In Mario Party 8 the Star Carnival rolls into town, and Ballyhoo, (the main host and possibly the owner of the Star Carnival) along with Big Top, Ballyhoo's talking top hat, challenges everyone to the "Star Battle" which the winner is crowned Superstar and wins a year's worth of candy with a relic called the Star Rod. Bowser comes along to steal the Star Rod, and it is up to the player's character to save the Star Carnival.
