Christmas carnivals in Burbank.
A Christmas carnival is a carnival midway where every visible detail belongs to the season: booths striped red and white or green and white, candy-cane signs on the games, warm string lights, a balloon arch and a photo station with Santa and Mrs. Claus. It is booked as the event, not added to one. This page on christmas carnivals in Burbank describes what gets set up, which local places a host might ask about and what Carnival Fun Experts provides.
Burbank hosts have a recognizable list of places to start with. McCambridge Park, Johnny Carson Park and George Izay Park are city parks, the Ovrom Community Center is a community facility, and the Starlight Bowl is a venue a host can ask the city about. Burbank Unified School District runs the schools where a PTA might plan a night before winter break, and the host confirms every date with the city or the school office.
Carnival Fun Experts builds the Christmas midway, staffs it for the booked hours and clears the site afterward.
How a Christmas carnival comes together in Burbank.
The entrance is a balloon arch in red, white and green, trimmed with candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures. The midway beyond it alternates red-and-white booths with green-and-white booths, each hung with warm string lights so the row glows when the sun goes down early in December. Candy-cane signs label the games, and the game skins match. Ring toss, bean toss, hoop shot and balloon darts pay out prizes, and the whole row can be walked in a few minutes or lingered over for an evening.
Santa and Mrs. Claus have a photo-op station of their own, with room for a line beside the booths. A walk-in snow globe inflatable can be added as a picture prop, and a snow-flocked finish can go on props and trim. The food list is the seven concessions: churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples. A park lawn can take a loop of booths, and a school or church lot can take an L along one edge.
What's typically included.
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Holiday-striped booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white booths, in the number the crowd and the site allow.
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Candy-cane games and prizes.
Carnival games with candy-cane skins and a prize supply for the booked hours.
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Warm string lights.
Lights along the booth row, so an evening event keeps its carnival look after dark.
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Arch, signs and trim.
The holiday balloon arch, candy-cane signage and snow-flocked trim on props.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Carnival Fun Experts provides both, with the photo-op station built into the layout.
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Concessions and crew.
The seven concession items, with Carnival Fun Experts attendants on every booth and stand.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Burbank.
- 1
Choose the day
An HOA board, church or PTA picks a weekend or a school evening before the holiday.
- 2
Scope the carnival
Booths, concessions and Santa are agreed with Carnival Fun Experts, and a 50% deposit holds the date.
- 3
Clear the site
The host reserves the park or campus, and Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance the site requests.
- 4
Carnival night
The arch and booths go up, the lights come on, games run for the booked hours and the lot is cleared.
Specifics for Burbank.
- City sites: McCambridge Park, Johnny Carson Park, George Izay Park, the Ovrom Community Center and the Starlight Bowl can each host an event. The host confirms space and dates with the city.
- Starlight Bowl: The Starlight Bowl is a venue a host can ask about. The host checks with the city on what an outdoor carnival layout may use there.
- Schools: Burbank Unified School District decides what its campuses host, so a PTA planning a pre-break carnival starts with the school office and the district's vendor insurance form.
- HOA and church budgets: A neighborhood or HOA carnival is about $4,000 to $10,000, and church events can start from about $2,000.
- Company budgets: A company carnival runs about $10,000 to $25,000, and a large multi-department event goes to $25,000 to $40,000 or more.
- Host's job: Tables, chairs, drinks, extra tents, heating, ticketing and permit fees; the smallest custom event starts around $1,500.
Burbank, CA.
ZIPs: 91501 · 91502 · 91503 · 91504 · 91505 · 91506 · 91507 · 91508 · 91510 · 91521 · 91522 · 91523 · 91526
Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Burbank and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Which Burbank places could host a Christmas carnival?
McCambridge Park, Johnny Carson Park, George Izay Park, the Ovrom Community Center and the Starlight Bowl can host an event. The host confirms space and dates with the city before announcing anything.
What turns a carnival into a Christmas carnival?
The styling. Every booth, sign and game skin is made for the holiday, and the Santa photo-op station anchors the layout.
Can a school run one before break?
Yes. The school office and Burbank Unified School District approve the date and the vendor paperwork, and Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance.
Can we add inflatables?
Yes. A jumper, a combo unit or the walk-in snow globe inflatable can sit beside the booths when the lot has the room and allows them.
Can we combine it with our own tree lighting?
Yes. The host supplies the tree and runs the lighting, and the carnival fills the space around it.
Who handles the meal?
The host. Carnival Fun Experts brings the seven concession items. Any meal, drink, table or chair comes from the host or the venue.
About this guide.
This local guide to christmas carnivals in Burbank was compiled by Carnival Fun Experts, the Los Angeles County division of My Little Carnival, which produces seasonal festivals, corporate parties and community events across Southern California.
Helpful local references: City of Burbank Parks and Recreation · Burbank Unified School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Planning a Christmas carnival in Burbank?
Share the date, the site and a headcount, and Carnival Fun Experts will price a midway your space can hold.
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