Christmas carnivals in San Bernardino.
A Christmas carnival is a carnival that wears December from the gate to the last booth: red-and-white and green-and-white stripes, warm string lights, games that pay out prizes, a holiday balloon arch and a photo-op station with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Carnival Fun Experts produces Christmas carnivals in San Bernardino for HOAs, churches, schools before winter break, city departments and community groups, and the notes below cover the layout, the local sites and the price of each size.
San Bernardino has parks, a soccer complex and the National Orange Show Events Center to ask about, and Southern California's typically dry climate keeps December plans outdoors. Inland nights cool off after sunset, so a carnival that opens in the late afternoon meets the dark with its string lights already on.
The Carnival Fun Experts builds Christmas carnivals in San Bernardino at every scale, from one church lot to a multi-department company event.
Inside a Christmas carnival in San Bernardino.
Guests step under the holiday balloon arch, trimmed with candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures, and onto a midway of striped booths. Candy-cane signage tops the booths, and games such as ring toss and bean toss carry candy-cane skins. Players carry their prizes out the gate. The concession booths cluster in one spot, selling cotton candy, churros, popcorn, pretzels, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples, which keeps the food line clear of the games.
Santa and Mrs. Claus occupy the photo-op station at the far end, and the walk-in snow globe inflatable offers another photo prop. A snow-flocked finish on trim and props gives the set its frosted look; it is applied ahead of time and nothing falls. A host can ask about the National Orange Show Events Center, Perris Hill Park, Nunez Park or Wildwood Park, and a church or school lot can hold a version with fewer booths. The host confirms space and dates with the venue or the city, and the layout is sized to the site.
What's typically included.
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Holiday booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white striped booths under warm string lights, counted to fit the site.
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Candy-cane games.
Booth games wearing candy-cane skins, each handing out prizes.
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Arch at the entrance.
Candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures greet guests.
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Concession booths.
Popcorn, pretzels, nachos, churros, cotton candy, snow cones and caramel apples.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The Carnival Fun Experts supplies Santa and Mrs. Claus for the photo-op station.
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Snow globe and flocking.
A snow globe inflatable guests can walk into, and a frosted finish applied beforehand to trim and props.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in San Bernardino.
- 1
Set the evening.
Choose a date and a site, then tell The Carnival Fun Experts the guest count. A 50% deposit holds the date.
- 2
Venue and paperwork.
The host confirms the site with the venue, the school or the city and files any permit. The Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance or whatever paperwork the permit asks for.
- 3
Carnival evening.
Booths, lights, arch and photo station are ready ahead of the gate. Generators power our own equipment if the venue falls short.
- 4
Pack-out.
The midway is struck after the last guests leave. Tables, trash and any caterer are the host's.
Specifics for San Bernardino.
- Events center: The National Orange Show Events Center can host an event. A group asks the venue what dates, rules and space apply.
- City parks: Perris Hill Park, Nunez Park, Wildwood Park and the San Bernardino Soccer Complex are named sites a host can ask the City of San Bernardino about.
- School groups: San Bernardino City Unified School District runs the city's schools. A parent group can aim for the weeks leading into winter break, with the campus date agreed with the school.
- Church carnivals: Churches can begin from about $2,000 and use their own lot.
- Cold evenings: Inland evenings cool off in winter, and the host arranges heating, extra tents and blankets.
- Tree lighting: A host running a tree lighting provides the tree, and the carnival can circle the ceremony.
San Bernardino, CA.
ZIPs: 92401 · 92402 · 92403 · 92404 · 92405 · 92406 · 92407 · 92408 · 92410 · 92411 · 92413 · 92415 · 92418 · 92423 · 92427
The Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout San Bernardino and the surrounding San Bernardino County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
What does a San Bernardino group pay for a Christmas carnival?
HOA and neighborhood events range from $4,000 to $10,000, company parties from $10,000 to $25,000, and large multi-department events from $25,000 to $40,000 or more. A church event can begin at about $2,000, and the smallest custom event begins around $1,500.
Does the carnival include Santa?
Yes. The Carnival Fun Experts provides Santa and Mrs. Claus for the photo-op station.
Will a school get a carnival in before the break?
Yes. The group plans for the weeks before break and confirms the campus and date with the school.
Who handles a venue reservation?
The host. For a park the host asks the city, and for the events center the host asks the venue.
Is there falling snow in the globe?
No. The globe is an inflatable photo prop that guests step into.
What does the host bring?
Furniture, beverages, food beyond the seven concessions, heating, extra tents and permits.
About this guide.
This local guide to Christmas carnivals in San Bernardino was compiled by The Carnival Fun Experts, the San Bernardino County operation of My Little Carnival, a carnival event production company that has been delivering holiday carnivals, school events, and community festivals across Southern California.
Helpful local references: City of San Bernardino · San Bernardino City Unified School District
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