Featured Host: Julia’s Circus-Themed Birthday Murder Mystery Party
At Foulplay, we love seeing our games come to life in creative and unexpected ways, and today’s featured host definitely delivered! Julia, an amateur aerialist with a flair for the dramatic, turned her February birthday into a full-blown night at the circus with The Curious Carnival.
With handmade decor, themed snacks, and a surprise beard shave, her party brought the chaos and charm of a traveling circus right into her living room. Read on for inspiration, tips, and standout moments from one unforgettable murder mystery night!
Guests dressed to impress for Julia’s Curious Carnival birthday murder mystery—complete with a sparkling red dress, a top hat, and lots of laughter.
Why did you decide to host a murder mystery party? Was it your first time?
"I wanted to do something a little different for my birthday this year, and decided a murder mystery party was just the thing! My husband and I had hosted a murder mystery party a few years ago and had fun with it, so we wanted to give it another go."
Having previous experience hosting a murder mystery game helped Julia feel confident diving into another mystery night, but this time she wanted a theme that reflected her unique passions and gave her guests something totally new.
Step right up! Red and white streamers transformed the room into a circus tent, setting the perfect scene for a carnival-inspired murder mystery party.
Why did you choose a Foulplay game?
"I’m an amateur aerialist, so from the beginning I knew I wanted a circus-themed game. I also knew we wanted a different company than the one we’d used for our first murder mystery party. That game was fun, but the murderer didn’t even know they were the murderer until the very end! It made all the effort our friends put into their characters and acting feel a little pointless, since it was all rather arbitrary in the end. Because of this, my other main criteria was that the murderer had to know they were the murderer so they could make their acting choices accordingly! With those two things in mind, I looked for some recommendations on Reddit and saw people mentioning Foulplay Games. Once I saw that they had a circus-themed game, I was sold! I also especially appreciated the gender-neutral characters so that we only had to worry about the total number of attendees, meaning our friends could all feel comfortable making the characters their own."
We love hearing that people appreciate having gender neutral characters, which gives them the flexibility and inclusivity they need for their guest list. Julia knew exactly what kind of experience she wanted to create--one where everyone’s role mattered, the choices and acting had an impact on the story, and her guests felt empowered to make their characters their own. When she found The Curious Carnival, it was a perfect match!
Guests snapped photos in front of this glittering gold carnival backdrop—perfect for capturing murder mystery party memories.
How did the game go overall? Any surprises, twists, or standout moments?
"The majority [of us] did not end up guessing the murderer correctly, but boy did we have fun trying! Everyone did a great job of bringing their own spin to the characters, which made quite a few people come across as pretty suspicious and good contenders for the murderer! One of the biggest surprises of the night came from my husband, who played both the victim and another character—he not only changed costumes when coming back as the new character, but shaved off his beard! As much fun as we had playing the game, one of the highlights of the night for me was sitting around with a few friends after the game ended and reading through all the character profiles. We read through all of them, even the ones that hadn’t been played, and realized how complex and layered the storyline was. There were entire subplots that never even came up! I can definitely see now why it is recommended to have as close to the maximum as possible—we actually already bought another Foulplay Game that requires a smaller number of people so that we can have every character in play the next time we host a game!"
We are frequently asked about the number of players needed for our games. We strive to make planning easy and maintain flexible ranges for all our games. However, we recommend choosing a game that you can come as close as possible to hitting the highest character count. This allows for dropouts or last-minute cancellations without compromising the integrity of the main story!
Did you add any fun touches—costumes, decor, themed snacks, etc?
"If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love a theme! My husband and I created a circus-tent installation to go on our ceiling, as well as a fun picture backdrop and area for carnival games. Some of our themed food included popcorn, pretzel bites, mini corndogs, and a cotton-candy margarita. We encouraged guests to dress up to their comfort level, and some of them went all-out!"
We definitely agree with Julia on loving a good theme--our love of themes inspired us to make a whole company about it! Julia’s love for themed parties was on full display for the evening, and the photos speak for themselves! The circus tent decor, nostalgic snacks, and carnival-style games helped set the tone for an immersive and playful night. And yes, we need the recipe for a cotton-candy margarita immediately!
Any tips or advice for others planning to host their own game?
"It’s okay if some people are more 'into it' than others. We had a mix of shy and more outgoing folks, including some very experienced D&D players, but everyone had a good time! The specific prompts and objectives provided in the character profiles made it so everyone had a good starting point and then could either run with it or hang back a little. But you may be surprised—some of our quieter friends were the biggest hits of the night!"
We see this all the time--people worry about their shy, introverted friends and if they will enjoy the party. But when the game gets started, it’s the quieter ones who always end up stealing the show! Whether you’re a seasoned roleplayer or a first-time host, Julia reminds us that the magic of a Foulplay Game is in how each guest brings their own energy to the story.
