Christmas carnivals in Lakewood.
A Christmas carnival takes the standard carnival and gives it a December look: striped booths in red and white and in green and white, warm string lights, candy-cane signs and game skins, prize games, concessions, a holiday balloon arch, and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo station. This guide to Christmas carnivals in Lakewood describes how the format fits the city's parks and community buildings, who books it, and how the cost bands run.
Lakewood organizers have Mayfair Park and Bolivar Park for open-air events, the John S. Todd Community Center and The Centre at Lakewood for programs with an indoor side, and the Lakewood Civic Center for civic occasions. Three districts serve the city's students: ABC Unified, Bellflower Unified and Long Beach Unified, each with campuses that can host a night before winter break.
Carnival Fun Experts provides the booths, games, concessions and Santa station. The host settles space and dates with the venue or the city.
A holiday carnival at home in Lakewood.
The entrance is a balloon arch in red and white, hung with candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread. Booths follow in a row or a loop, striped in red and white or green and white, with candy-cane signs and warm lights. Children play ring toss, milk can toss, balloon dart and hoop shot, and every game gives out prizes. A hungry crowd finds churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples at the concession booths.
Santa and Mrs. Claus anchor the far side in a sleigh at the photo-op station. The walk-in snow globe inflatable gives families another picture, and no snow falls in it. Because a carnival scales, a church can run a handful of booths in a lot while a city group fills a lawn. Both layouts share the same arch, the same styling and the same Santa.
What's typically included.
-
Holiday booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white striped booths in 10x10 and 5x5 sizes, strung with warm lights.
-
Prize games.
Traditional booth games, large-scale games, sports games and lawn games, matched to the ages at the event.
-
Arch and signage.
A balloon arch with candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread, plus candy-cane signs and game skins.
-
Seven concessions.
The snack menu runs from nachos and pretzels to cotton candy, popcorn, churros, snow cones and caramel apples, with one, two or three machines per booth.
-
Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Both are provided by Carnival Fun Experts and sit at the photo-op station. Parents can shoot on a phone, or the host can book the photographer.
-
Snow-flocked trim.
A static finish on trim and props, with a walk-in snow globe inflatable as a photo prop.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Lakewood.
- 1
Early fall
Choose a site and a date before winter break, ask the owner or the city about availability, and request a quote from Carnival Fun Experts.
- 2
Five weeks out
Settle the booth count and decide on Santa and Mrs. Claus. A 50% deposit holds the date.
- 3
Final week
Walk the site with its contact, confirm the headcount and share any certificate of insurance request.
- 4
Carnival day
The crew builds the booths and the arch, runs the event for the booked hours and clears the site.
Specifics for Lakewood.
- Parks: Mayfair Park and Bolivar Park can each host a carnival. The host confirms the date and the space with the city.
- Community buildings: The John S. Todd Community Center, The Centre at Lakewood and the Lakewood Civic Center can host a program that leads into the games. The host asks each what outdoor space is available.
- Three districts: ABC Unified, Bellflower Unified and Long Beach Unified each set their own approval steps. A school night at any of them runs through the principal's office, and a certificate of insurance comes from Carnival Fun Experts if the district wants one.
- Budget bands: Expect $4,000 to $10,000 for a neighborhood or HOA carnival, $10,000 to $25,000 for a company party, and $25,000 to $40,000 or more for a big multi-department event. Church events start from about $2,000.
- Permit paperwork: Where the city's permit wants paperwork from the vendor, Carnival Fun Experts supplies it.
- Power and heating: Carnival Fun Experts runs its own machines from a generator if outlets fall short. Heating for a cold evening belongs to the host.
Lakewood, CA.
ZIPs: 90711 · 90712 · 90713 · 90714 · 90715
Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Lakewood and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Who books a Christmas carnival?
Homeowner groups, church committees, school PTAs ahead of winter break, city departments and community organizations can book one. A company can too, for staff and families.
Does the host provide Santa?
No. Carnival Fun Experts provides Santa and Mrs. Claus for the photo-op station.
What is the smallest event?
A custom event starts near $1,500 at the low end, and a church event begins from about $2,000.
What does the host handle?
Tables and chairs, tents beyond our booths, ticket sales, catering, drinks, heating, permits and other vendors belong to the host.
Can a school in any of the three districts book one?
Yes. A campus event goes through the school office of the district involved, and the school picks a date before winter break.
Is the snow real?
No. The globe is an inflatable photo prop to walk into, and the flocked trim is a static finish that sits on props and trim.
About this guide.
This local guide to Christmas carnivals in Lakewood was compiled by Carnival Fun Experts, the Los Angeles County production arm of My Little Carnival. We specialize in producing seasonal festivals, school carnivals, and corporate events across Lakewood and the surrounding communities of Los Angeles County.
Helpful local references: City of Lakewood Recreation · ABC Unified School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Looking at a Christmas carnival for Lakewood?
Tell Carnival Fun Experts the date, the site and the expected guests, and the quote will be built for the space.
Get a quote →