content.

Plan it yourself or bring in a planner

An experienced event planner has contacts and know-how that are hard to replicate, and they spot problems before they happen. If the event is large or complicated, the cost is usually repaid in time saved and mistakes avoided.

If you do run it yourself, give yourself time. Research suppliers properly, read reviews, and think hard about the less glamorous details. Allow for late arrivals and bad weather, check there are enough toilets, and collect dietary needs well in advance.

Venue and decor

Some homes and venues have character that does half the work for you. If yours does not, a blank space is no bad thing. It lets you build the theme from scratch, but you will need to budget for tent-style draping, illuminated letters, props, furniture, staging for acts and music, and a themed bar.

Alternatively, look for venues that already have a circus or cabaret feel, such as old theatres, music halls or big tops for hire. Adding a few signature touches is far cheaper than transforming an empty hall.

Draping fabric to a central point overhead is the quickest way to suggest a big top. Add warm festoon lighting, striped fabrics and a circular stage or dancefloor to finish the look.

Food and drink

Decide whether guests need a sit-down meal, bowl food, canapés or simply a strong bar. Circus food is fun to theme, with popcorn, candyfloss, hot dogs and toffee apples served by costumed staff.

Use professional caterers and bar teams where you can. They think of the details that are easy to forget, such as how much ice you need, the right glassware, waste disposal, allergens, service staff and preparation space.

Entertainment: where the theme comes alive

The acts are what guests remember and share. Long after the night, people will still talk about the aerialist who appeared above the dancefloor or the contortionist who seemed to fold in half.

For a classic circus, consider stilt walkers, jugglers, acrobats, a ringmaster host and aerial hoop or silks. For a twisted circus, add sideshow characters, eerie clowns, contortion, laser and LED aerial acts, and cabaret or burlesque later in the evening.

Whatever you choose, ask for video of the actual act you are booking, filmed at a real event. Avoid simply picking the cheapest option in a fancy-dress costume. Quality varies hugely, and footage is the only reliable way to judge it.

• Arrival: stilt walkers, living statues or a ringmaster greeting guests
• During drinks: roaming jugglers, contortionists and close-up performers
• Main show: aerial silks, hoop or a full circus routine
• Late night: cabaret, burlesque or an LED act to open the dancefloor

Capture the night

It is surprising how often big parties go ahead without a photographer. A circus theme is full of visual moments, so book a photographer, and ideally a videographer, to capture them.

At the very least, create a styled selfie area with a circus backdrop and props so guests can take their own souvenir.