Top 11 circus costume ideas for kids

Top 11 Circus Costume Ideas for Kids

1. Ringmaster

• Description: A ringmaster costume typically includes a bright red tailcoat with gold accents, a top hat, white gloves, and black pants. Accessories like a whip or a megaphone can add to the authenticity.
• DIY Tips: You can create a ringmaster costume by modifying a red jacket with gold trim and buttons. Pair it with black pants and a top hat, which can be found at costume stores or made from cardboard and felt.

2. Clown

• Description: A classic clown costume features oversized, brightly colored clothes, a curly wig, a red nose, and face paint. Accessories like big shoes, a flower that squirts water, or juggling balls can enhance the look.
• DIY Tips: Use old clothes and sew on patches of colorful fabric. A simple white face paint with a red nose and exaggerated mouth completes the look.

3. Strongman

• Description: A strongman costume usually includes a striped leotard, a large mustache, and a barbell prop. Fake muscles can be added for extra effect.
• DIY Tips: Create a barbell using a broomstick and two large foam balls painted black. Draw or apply a fake mustache and use a striped shirt or leotard.

4. Acrobat

• Description: An acrobat costume is typically a leotard with sequins or glitter, paired with tights. Accessories might include a tutu or a ribbon wand.
• DIY Tips: Use a gymnastics leotard and add sequins or glitter glue for sparkle. A ribbon wand can be made using a dowel and long strips of ribbon.

5. Lion

• Description: A lion costume includes a furry bodysuit, a mane made of yarn or faux fur, and a tail. Face paint can be used to create a lion's face.
• DIY Tips: Use a brown or tan onesie and attach a yarn mane around the hood. A piece of rope covered in fabric can serve as the tail.

6. Elephant

• Description: An elephant costume features a gray bodysuit with large ears, a trunk, and a tail. A headpiece or hood with ears and a trunk can complete the look.
• DIY Tips: Modify a gray hoodie by adding felt ears and a trunk made from a stuffed gray sock. Use gray leggings or pants to match.

7. Mime

• Description: A mime costume includes a black and white striped shirt, black pants, white gloves, and a beret. White face paint with black accents around the eyes and mouth is essential.
• DIY Tips: Use a striped shirt and black pants you already own. Apply white face paint and use black eyeliner to draw exaggerated features.

8. Circus Performer

• Description: This costume can be as simple or elaborate as desired, often featuring colorful, sparkly clothing and accessories like juggling balls or a balancing pole.
• DIY Tips: Use bright, colorful clothing and add sequins or glitter. Props like juggling balls can be made from painted foam balls.

9. Harlequin

• Description: A harlequin costume includes a diamond-patterned bodysuit or dress, a mask, and a jester hat. Black and white are traditional colors, but other vibrant colors can be used.
• DIY Tips: Use fabric paint to create a diamond pattern on a plain bodysuit. A jester hat can be made from felt and bells.

10. Dumbo the Elephant

• Description: A Dumbo costume features large floppy ears, a small hat, and a circus collar. The bodysuit is usually gray with a tail.
• DIY Tips: Use a gray onesie and attach large felt ears to a headband. Add a small hat and a red collar with yellow trim.

11. Circus Wagon

• Description: This costume involves decorating a wagon to look like a circus cage or wagon, with the child dressed as an animal or performer inside.
• DIY Tips: Use cardboard and paint to create the sides of the wagon, attaching them to a pull wagon. Dress your child in any of the animal or performer costumes mentioned above.

Detailed Costume Descriptions and Tips

Ringmaster Costume

• Materials Needed: Red jacket or blazer, black pants, white shirt, black boots, top hat, white gloves, gold trim, and buttons.
• Instructions:
  • Jacket: Find a red jacket or blazer. Attach gold trim along the edges and add gold buttons.
  • Pants and Shirt: Pair the jacket with black pants and a white shirt.
  • Accessories: Add a black top hat and white gloves. A toy whip or megaphone can be a fun addition.
  • Details: Ensure the jacket fits well and the gold trim is securely attached for a polished look.

Clown Costume

• Materials Needed: Brightly colored oversized clothes, curly wig, red nose, face paint, big shoes.
• Instructions:
  • Clothes: Use oversized clothes in bright colors. Add patches of different fabrics for a whimsical look.
  • Wig and Nose: Find a curly wig in a bright color and a red clown nose.
  • Face Paint: Use white face paint as a base, and add colorful designs around the eyes and mouth.
  • Shoes: Big, colorful shoes can be found at costume stores or made by covering old shoes with fabric.

Strongman Costume

• Materials Needed: Striped leotard or tank top, black shorts, fake mustache, barbell prop.
• Instructions:
  • Clothes: Use a striped leotard or tank top with black shorts.
  • Mustache: Draw or apply a fake mustache.
  • Barbell: Create a barbell using a broomstick and foam balls painted black.
  • Details: Add temporary tattoos of anchors or other classic strongman symbols.

Acrobat Costume

• Materials Needed: Leotard, tights, tutu, sequins, glitter, ribbon wand.
• Instructions:
  • Leotard: Choose a leotard and tights in matching colors. Add sequins or glitter for sparkle.
  • Tutu: Pair the leotard with a tutu for extra flair.
  • Accessories: A ribbon wand can be made from a dowel and long strips of ribbon.
  • Details: Ensure the costume allows for easy movement.

Lion Costume

• Materials Needed: Brown or tan onesie, yarn or faux fur for the mane, face paint, tail.
• Instructions:
  • Onesie: Use a brown or tan onesie as the base.
  • Mane: Create a mane using yarn or faux fur, attaching it around the hood.
  • Face Paint: Use face paint to create a lion's face with whiskers and a nose.
  • Tail: Attach a piece of rope covered in fabric for the tail.

Elephant Costume

• Materials Needed: Gray bodysuit, felt ears, stuffed sock for the trunk, gray leggings.
• Instructions:
  • Bodysuit: Use a gray bodysuit as the base.
  • Ears and Trunk: Attach felt ears to a headband and use a stuffed gray sock for the trunk.
  • Leggings: Pair the bodysuit with gray leggings.
  • Details: Add a tail made from fabric or felt.

Mime Costume

• Materials Needed: Black and white striped shirt, black pants, white gloves, beret, face paint.
• Instructions:
  • Clothes: Use a black and white striped shirt and black pants.
  • Gloves and Beret: Add white gloves and a black beret.
  • Face Paint: Apply white face paint with black accents around the eyes and mouth.
  • Details: Keep the costume simple and focus on expressive gestures.

Circus Performer Costume

• Materials Needed: Colorful clothing, sequins, glitter, juggling balls, or balancing pole.
• Instructions:
  • Clothes: Use bright, colorful clothing and add sequins or glitter for sparkle.
  • Props: Create props like juggling balls from painted foam balls or use a dowel as a balancing pole.
  • Details: Customize the costume to fit the performer's role, such as a juggler or tightrope walker.

Harlequin Costume

• Materials Needed: Diamond-patterned bodysuit or dress, mask, jester hat.
• Instructions:
  • Bodysuit: Use fabric paint to create a diamond pattern on a plain bodysuit.
  • Mask: Find or make a mask that matches the costume.
  • Hat: Create a jester hat from felt and bells.
  • Details: Stick to traditional colors like black and white or use vibrant colors for a modern twist.

Dumbo the Elephant Costume

• Materials Needed: Gray onesie, felt ears, small hat, red collar with yellow trim.
• Instructions:
  • Onesie: Use a gray onesie as the base.
  • Ears and Hat: Attach large felt ears to a headband and add a small hat.
  • Collar: Create a red collar with yellow trim.
  • Details: Ensure the costume is comfortable and easy to wear.

Circus Wagon Costume

• Materials Needed: Cardboard, paint, pull wagon, animal or performer costume.
• Instructions:
  • Wagon: Decorate a pull wagon with cardboard and paint to look like a circus cage or wagon.
  • Costume: Dress the child in any of the animal or performer costumes mentioned above.
  • Details: Ensure the wagon is safe and easy to pull, and the costume is comfortable for the child to sit in.

Conclusion