Where can I find stuff for a Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns) theme party?

October 16, 2010 9:00 AM

Where can I find stuff for a Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns) theme party?

Any tips on finding good/scary clown things for my best friend's birthday?

posted by Gusaroo to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

If you're inclined to watch a movie, and can find a copy of it, then there's "Killer Klowns from Outer Space".
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:05 AM on October 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Look at most stores that carry Halloween stuff. There is a massive amount of scary clown stuff out this year in various Halloween stores.
posted by SuzySmith at 9:40 AM on October 16, 2010

Have you been down to the local party store? There are usually some real circus themed party items for children's parties. I find a lot of those really creepy, but it would be easy to alter stuff to make it scarier. Adding some fake blood spatter would be easy. You could take a clown cut out and make the eyes creepier and maybe make the teeth look pointed.

If your friend is really scared of clowns then your everyday clown stuff could be good and scary. My cousin is super scared of clowns and if she walked into a room where every available surface was covered by regular clowns she'd probably flee in terror. I get creeped out by clowns and I get uncomfortable just thinking about it.
posted by TooFewShoes at 9:45 AM on October 16, 2010

Seconding your local party store, or even CVSgreens, especially this time of year. Ordinary colored hairspray and facepaint can be adapted in some very frightening ways.
posted by tamagogirl at 10:11 AM on October 16, 2010

Umm, I know that this isn't directly answering your question, but does your friend know that this is the party theme? I am afraid of clowns, and if somebody did this to me, I would be freaked out and horrified. I realize most people think that being afraid of clowns is a joke, but it really isn't, at least for me and lots of others. There is a website: I hate clowns. And maybe it will be a good resource, either way.
posted by bwonder2 at 10:35 AM on October 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

You might also check out local flea markets and yard sales. Almost always something weird and clown-related there.
posted by buzzkillington at 11:29 AM on October 16, 2010

Response by poster: The birthday girl doesn't know that we're doing the clown thing, but I won't go completely overboard with it.

I should have thought of the Halloween stores---sheesh! And thanks for the "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" tip!
posted by Gusaroo at 11:33 AM on October 16, 2010

Anything that is a reference to 'IT.' Just scan the cover and blow it up poster-size.

That being said, although I once accidentally enrolled in a clowning summer program,* I really don't like clowns, and I would be angry and hurt if someone did this to me, including my best friends. I don't cry in public, but a clown-themed birthday party would do it. We love you so much that we devoted time to filling a celebration with SOMETHING YOU HATE AND AVOID. What? You're upset? It's a party! Can't you take a joke?

I don't understand arachnophobia. But I don't throw spider-theme parties for my friends who are arachnophobic, even the one who attended a school with an arachnid mascot. Even if it didn't directly upset them, it's pointing out one of their personal quirks in a very public manner in a way that sets them up for an evening of being poked about it by people of various levels of acquaintance and closeness.

*that was a very special bait-and-switch lesson. I did learn how to juggle and walk a tightrope, though.
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 12:47 PM on October 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

Thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army etc.) are notorious for hideous clown items.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:25 PM on October 16, 2010