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Carnival Assistance

23 years 7 months ago #67820 by LINK
Replied by LINK on topic RE: Carnival Assistance
Every September my PTO puts on a Fun Fair as both a community event and a fundraiser. One of the kids favorite "booth" is the jail. This is how we work it: We use a small horse trailer and put in a few stools and bales of hay. One person is the Sheriff and he/she appoints deputies to help arrest the bad guys (2 or 3 should do if it's not a large gathering). People at the fair can go to the jail and, for a small price, fill out a "Warrant for Arrest" on someone who's at the fair. This person is then found and escorted to the jail. They have the option of sitting 5 minutes in the jail or paying a bond fee (usually 50 cents.) The sheriff by the way walks around with a cowboy hat, a badge, and a plastic banana in a holster and rides a stick horse. It's all in fun and the Principal usually spends a lot of time in jail.
23 years 8 months ago #67819 by MicheleC
Replied by MicheleC on topic RE: Carnival Assistance
PS I do realize it is a carnival and not a party per-se, but there are some really cute ideas contained in the listing above! Enjoy your event and let us know how it goes!!

23 years 8 months ago #67818 by MicheleC
Replied by MicheleC on topic RE: Carnival Assistance
I copied this from Party411.com Hope it is helpful!!

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Country Western Buckaroo Party
Your cowboy hat is starting to collect dust. You're humming the theme song to the classic TV western "Bonanza." Rather than talk in your sleep, you're calling out square dance directions. You're drawn to pointy snakeskin boots and chaps. Well, sit yourself down, pardner, get out the old address book and prepare to have yourself a country western party! A rented barn or ranch is a great setting for all your favorite buckaroos to gather.

Invitations

Create a WANTED poster as the invitation to your party! Roll it up with all of the party details on the inside, and tie it with a bandanna. Use parchment colored paper and black lettering.

Use your imagination to set the stage for your adventurous western party. Hand deliver a cowboy hat to your guests with all of the exciting party details folded up inside of the hat. Make sure to request that your guests come to the party wearing the invitation (the hat, not the paper).

Try our fun and colorful boot-shaped "Boot Scootin' " invitations!

Really make a ringing impression with customized cowbells. Buy cowbells, paint the name of each guest on the outside and attach the party details to the ringer inside. Send or hand-deliver. Cowbells can be found at your local novelty store or discount mass merchandiser.

Let Party411 custom design a caricature for you! Whether you're dressed in cowboy garb riding a horse, or doing a do-si-do, this caricature will make you look like you are straight out of an old western.

Ask your guests to come dressed for the occasion. Of course as the host, you'll be dressed in denim (skirt or pants), fringe, cowboy boots with spurs, a bandanna, a cowboy hat, holster or cutesy vest/skirt combo a la Dale Evans. If cowboy is not your thing, but Native American is, find traditional headdress, moccasins and clothing to fit the bill.

Decorations

Whoa, pardner, this is such a great theme for decorations since there are lots of things you can do to make your party authentic. First, set the stage for your event with real hay bales outside the entrance. Use real or plastic cactus around the hay as well to really give your presentations some depth. Plastic snakes should be all around the ground, but fear not, your cowboys and cowgirls will surely be able to handle them. If you have one or can borrow or rent one, place a western-style saddle on top of one of the bales. Naturally, this setting wouldn't be complete without a longhorn steer somewhere nearby.

Now if the Party Girl were to go all out, she might rent a covered wagon, haul it to the front yard or venue entrance and hang a big sign on the outside that says something like "Jack & Jill's O.K. Corral" or "Welcome to American Corporation's Old West." If you can do without the wagon, go for the sign anyway, it will give your event charm and recognition. Party411 custom productions can create a dazzling display for whatever you want to say.

Use mini-string lights with boots and longhorn skulls everywhere. Wrap them around the door, around columns and your tables. These great and creative lights also come in chili peppers.

Inside, greet your guests with their own tomahawks or sheriff badges.

Have them pose for a party picture standing next to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans life-size cutouts. Who better to greet your guests than these two legendary figures? Have the Greatest Western Themes CD playing. You might also play other classic country artists like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Decorate for the rodeo or square dance and bring back the feeling of the Old West with our Western Party Kit, including tissue balls, garlands, fans and cutouts. Your guests will get a laugh out of the arrow through your head trick. Don't worry, though, this gimmick will cause you no pain.

Hang "wanted" posters all over the walls with the host/hostesses pictures as well as a jointed American Indian, cowboy, and other western cutouts. Hang "Cowboys" and "Cowgirls" signs on your bathroom doors. Use rope to make lassos and hang as garland.

Tables & Centerpieces

Use checkered toppers over red linens for great looking tables, and use solid red and solid white napkins (every other placesetting) for a little more pizzazz. Denim table covers are another way to go, too. You can even use metal sheriff's badges as napkin rings (pin one in the middle of each napkin). If paper products are the way to go, use country check plates, napkins and table covers. Apple red cutlery is a necessity, too. For variety, there are red sparkle plates & napkins that go together famously with your checkered table. Or, try our Boot Scootin' plates, napkins and cups for something different. This fun design shows a variety of colorful cowboy boots with rope.

Believe it or not, there are fabulous cowboy boot candles you can use as votives to add some fun to the table decorations. A cactus makes a wonderful centerpiece for a western party! Tie red and blue bandannas around your clay pots to brighten up those cactus plants. Stick mini-spurs in the plant soil for an added WOW. You can find these in a toy store or toy department of your local stores.

Mini haybales also make great centerpiece accouterments, or delightful place-card holders.

Another fun idea is to re-create a "western setting" in the middle of the table. For a really creative centerpiece, use an old-style metal coffeepot, a bandanna-lined basket (that you can fill with just about anything), some old-style metal coffee cups, and several bottles of fancy barbecue sauce. Just arrange these all together in the center of the table.

For Kids' tables, try a cowboy play set as the centerpiece. Not only will it look inviting to them, but also they can entertain themselves as they sit and eat.

Seating Cards

Roll up and ribbon-tie one bandanna for each person as a seating card. Tie off the seating card with their name and table number and you have a party favor, too. Another idea for seating cards is plastic horseshoes, found in your local toy store. Print the name and table number of your guests on each one. The mini haybales can serve the same purpose, just slide your cards inside the little ropes.

Menu

The most popular type of food for a western theme party is barbecued anything. Whether you feast on chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, or steak, make sure that you cover the food in rich and tasty barbecue sauces. Other great foods to add to the menu at this party are chili, stew, and baked beans. Don't forget a variety of salsas, chips and other dips. For unique ways to serve food try these ideas:

Place a small bowl in the top of a cowboy boot and fill it with salsa. Use boots of different sizes to give your salsa bar depth and variety
Use a real cowboy hat, turned upside down and line with a check napkin to hold chips. You can place bowls inside the hats, too, if you are hesitant about napkins.
Tie bandannas around other bowls and lay them flat underneath serving platters to carry your theme throughout.
Vinyl horses make great cardholders for your food names on the buffet table.
Activities

Hire a professional "caller" to entertain you with authentic square dancing. While you're at it, you might as well hire a professional dance instructor to teach you how to do-si-do.

Play "musical hats" to keep everyone entertained. Make sure to buy authentic cowboy hats and American Indian headdresses though, or the game won't be nearly as much fun.Gather everyone together and try to bust the Boot Scootin' piñata. Fill the piñata with candy and fun toys that go with the western theme.

Play "The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty-Mystery Game". Click here for details.

Go back to the old days when machinery couldn't mass-produce things and make your own soap. For those with creative juices, there is a multitude of combinations to concoct with this great soap making kit.

Party Favors

Let your guests go home with their very own bandanna, as well as a fun and colorful foam cowboy hat.

Send your guests home with a bag full of western goodies in the "Boot Scootin' treat bag.

Everyone loves a plant that requires no maintenance. Give each guest his or her very own cactus. Make little labels that say something like "I did some boot scootin' at Ted & Mary's Buckaroo Bash." It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Have a great time at your party, and dance a do-si-do for the Party Girl, the Party-ettes, and the rest of the Party411.com gang!


23 years 8 months ago #67817 by GRC
Replied by GRC on topic RE: Carnival Assistance
Tunisia Mom-

How about a gold rush contest of some sort? There could be hidden treasure and maps with clues. I guess it would be a version of a scavenger hunt but dressed up for wild west angle.

Either that or I could just be drinking too much coffee. Have fun.
23 years 9 months ago #67816 by Tunisia Mom
Carnival Assistance was created by Tunisia Mom
I am the PTO President at a small American International School in Tunis (less than 200 students Pre-K thru 12). The theme for our Spring Carnival this year is the Wild West. I am seeking ideas for activities and prizes relating to this theme. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
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