Circus Costume Ideas - DIY Family Halloween Costumes

Dressing up as a family for Halloween is one of those things that I keep thinking we'll never do again. Yet, somehow every year, it only gets more and more out of control! Read on for some helpful tips for putting together this DIY family Halloween costume. These circus costume ideas were a hit!

These are definitely my favorite costumes to date! There are quite a few key pieces to hunt down and lots of props, but if you're into putting on a great show and you get started early, this one cannot be beat!

Circus Costume Ideas

Acrobat costume

The elephant-riding acrobat girl needs a sparkly costume. This is a Latin/ballroom dancewear dress found new on eBay for less than $20 (there's also a similar one on Amazon pretty cheap), and that felt like a decent price to me if it meant I didn't have to sew with stretch knit and wire! Consider using an old dance recital outfit or borrow a friend's. For the headdress, I hot-glued several ostrich feathers onto a headband with a patch of felt underneath that would rest against her head. Add white tights and red ballet slippers, and you're set!

Ringmaster costume and lion

The baby lion is store-bought costume (like THIS ONE)  with an added sequin red bow. The black stand is an upside-down party bucket for drinks which will probably only be found in stores during the summer, so plan ahead! The yellow trim was found by-the-yard at Joann Fabrics, and hot-glued around. The flame ring is a hula hoop with three colors of felt flames glued around it. Fabric glue should work fine. I found it helpful to hand-sew a tiny red stitch between each of the flames to connect them to each other and keep them from getting floppy. You really want the flames to all be poking outward in the same way.

The ringmaster jacket was the most time-consuming, but I love how it turned out. I started with a cheap men's red blazer from eBay for under $12. With the extra fabric I took out of the sides and arms, I had enough to make the padded shoulders. There is a wedge of cardboard inside those shoulder tassels to keep their shape. Adding sequined fabric on the lapels and contrast bias tape trim really brings it all together. The striped vest and gold taffeta tie are hand-sewn. Don't forget the lion-taming bullwhip!

Magician costume

The magician needs a reversible cape (found on eBay) - but there's a similar one with a hat, wand, and rabbit HERE), a stuffed bunny small enough to fit in a hat, a shiny gold vest, a magic wand, and an interesting bow tie. The fake sticker mustache is a must!

Tightrope walker costume

For my tightrope walker outfit, I used a white over-bust corset with added gold appliques and a white tutu. Definitely look for a professional full 7-layer platter skirt if you want to look legit. You might even be able to rent one from a local ballet studio. Red toe shoes can be found for cheap on eBay. You'll just have to sew the ribbons on yourself. Don't forget toe pads if you want to go up on pointe in the pictures!  Lastly, you'll need black sheer striped tights, a black leotard, and some hair feathers!

Strong Man Costume

For the strong man, black jogger pants and a striped muscle shirt will do. Add a short black wig and a sticker mustache. The weights were probably trickier than they needed to be. I used empty protein powder containers and a thick dowel found at Home Depot. I filled one container with Plaster of Paris and stuck the dowel inside before it set. I propped it up so it could completely dry straight, then after 24 hours, filled the other container and again, positioning the dowel directly in the center. They are quite heavy when finished! Spray paint it black and add some numbers in Modern No. 20 font with white paint or use your Cricut machine if you have one!

We hope these Circus Costume Ideas were helpful for making your own
DIY Family Halloween Costumes.

If you're looking for more family costume ideas, check out our Halloween costume ideas for families, Halloween costumes for couples and a baby, Peter Pan family costumes, DIY Incredibles costumes for families, and our Toy Story family costumes.