Are you having this party primarily inside?

Some ideas that first came to me (If I can convince my wife to have another Halloween party this year, this theme is on the list of options).

Peanuts -- Either having peanuts on the floor (I really have no regard for my house staying clean during Halloween parties, so throwing peanuts on the floor is absolutely an option)... having a room dedicated to the 'animals' of a circus - peanuts on the floor or in barrels. Though, if any guest has a peanut allergy, you might have a real scare.

Fortune Teller (as BTM mentioned) -- My first thought for this was picturing my house, of course, and having the fortune tellers tent in the backyard behind the detached garage. Somewhere 'far' away from everything else. I always think of TV shows or movies where the one lone tent is separate from everyone else... you have to walk through the dark to get there - secluded.

I really like to utilize as many of the senses as possible because I think it makes for a more complete experience for the guest. Visuals are pretty easy - all the decorating stuff... things like smell, sound, and touch are tougher ones. Someone mentioned popcorn/cotton candy machine - those are great for smells! I like doing something in the bathrooms that is usually sound... it's the time of night where people are (usually) alone, and the best time, imo, to use sound. For a circus theme I would have a looping tape of creepy carnival music and children giggling. Kids giggling can be the most joyous and terrifying thing!

If you have a fog machine you are using, you could construct a cannon that a clown would shoot out of... just have the fog roll up through a pvc pipe.

I also picture a lot of carnival 'advertisements' on the walls -- maybe just a piece of cardboard or sheet painted to look like an ad for the carnival coming to town. Also, posters for the attractions (I think of the old timey posters with the bearded lady, strong man, etc - from the 30's or so).

I don't know... I could come up with more, but I'll stop for now. How in depth are you going to be? Do you build things or try to keep it simple?

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