Christmas carnivals in Palm Springs.
A Christmas carnival is a carnival built around the season from the first booth to the last, with striped red-and-white and green-and-white booths, string lights, candy-cane signs over the games, a holiday balloon arch and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo station. This page covers Christmas carnivals in Palm Springs, where a desert evening in December is dry.
Palm Springs gives a host several named parks to ask about: Sunrise Park, Demuth Park, Ruth Hardy Park and Victoria Park, plus the Demuth Community Center. Schools belong to Palm Springs Unified School District, so a parent group has a single district to approach. The carnival's job is to supply the Christmas look. The desert supplies the dry air, and the host arranges warmth for the cold part of the evening.
The Carnival Fun Experts produces the carnival and brings Santa and Mrs. Claus. Reserving the site, along with tables, chairs and heat, belongs to the host.
A Christmas midway in Palm Springs.
Start from the gate. The holiday arch, hung with candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures, frames the entrance, and the striped booths in both color schemes line the walkway behind it, with candy-cane signs over ring toss, bottle ring, milk can toss and dime pitch. String lights run from booth to booth. In a place where the sun sets early in December and the temperature drops with it, the lights do most of the seasonal work once dusk arrives.
The food booths sit together and serve churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples. The Santa and Mrs. Claus photo-op station takes the far end, and a walk-in snow globe inflatable stands beside it as a prop for pictures; nothing falls inside. Pricing depends on scale. A neighborhood or HOA carnival comes to about $4,000 to $10,000, a company party to $10,000 to $25,000, and a large multi-department event to $25,000 to $40,000 or more. A church event can start from about $2,000, and the smallest custom event begins around $1,500.
What's typically included.
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Striped booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white booths topped with candy-cane signage and warm string lights.
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Carnival games.
Ring toss, bottle ring, milk can toss, dime pitch and others, in candy-cane skins, with prizes.
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Holiday arch.
Candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures at the entrance or behind the Santa station.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The Carnival Fun Experts supplies both for the carnival's booked hours.
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Food booths.
One-, two- or three-machine booths covering the seven concessions.
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Seasonal finish.
A walk-in snow globe inflatable for photos and snow-flocked trim on props, a static finish.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Palm Springs.
- 1
Ask for the park
Check a date with the city or the school and tell The Carnival Fun Experts how many guests to plan for.
- 2
Shape the carnival
Choose booths, food booths and the Santa station. A 50% deposit holds the date.
- 3
Filing and insurance
The host files with the city or the district, and The Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance and the paperwork a permit asks for.
- 4
Carnival day
The crew builds the arch, booths and lights, runs the event and clears the site at close.
Specifics for Palm Springs.
- Sunrise Park: A city park that can host a carnival, with space and dates confirmed through the city.
- Demuth Park and Demuth Community Center: Hosts ask the city which area, indoor or outdoor, can be reserved for an event.
- Ruth Hardy Park and Victoria Park: Both can host a neighborhood event once the city confirms the reservation.
- Palm Springs Unified: The district has its own facility-use steps for a campus carnival before winter break.
- Cold evenings: The desert cools quickly after sunset. Heating is the host's job.
- Power: A The Carnival Fun Experts generator runs our own equipment when venue power falls short.
Palm Springs, CA.
ZIPs: 92262 · 92263 · 92264
The Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Palm Springs and the surrounding Riverside County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
What does a Palm Springs Christmas carnival include?
Striped booths with games, string lights, concessions, a holiday balloon arch and a Santa and Mrs. Claus station, built as one event.
Who can book one?
HOAs, churches, school groups, city departments and community clubs can book one, each with its own site approval.
What does it cost?
A neighborhood or HOA carnival is about $4,000 to $10,000, a company party $10,000 to $25,000, and a large multi-department event $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Church events start from about $2,000, and the smallest custom event begins around $1,500.
Is there any actual winter weather?
No. Palm Springs December weather is dry. The snow touches are a snow globe inflatable for photos, snow-flocked trim on props and snow cones at the food booth.
Who provides heat once the sun goes down?
The host arranges it with the site. The Carnival Fun Experts does not supply heaters or any heating.
Can the carnival use the Demuth Community Center?
The host asks the city whether the center or its grounds can hold an event on the date. The Carnival Fun Experts sizes the booths to the space granted.
About this guide.
This local guide to Christmas carnivals in Palm Springs was compiled by The Carnival Fun Experts, the Orange County and Riverside operation of My Little Carnival, delivering holiday carnivals, school events and community festivals across Southern California.
Helpful local references: City of Palm Springs · Palm Springs Unified School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Planning a Palm Springs Christmas carnival?
Send The Carnival Fun Experts the park, the date and a rough headcount, and we will map out booths, food and the Santa station.
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