Christmas carnivals in Irvine.
A Christmas carnival turns the standard midway into a holiday event: striped booths in red-and-white and green-and-white, warm string lights overhead, candy-cane signs on the games, a balloon arch at the entrance and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo station. It stands as the whole event, with nothing else needed to carry it. Here is what christmas carnivals in Irvine involve, from the sites a host can ask about to what each size of event costs.
Irvine hosts have several sites to ask about: the Orange County Great Park, Mike Ward Community Park in Woodbridge, Bill Barber Memorial Park and Quail Hill Community Park. Campuses run by Irvine Unified School District and Tustin Unified School District keep their own calendars, which matters for any carnival timed to the last week before winter break.
The Carnival Fun Experts supplies the booths, the games, the concessions and the Santa station, and the host supplies the site and the green light from the city or the school.
How a Christmas carnival comes together in Irvine.
Start with the entrance. The balloon arch, in candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread figures, marks the way in, and the first booths line up behind it with their candy-cane signage lit from above. Ring toss, bottle ring, dime pitch and milk can toss fill the row, with prize tables beside them. The Santa station takes a corner, so the line stays out of the way of the games.
Food comes from seven concessions: churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples. The walk-in snow globe inflatable gives families a prop to step into for a photo, and nothing falls inside it. Snow-flocked trim on props is a static finish. Drinks, tables and any heated room belong to the host or the venue.
What's typically included.
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Holiday-striped booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white booths hung with candy-cane signage and warm string lights.
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Prize games.
Traditional booth games with candy-cane skins, and prizes sized to the number of guests.
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Balloon arch and décor.
A holiday arch of candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread, plus a snow-flocked finish on trim and props.
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Concessions.
Seven concessions run by The Carnival Fun Experts attendants: churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
A photo-op station staffed with both, plus the walk-in snow globe inflatable as an extra backdrop.
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A crew from start to strike.
The Carnival Fun Experts builds the carnival before doors, staffs it for the booked hours and breaks it down the same day.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Irvine.
- 1
Start in September
Name a date and a site, then ask The Carnival Fun Experts for a first quote based on a rough count of guests.
- 2
A month ahead
Lock the booth count and the concession mix, and send the park or school request.
- 3
Final week
Walk the site, mark the outlets and agree where the Santa station sits. The Carnival Fun Experts sends the certificate of insurance.
- 4
Carnival day
The crew builds in the afternoon and switches the lights on as dusk arrives, and clears the site once the event ends.
Specifics for Irvine.
- Great Park: The Orange County Great Park can host an event. The host confirms space and dates with the City of Irvine before sending invitations.
- Neighborhood parks: Mike Ward Community Park in Woodbridge, Bill Barber Memorial Park and Quail Hill Community Park can host a carnival. Each reservation runs through the city's community services.
- Schools: Irvine Unified School District and Tustin Unified School District campuses book through the site office, and the district can ask for a certificate of insurance, which The Carnival Fun Experts provides.
- Cost bands: Neighborhood or HOA events run $4,000 to $10,000. Company parties run $10,000 to $25,000. A large multi-department event runs $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Church events start around $2,000.
- Smallest event: A small custom carnival starts around $1,500, with one or two booths and a station.
- Generators: The Carnival Fun Experts runs a generator only for its own equipment when venue power falls short.
Irvine, CA.
ZIPs: 92602 · 92603 · 92604 · 92606 · 92612 · 92614 · 92616 · 92617 · 92618 · 92619 · 92620 · 92623 · 92697
The Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Irvine and the surrounding Orange County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Which Irvine sites can hold a Christmas carnival?
The Orange County Great Park, Mike Ward Community Park in Woodbridge, Bill Barber Memorial Park and Quail Hill Community Park can host an event. The host confirms space and dates with the city.
What does a neighborhood carnival cost?
A neighborhood or HOA carnival runs $4,000 to $10,000. The Carnival Fun Experts adjusts the booth count to land inside that range.
Can a school host one before winter break?
Yes. The school confirms the date with Irvine Unified or Tustin Unified, and The Carnival Fun Experts provides the paperwork the district asks for.
Is a Christmas tree part of the carnival?
No. A tree lighting is the host's to run, and the host supplies the tree. The Carnival Fun Experts can arrange the booths around it.
Does the menu include any drinks?
No. The seven concessions are the food list, and drinks are for the host or a separate vendor to arrange.
What if the lot has no outlets?
The Carnival Fun Experts brings a generator to run its own equipment when venue power falls short.
About this guide.
Compiled by The Carnival Fun Experts, the Orange County and Riverside operation of My Little Carnival, which produces holiday carnivals, winter festivals and seasonal parties across Southern California. This guide covers Christmas carnivals in Irvine and the paperwork, power and layout questions that come with them.
Helpful local references: City of Irvine Community Services · Orange County Great Park
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Planning a Christmas carnival in Irvine?
Share the date, the site and an approximate guest count with The Carnival Fun Experts, and the quote will fall in the right cost band.
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