Carousel/Carnival Party, any age.  Celebrating my daughter's 1st birthday was a big event for my family and I. After finding some very cute first birthday paperware (cups, plates, banner, etc...)with a carousel horse and big #1 on it, I decided to theme the party with these fanciful horses.   Wanting to transform my living room into a carousel, I started by making a streamer "tent". This was accomplished by taping paper streamers (in alternating colors) to the light fixture in the center of the room and extending them to the wall.  Leaving a little droop in the center, I stapled the streamers to the wall (streamers about 10inches apart, at the wall). After stapling the steamer, I let the remainder fall the the floor and then cut it. I ended up using about 3 large streamer rolls. Accomplishing the "tent" took most of the night (not the night before!), but was worth the results. To finish off my carousel room, I purchased some rather large (3ft long) mylar carousel horse balloons. I had 6 helium-filled horses and placed 4 angled in the corners and the other 2 at the front and rear of the room.  I made the carousel poles from extra "tent" streamers by twisting them from the ceiling to the back of the horse and from under the horse to the floor. I also, put colorful helium balloons anywhere that I could find. I made the invitations by attaching a 3-D carousel to the front of a bi-fold card.  My 3-D carousel was accomplish by taking little paper umbrellas (yes, the ones that are used in tropical drinks on cruise ships!) and hanging paper carousel horses on the inside edge of the umbrella.  Using clip art and my computer, I made the little horses and put a different part of the party information on each of them. With 4 horses, #1 had where- #2 had when- #3 had why- #4 had the RSVP.  The horses were attached with string and hot glue.  After the glue dried, I made sure that the "carousels" could be closed and then opened again (gently). I printed one of the horses on the bi-fold card and put a message on the inside "You are invited to help us celebrate Meghan's 1st Birthday!" I cut two holes through the front of the card and sliped the "tooth pick" part of the carousel through the holes. To find out the information, the person would have to open the carousel and read each horse. Of course, after recieving such beautiful invitations, everyone's RSVP response was "YES!".  I also included at the bottom of the invitation that a "Carnival Lunch" would be served. My idea of a carnival lunch is the kind of junk that you stuff into youself at a carnival and then call it lunch. I explained this to people as they called to RSVP. I served corn dogs, pop corn (in small pop corn boxes, like at the movies) , waffle fries, and individualy packaged cotton candy.  I ordered the cake from a bakery, it had a icing carousel horse on it in pastels and edible glitter. There was punch to drink. The favors were little baggies with carnival prizes in them. I filled it with the kind of things that you could win at a small carnival. The games that I made were basic carnival games.  I made a simple bean bag throw game by painting a colorful clown's face on a cardboard box and cutting out the eyes and mouth.  My clown had very large holes, being that most of the babies couldn't even walk yet. Mom or Dad did most of the "playing" for them. I also made a ring toss and ball toss. I had also made necklaces that were stamped when a guest completed a game. The necklaces looked like medals and were made from cardstock and yarn.  On the medal I had printed (on my computer) phrases like "Meghan's Special Friend" and "Meghan's Super Pal".  The toddlers just looked proud to wear them and got all excited when they were stamped. I gave away "fancier" gifts to everyone at the end of the party (a board book, small ball, shaped sippy-cup). The person with the most stamps had the first choice of gifts. Oh, I also included the big horse balloons in with the choice of gifts.   The whole event made a great impression on my friends and many of them said that they'd never been to a party like this before.