Christmas carnivals in Ontario.
A Christmas carnival is a carnival whose entire look is the season: booths in red-and-white and green-and-white stripes, string lights, games with prizes, a candy-cane balloon arch and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo-op station. The Carnival Fun Experts produces Christmas carnivals in Ontario for HOAs, churches, schools before winter break, city departments and community groups, and the sections below cover the layout, the places to ask about and what each size costs.
Ontario has a convention center, two community centers and a pair of named parks that a host can ask about, and Southern California's typically dry climate keeps December events outdoors. Inland evenings cool after sunset, so a carnival that opens late in the afternoon reaches its string lights with families still arriving.
The Carnival Fun Experts produces Christmas carnivals in Ontario, from a few booths on a church lot to a multi-department company event.
The Christmas midway, set up in Ontario.
Guests pass under the holiday balloon arch, trimmed with candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures, and walk into striped booths. Candy-cane signage tops each booth, and games such as ring toss and bean toss wear candy-cane skins. Prizes go home with the players. The concession booths gather in one spot with churros, popcorn, nachos, pretzels, cotton candy, snow cones and caramel apples, so the food line does not tangle with a game.
Santa and Mrs. Claus sit at the photo-op station at the back of the midway, and every family walks past the booths to reach them. The walk-in snow globe inflatable adds a second picture spot, and trim and props carry a snow-flocked finish applied ahead of time. A host can ask the city about John Galvin Park, the Civic Center Community Conservation Park, the Dorothy A. Quesada Community Center or the Anthony Munoz Community Center, and a church or school lot can hold the same layout with fewer booths. Before booking, the host checks space and dates with the city or the venue that controls the site.
What's typically included.
-
Holiday booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white striped booths under string lights, in the count the host picks.
-
Candy-cane games.
Booth games dressed for December, with prizes for players.
-
Balloon arch.
Gingerbread figures, peppermint balloons and candy canes mark the way in.
-
Seven concessions.
Churros, popcorn, nachos, pretzels, cotton candy, snow cones and caramel apples.
-
Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Both come from The Carnival Fun Experts for the photo-op station.
-
Snow globe and flocked trim.
A snow globe inflatable to step inside for pictures, plus trim and props given a flocked finish before the event.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Ontario.
- 1
Choose the night.
Pick a date and a site, then share the guest count with The Carnival Fun Experts. A 50% deposit holds the date.
- 2
Venue and paperwork.
The host asks the city, the school, the church or the convention center for the site and files any permit. The Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance or the paperwork a permit requests.
- 3
Carnival night.
The lights, booths, arch and photo station stand ready when guests arrive. Our own equipment can run on generators when the venue's power is not enough.
- 4
Pack-out.
The midway comes down after the last guest leaves. The host handles tables, trash and any caterer.
Specifics for Ontario.
- Parks: John Galvin Park and the Civic Center Community Conservation Park are named sites a host can ask the City of Ontario about.
- Community centers: The Dorothy A. Quesada Community Center and the Anthony Munoz Community Center are named places to ask. The city confirms dates.
- Convention center: The Ontario Convention Center can host an event. A group asks the venue what dates and rules apply, and what the venue allows for outside vendors.
- School groups: The Ontario-Montclair, Chaffey Joint Union High and Mountain View school districts serve Ontario. A parent group can choose a night in the run-up to winter break once the principal agrees to the campus date.
- Cold evenings: Winter evenings turn cool, and warmth for guests, from heating to blankets to extra tents, comes from the host.
- Church carnivals: A church event can start from about $2,000 and use the church's own lot.
Ontario, CA.
ZIPs: 91758 · 91761 · 91762 · 91764
The Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Ontario and the surrounding San Bernardino County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
How much does an Ontario Christmas carnival run?
Plan on $4,000 to $10,000 for a neighborhood or HOA night and $10,000 to $25,000 for a company party. A multi-department event with a big guest list climbs to $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Churches can begin at about $2,000, and custom events start at roughly $1,500.
Does Santa come with the carnival?
Yes. The Carnival Fun Experts provides Santa and Mrs. Claus for the photo-op station.
Can a school book one before winter break?
Yes. Schools can plan a carnival for the weeks before break and confirm the campus and date with the school.
Does the snow globe release snow?
No. It is a walk-in inflatable used as a photo prop.
Can the carnival work next to a tree lighting?
Yes. The host supplies the tree and runs the ceremony, and the booths and the Santa station fill the space around it.
What does the host bring?
Seating, drinks, food past the seven concessions, heating, extra tents and permits.
About this guide.
This local guide to Christmas carnivals in Ontario was compiled by The Carnival Fun Experts, the Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino operation of My Little Carnival, a carnival event production company that has been delivering holiday carnivals, school festivals, and community events across Southern California.
Helpful local references: City of Ontario Recreation and Community Services · Ontario-Montclair School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Looking at a Christmas carnival in Ontario?
Pass along the date, the site and a guest count, and The Carnival Fun Experts will quote a carnival that fits.
Get a quote →