Christmas carnivals in Hawthorne.
A Christmas carnival is a carnival where the whole midway wears the holiday look: striped booths in red-and-white and green-and-white, warm string lights, candy-cane game skins, a balloon arch and a Santa station. This guide to christmas carnivals in Hawthorne is for HOAs, church groups, school committees and community organizers who want a full December event, not a single activity.
Hawthorne's list of gathering places includes Memorial Park, the Hawthorne Memorial Center, the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center, Holly Park and Jim Thorpe Park. Two school districts serve the city, Hawthorne School District and Centinela Valley Union High School District. Space and dates at any site are confirmed with the venue or the city.
Carnival Fun Experts supplies the booths, games, concessions, balloon arch and Santa and Mrs. Claus for Christmas carnivals in Los Angeles County.
The Christmas midway, laid out for Hawthorne.
A visitor enters through the balloon arch, which carries candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures, and meets the first row of booths. Red-and-white and green-and-white stripes alternate along the row, candy-cane signs hang over the games, and prizes pass from booth attendants to children. The layout can be a straight row, a loop or an L, whichever fits the site the host has confirmed.
Concession stands sit along the walkway with churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples. The walk-in snow globe inflatable is a photo prop, and nothing falls inside it. Snow-flocked trim on booths and props is a static finish. Santa and Mrs. Claus take the photo-op station at the end of the midway, where families can use their own phones as the string lights come on.
What's typically included.
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Striped holiday booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white booths dressed with warm string lights and candy-cane signage, sized to the number of games you book.
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Games and prizes.
Ring toss, bottle ring, milk can toss, dime pitch, hoop shot, balloon dart and more, each with prizes for the players.
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Candy-cane game skins.
Holiday fronts that make each game booth part of the Christmas look from the walkway.
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Balloon arch.
An entrance arch trimmed with candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread figures, and a ready photo backdrop.
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Concession stands.
The seven concessions, served from booths with one, two or three machines.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus station.
A photo-op station with Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus the walk-in snow globe as a second photo prop.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Hawthorne.
- 1
Check the site
Ask the venue or the City of Hawthorne whether the date is open and what vendors must file.
- 2
Size the midway
Tell Carnival Fun Experts the expected crowd, then choose booths and stands. A 50% deposit holds the date.
- 3
Walk the layout
Place the arch, the Santa line and the power points. Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance or the paperwork a permit asks for.
- 4
Carnival day
The booths open at the booked start time, lights come on as it gets dark, and the equipment is cleared when the event closes.
Specifics for Hawthorne.
- Parks and centers: Memorial Park, Hawthorne Memorial Center, Betty Ainsworth Sports Center, Holly Park and Jim Thorpe Park are the places named for Hawthorne. The host checks each with the venue or city.
- Two school districts: Hawthorne School District and Centinela Valley Union High School District run the public schools. A campus carnival before winter break follows each principal's approval and district calendar.
- Cost bands: A neighborhood or HOA event runs about $4,000 to $10,000. A company party runs $10,000 to $25,000, and a large multi-department event runs $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Church events start from about $2,000, and the smallest custom event starts around $1,500.
- Power: Carnival Fun Experts can run a generator for its own equipment when venue power falls short.
- Early dark: December evenings get dark early, so the string lights on the booths carry the look.
- Host handles: Drinks, meals, tables, chairs, extra tents, any heating, a Christmas tree for a lighting, and other vendors.
Hawthorne, CA.
ZIPs: 90250 · 90251
Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Hawthorne and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Can a church lot host a Christmas carnival?
A church with a parking lot or open grounds can host a carnival. The church confirms its own rules, and church events start from about $2,000.
What happens at dusk?
The string lights over the booths come on and the balloon arch and signage show up against the evening sky.
Is the snow globe a ride?
No. It is a walk-in inflatable photo prop, and nothing falls inside it.
How do school calendars affect the date?
A school carnival has to fit the district calendar and the principal's approval, so the committee picks a date before winter break and then books.
Does Carnival Fun Experts provide tents?
Carnival Fun Experts brings its own booths. Tents beyond the booths belong to the host.
Can we pair it with a tree lighting?
Yes. The host brings the tree and runs the lighting, and the midway and Santa station run around it.
About this guide.
This local guide to christmas carnivals in Hawthorne was compiled by Carnival Fun Experts, the Los Angeles County operation of My Little Carnival, producers of holiday events, school carnivals, and community festivals across Southern California.
Helpful local references: City of Hawthorne · Hawthorne School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Planning a Christmas carnival in Hawthorne?
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