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Summary:
As the summer winds down, the children in my neighborhood start practicing their routines for a very special show. The Kids' Circus has been preformed in two adjoining backyards for the last four years. To celebrate the 5th anniversary, the kids wanted to make the event bigger and better than ever. The kids opened the event up to the entire neighborhood and put on the best show in town!

We used four adjoining backyards this year to separate the talent show, food, desserts, and games. Guests were invited to visit each yard to enjoy the various festivities. The main show started at 5pm. Guests were asked to move to the main stage. The children had prepared wonderful acts: a fortune teller, lion tamer, fairy dance, gymnastic routines, magic tricks, songs, flying acts (involving a tire swing), bike tricks, and tight rope walking!

The stage was one of our main attractions with a working marquee sign! We covered four wood pallets with two large pieces of wood to create the stage floor and hung red stage curtains over two sets of curtain rods to create the backdrop. After the show guests mingled through the backyards to enjoy food, desserts, and carnival games.
The kids enjoyed playing ring toss, duck pond, and clown ball toss. Of course everyone had to get their picture taken with the strong man cut out!

The summer days are short, but the memories made are long and cherished. Seeing our children take ownership of this event, watching their talents grow and blossom each year, and witnessing our neighborhood open their hearts and yards to each other is what community (and summer) is all about.

Photo Credits: Allison Duda of A Joy Photography & Jenny Dixon of Craft That Party

This party was submitted for the End of Summer Contest!