CIRCUS - The Greatest Show on Earth
The modern circus has been entertaining Europe and America since the 1770s. The circus that George Washington saw in Philadelphia, filled with clowns, acrobats, rope-walkers and trick riders would seem familiar even today. FabricLink's Halloween Costume Closet has gathers some great DIY Circus Costume ideas for Everyone. Whether your idea is vintage or modern, inside or just outside of the BIG TENT, an all-out effort or last minute Halloween fun, find your circus costume ideas here!

If you need a little background in the variety of circus performers, both human and animal, check out the A-Z of Popular Circus Acts for inspiration. Or, just looking to get in the mood catch The Greatest Showman movie or treat yourself to the eye candy of Twisted Orbit's Greatest Showman Pintrest collection. Ready for a deep dive? Read the LA Times article on Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick and how she developed the costumes for Greatest Showman.

FEATURED CIRCUS COSTUMES:
• Girls, if you are looking to become a Ringmaster, Trapeze Artist or Bareback Horseback Rider, adapt VELCRO®'s Brand Sew-On Tape simple no-sew patterns of Princess, Pixie and Ballerina.
• Boys, achieve your Ringmaster or Lion Tamer look by adapting VELCRO®'s Vampire or Pirate patterns.
• If a Lion fits your starring Circus role, VELCRO® created a no-sew hoodie based creation to make you ROAR!
• Looking to add a Cape to dress up your Circus costume? VELCRO® has you covered with some great ideas.

Can't decide on what to be? Let FabricLink help with dozens of deciding resources: Whoooo Do You Want to Be for Halloween?

And don't forget to visit FabricLink's Halloween Costume Closet home: Everything you need to make some costume magic.

DIY RINGMASTER/ANIMAL TRAINER COSTUMES
• Adorable P.T. Barnum DIY Costume Video via YouTube
• Start with the Ringmaster and then get the whole family in the circus mode with DIY no-sew from Megan Zietz.
• In Honor of Design hits all the family notes with this DIY Circus Crew.
• DIY Lion Tamer clever and no-sew from Real Simple.
• Parents.com has templates and instruction for your little ringmaster that they can help make.
• Teen's Lion Tamer Costume from Make It & Love it.
• Youth Ringmaster DIY with items around the house care of Canadian Family.
• Sweet Happy Life makes Circus DIY a family affair: Ringmaster, Strongman, Clown.
• Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus (the real thing) shows you how to make your own Ringmaster Costume.
• Turn a sweatshirt into a custom no-sew Ringmaster coat from Parents magazine.
• Style me Pretty makes the Ringmaster come alive, down to the DIY epaulets.
• eHow makes the Ringmaster easy for men or women with lots of downloadable templates.

   
DIY TRAPEZE/ACROBAT COSTUMES
Wonder what is next after the leotard?

• Anne Wheeler (Greatest Showman) Costume & Makeup Tutorial
• Got Tight Rope Walker in your sights for your youngster? Easy DIY version from Make It & Love It.
• Tight Rope Walker made from bubble-wrap and duct tape.
• Acrobats take center stage in DIY costume from Canadian Family.
• DIY Greatest Showman Anne Zendaya Costume & Makeup video
• Instructions for an adult DIY Tightrope Walker Costume from Free-N-fun Halloween.
• Charming Kid's Circus Acrobat Costume with instructions from BHG.

DIY CLOWN COSTUMES
• Circus Clown & Bear all in one costume - so clever, from Make It & Love It.
• Make your own Clown Halloween costume with some video help from Ringling Bros.
• Learn the proper way to put on clown makeup in this tutorial.
• Make a Clown Costume in 12 easy steps from wikiHow.
• Easy DIY Kids Clown Makeup tutorial.
• Vintage Circus Performers Halloween costumes from Lauren Conrad.
• Just a happy Circus Clown with instructions from Free-N-Fun Halloween
• Toddler DIY Clown Costume from Designer Daddy.

     
DIY MIMES AND JUGGLERS COSTUMES
Mimes come in many flavors check out Pintrest for inspiration and narrow down your choice.
• Get the look for your young Juggling performer with a DIY no-sew from Canadian Family.
• One How-to brings a DIY adult Mime costume together in just minutes
• Romantic Mime makeup Tutorial from YouTube.
• It's more than the look, learn to be a Mime to complete your costume.
• From Hostess with the Mostess you can see an entire Big Top Circus Party with a cast of characters, and lots of tutus.
• Super simple Traveling Circus Costumes to make, including Juggler and Bearded Lady from care.com
• After the costume, you might need a quick tutorial on juggling itself, from Nickity Nack the clown via Libbie Summers

CIRCUS COSTUMES: THE SIDE SHOW

    

DIY MAGICIAN, SNAKE CHARMER, BEARDED LADY, STRONG MAN COSTUMES and more…
• Greatest Showman Bearded Lady Makeup and Costumes
• Circus worthy DIY Magician Costume from Parents.com
• Strongman Circus Kid Costume (with a muscle shirt) from Make It Love it.
• Another DIY Strongman for toddlers from Tip Junkie.
• Who doesn't want to be a Strongman, Canadian Family makes it DIY.
• Fresh Mommy blog brings the Circus costume for the whole family, including a Fire Breather.
• The side show includes so many interesting possibilities: How about a Contortionist (complete with false legs) from Instructables.
• Greatest Showman inspired Makeup Tutorial
• What Circus Sideshow would be complete without a Fortune Teller, courtesy of Martha Stewart
• Bearded Lady Makeup Tutorial via You Tube
• Another Bearded Lady look
• Women's Day brings us a great kid's snake charmer along with a bejeweled snake.
• A no-sew Snake Charmer costume comes via Free Time Frolics

DIY LIONS, TIGERS and ELEPHANT COSTUMES
• DIY Infant Lion costume and Circus Wagon from Make It & Love it.
• Toddler Circus Lion is made so easy in this DIY no-sew from Style Me Pretty
• Beautiful Mess turns a hoodie into a Lion for Kids and Adults.
• DIY Tiger Costume tutorial from a t-shirt via YouTube
• No-sew Tiger Costume from PBS
• Make an Elephant Costume any size from eHow (well illustrated instructions).
• Elephant Costume from a hoodie from EveryDay Dishes.

Still stuck for ideas? Go back to our Halloween Costume Closet and open another door...