Christmas carnivals in Orange.
A Christmas carnival is a full carnival with a December look: red-and-white and green-and-white striped booths under warm string lights, candy-cane signs and game skins, a holiday balloon arch, and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo-op station. The carnival is the event itself. Below is a planner's view of christmas carnivals in Orange, covering the parks and campuses a host can ask about, how the midway is laid out, and what each size of event costs.
Orange hosts can ask about Hart Park, Grijalva Park, Handy Park, Shaffer Park and Yorba Park for an outdoor carnival. Campuses are run by Orange Unified School District, so a school carnival before winter break begins with a request to the site office and a date that fits the district calendar.
The Carnival Fun Experts builds the carnival, staffs it and strikes it. The host brings the site, the date and the approval from the city or the district.
A Christmas carnival in Orange.
The entrance sets the tone: a balloon arch of candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread figures, with striped booths running away from it under strings of warm lights. Candy-cane signs mark ring toss, bottle ring, dime pitch and milk can toss, and prizes wait at the end of the row. A park such as Hart Park can take the booths in a loop around open grass, while a school lot can take them in a row along one edge.
Santa and Mrs. Claus have a photo-op station beside the midway. The walk-in snow globe inflatable is a prop for pictures, and nothing falls inside it. Props and trim wearing snow-flocking carry a fixed finish. Seven concession stands cover the food, and the menu is churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples. Seating, drinks and anything warm are for the host or the venue to arrange, and a carnival that starts at sundown has its string lights working from the first guest.
What's typically included.
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Holiday booths.
Two booth colorways, red-and-white and green-and-white, with candy-cane signs and lights strung overhead.
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Games and prizes.
Booth games with candy-cane skins, and prizes stocked for the headcount.
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Balloon arch.
A holiday arch of candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread figures over the entrance.
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Seven concessions.
Seven stands, staffed by The Carnival Fun Experts, selling churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
A photo-op station with both of them, plus the snow globe inflatable as a second backdrop.
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Crew from setup to strike.
The Carnival Fun Experts builds before doors open, staffs every booth and station and clears the site the same day.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Orange.
- 1
Start of fall
Choose a date and a site, and send The Carnival Fun Experts a guest estimate for the first quote.
- 2
A month out
Set the booth count, the concession mix and the Santa station, then submit the park or district request.
- 3
Event week
Walk the site with The Carnival Fun Experts, locate the outlets and send the certificate of insurance.
- 4
Carnival day
The crew builds in the afternoon, lights up at dusk and packs out after the last guest.
Specifics for Orange.
- City parks: Hart Park, Grijalva Park, Handy Park, Shaffer Park and Yorba Park can each host an event, and the City of Orange tells the host which dates and areas are open.
- School campuses: Orange Unified School District campuses schedule through the site office, and The Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance the district asks for.
- Cost bands: Neighborhood or HOA carnivals are priced at $4,000 to $10,000 and company parties at $10,000 to $25,000. Multi-department events across a large company run $25,000 to $40,000 or more, and a church event can begin near $2,000.
- Smallest event: The smallest custom carnival starts around $1,500, with a few booths and a Santa station.
- Power: The Carnival Fun Experts runs a generator only for its own equipment when the site's power falls short.
- Host's list: Tables, chairs, tents beyond the booths, heating, drinks and permits are the host's to arrange.
Orange, CA.
ZIPs: 92856 · 92857 · 92859 · 92862 · 92863 · 92864 · 92865 · 92866 · 92867 · 92868 · 92869
The Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Orange and the surrounding Orange County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Which Orange parks can host a Christmas carnival?
Any of Hart Park, Grijalva Park, Handy Park, Shaffer Park or Yorba Park can host one, with the host checking space and dates through the city first.
What would a neighborhood carnival cost?
A neighborhood or HOA carnival costs $4,000 to $10,000, and The Carnival Fun Experts fits the booth count to that band.
Can an Orange Unified school hold one?
Yes. The site office sets the date, then The Carnival Fun Experts writes up the certificate of insurance for the district.
What is the smallest event?
A small custom carnival starts around $1,500. It is a short list of booths and one Santa station.
Do you bring a tree for a tree lighting?
No. The host runs the tree lighting and supplies the tree, and The Carnival Fun Experts places the booths around it.
Who handles drinks and heating?
The host or the venue. The Carnival Fun Experts runs the seven concessions and nothing on the drink side.
About this guide.
Compiled by The Carnival Fun Experts, the Orange County and Riverside operation of My Little Carnival. This guide explains how Christmas carnivals are planned in Orange. The Carnival Fun Experts appears here as the page publisher and the contact for a quote on carnival-style event production.
Helpful local references: Orange Unified School District · City of Orange Community Services
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Thinking about a Christmas carnival in Orange?
Share the date, the site and a guest estimate with The Carnival Fun Experts, and the quote comes back inside the right cost band.
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