Hey Scarlett! Pittsburgh here. I totally get the noise maker struggle. I just threw a big "superhero training academy" party for my nephew Beckett (4) and nieces Jude (9) and Lily (10) last month, and I agonized over this exact thing. My personal style is anxious planner, so I had backup noise makers for my backup noise makers!

For the main event, I actually tried something a little different. Instead of just blowouts, I found these surprisingly decent metal clickers at Dollar Tree. They were like, 3 for $1.25, so I grabbed about 30 of them. They held up pretty well, honestly. The kids, especially Jude and Lily, loved them because they made a satisfying *clack-clack* sound that wasn't overly obnoxious like some whistles, but definitely added to the chaos. I mean, the whole point of noise makers is to make noise, right?

But here's where it went wrong for me, and something I’d do differently next time: I didn't test them all beforehand. About a quarter of them broke within the first hour of the party. The little metal part just popped out of the plastic handle. So, my backup plan kicked in – I had ordered a big box of these Party Blowers Noisemakers 12-Pack from Amazon Prime, like 5 packs, just in case. They're the standard paper kind with the little plastic mouthpiece. They’re not eco-friendly at all, which I felt bad about, but in a pinch, they worked. And the kids still thought they were hilarious. So my advice is, whatever you choose for the best noise makers for carnival party, buy extra, or get two different types as a safeguard. And test them! Learn from my mistakes, haha.

Hi Scarlett! Sarah from Tucson here. Your eco-conscious approach is admirable! Moving every two years as a military spouse means I’m always thinking about minimizing clutter and maximizing durability. My research for my daughter Zoe’s (9) last birthday party (a space theme, she’s obsessed with astrophysics) led me down a rabbit hole for noise makers, and I definitely have some thoughts on the best noise makers for carnival party situations.

I actually looked into making some DIY options using tin cans and beads, which sounds great in theory for anti-waste, but the time commitment was just too much with Ethan (2) running around. Plus, getting the colors to match the "galactic nebula" theme was proving difficult, and you know how I get about matching colors! So I started comparing actual products.

For Zoe’s party, I ended up getting a set of small, durable metal cowbells. They weren’t cheap – about $35 for a dozen on an online craft store – but they were solid. Kids could ring them, and they actually sounded musical, not just shrill. They were a hit, and I actually still have them in our party box, ready for the next move. They’re super easy to wipe down and sanitize, too. I even got some colorful ribbons to tie on them to match the party palette. For a carnival theme, cowbells could totally work and add a fun, authentic sound effect. Another option I considered was small kazoos, but sometimes those can be hard for younger kids to figure out, and honestly, the sound can get piercing. The metal cowbells felt like a good compromise between fun, durability, and not wanting to throw everything out immediately after the party. Good luck with the hunt!

Oh, Scarlett, a carnival party! That sounds like so much fun for your crew! Cole (2), Ethan (4), Asher (6), Meera (9), and Cole (13) would go absolutely wild for that. This is Anna from Portland, queen of the frugal party finds!

Finding the best noise makers for carnival party on a budget while still getting decent quality is my kind of challenge. I totally hear you on the plastic junk. For Meera's last party, which was a sort of "vintage circus" vibe, I actually scored some really neat wooden clappers at an estate sale. They were maybe 50 cents each? I got about 20 of them. A little bit of sanding and some acrylic paint (my party themes get competitive, so details matter!) and they looked brand new and fit right in. The sound was a nice, deep clack, not that high-pitched screech. They’ve held up through three subsequent playdates already!

If you don’t have time for a thrift store hunt, I’ve had surprising luck with party whistles from Oriental Trading Company – they often have bulk deals. I once got 50 plastic whistles for $10, and they were surprisingly sturdy for what they were. Not eco-friendly, I know, but sometimes you gotta balance the budget with the waste, right? What I did was, instead of giving them out as favors, I collected them at the end of the party and saved them for future use. Just wash 'em with some dish soap. A lot of my friends just chuck stuff, but I’m a total coupon queen and I reuse everything! For an actual carnival feel, a classic whistle or a slide whistle could be really effective without costing a fortune. They definitely get the point across!

Bonus: Don't Forget the Family Dog

My corgi Biscuit (28 lbs) freaked out at the first horn blast, then parked herself right next to the popcorn machine for the rest of the party. That's when I realized — dogs want in on the party too. We ended up getting a CPSIA-certified dog birthday hat from GINYOU, and it stayed on through photos, cake cutting, and a 15-minute yard lap. If your pup is part of the celebration, check out the full dog birthday party supplies collection — the crown is $5.99 and ships same day.