For my sons second birthday we are having a carnival party.  I have been planning and preparing for the past 2 months, and although it has been quit a bit of work,it has been very inexpensive and fun for myself and both children.  We sent out invitations that have been made in the shape of ticket. Inside the inside the invitation envelope we included an admission ticket that they will bring to the party.  This ticket will be used to write there name on for the Animal Cookie Guessing Game. For this game I bought a BIG bag of animal crackers and a cute cheap cookie jar (found at BIG LOTS). I counted the amount of cookies and as the guests are entering the party they will write their name and guess on the back of the ticket and we will later have a drawing and the winner will receive the cookie jar and cookies as the prize. I also have made ticket necklaces so that it is easier for the kids to keep up with will playing games, which include, pick-up-ducks, knock em' down (coke cans with sand in bottom and spray painted, that will be knocked down with bean bags), fishing game, and I have rented a 14 foot inflatable slide from our local party store. Everyone is a winner.  I have purchased lots of the prizes through Oriental Trading. Others are goodie bags made up of playdough, individual bags of animal crackers, bubbles, etc. The food booth will include hotdogs, popcorn (borrowed old fashioned popcorn machine and hotdog machine) homemade candy and Carmel apples, chips, cotton candy, chips, juice boxes, and to nibble on I have set out unshelled roasted peanuts and frosted animal cookies.  We will also have the traditional ice cream and cake before opening presents.  For entertainment we have a clown who will do face painting and helium balloons. And last but not least, coloring books filled with scanned pictures of my son as a clown and other carnival coloring pages, along with a box of crayons. Inside the coloring book a special little note from my son reads: Thank you all for coming today, and celebrating my birthday in a special way,  you made it the best that it could be,  I'll see you next year when I turn three.