Christmas carnivals in Malibu.
Think of a Christmas carnival as December staged as a midway: striped booths in red and white or green and white, warm string lights overhead, candy-cane game skins, a balloon arch at the entrance and a Santa and Mrs. Claus photo station. Christmas carnivals in Malibu are booked by groups that want a single December gathering for neighbors, families or a campus community, and Carnival Fun Experts provides the midway from the first booth to the last concession.
Malibu stretches along the coast with canyons behind it, so a host decides early which end of town the carnival belongs in. Malibu Bluffs Park, Trancas Canyon Park and Charmlee Wilderness Park are public sites a group might ask the city about, Michael Landon Community Center is another name on that list, and schools in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District can plan campus carnivals of their own. The host confirms space and dates with the city or the district.
Carnival Fun Experts sizes the booth line to whatever ground the host secures, whether that is a field, a lot or a courtyard.
A Christmas carnival on the Malibu coast.
The entrance carries the holiday look: a red-and-white balloon arch dressed with candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures. Past the arch, striped booths run in a loop or a line, and each one holds a carnival game with candy-cane trim and a shelf of prizes. String lights cross above the booths, which matters in a town where December light drops early and an afternoon event can turn into an evening one without any change to the plan.
The food line is Carnival Fun Experts's seven concessions: caramel apples, popcorn, churros, cotton candy, pretzels, nachos and snow cones. A walk-in snow globe inflatable stands near the arch as a photo prop with nothing falling inside, and snow-flocked trim on props adds a white finish. The Santa photo-op station sits apart from the games so the picture line has its own space. Families can use phones, or the host can add the photographer Carnival Fun Experts offers.
What's typically included.
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Striped booths in holiday colors.
Red-and-white and green-and-white booths, counted to the crowd, under warm string lights.
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Games and prizes.
Carnival games in candy-cane skins with prizes at every counter.
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Balloon arch.
Candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread on an arch at the gate or the Santa set.
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Seven concessions.
Caramel apples, popcorn, churros, cotton candy, pretzels, nachos and snow cones, served by Carnival Fun Experts attendants.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
A photo-op station with both, where families use phones or the photographer Carnival Fun Experts offers.
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Snow globe and flocked trim.
A walk-in inflatable photo prop and a static snow-flocked finish on trim and props.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Malibu.
- 1
Choose the setting
Pick a date, a rough crowd size and the kind of site: a school field, a park lawn, a hall lot.
- 2
Clear the site
The host gets the venue's or the city's approval, and Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance or the paperwork a permit asks for.
- 3
Agree on the build
Booth count, concessions and décor go on the quote, and a 50% deposit holds the date.
- 4
The carnival
Carnival Fun Experts builds the midway, staffs it through the event window and packs it out.
Specifics for Malibu.
- Public parks: Malibu Bluffs Park, Trancas Canyon Park and Charmlee Wilderness Park are sites a group can ask the city about. Availability and any equipment rules come from the city.
- Community center: A host interested in Michael Landon Community Center asks the center about dates before planning a layout.
- School campuses: A campus in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District needs the school's approval and its calendar.
- Cost range: Association carnivals land at $4,000 to $10,000. A company party moves to $10,000 to $25,000. Events spanning several departments reach $25,000 to $40,000 or more, while a church gathering can start near $2,000.
- Smallest event: A small custom event starts around $1,500.
- Host's side: Seating, extra tents, drinks, heating and permits are the host's or the venue's.
Malibu, CA.
ZIPs: 90263 · 90264 · 90265
Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Malibu and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Can a Malibu Christmas carnival run in the evening?
Yes. The string lights over the booth line suit an evening, and the host should confirm the venue's closing hour. Heating, if wanted, is the host's to arrange.
What kind of Malibu ground works for the midway?
A park lawn, a school field or a community lot that can host an event, with the host confirming space and dates with the city or the district.
Does the carnival include Santa?
Carnival Fun Experts provides Santa and Mrs. Claus as part of an event booking.
What does a neighborhood event cost?
A neighborhood or HOA event falls between $4,000 and $10,000, and a very small custom event can begin around $1,500.
What should the host tell Carnival Fun Experts about the site?
The footprint, the surface (grass, asphalt or a mix), where outlets sit and where the gate is. With those, Carnival Fun Experts can draw a layout that fits.
Who provides tables and tents?
The host or venue. Carnival Fun Experts arrives with booths, games, concession stands, décor and Santa, and leaves furniture to the host.
About this guide.
This local guide to christmas carnivals in Malibu was compiled by Carnival Fun Experts, the Los Angeles County operation of My Little Carnival, producers of holiday events, school carnivals, and backyard birthdays across Southern California.
Helpful local references: City of Malibu Parks and Recreation · Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
Set the date for a Christmas carnival in Malibu.
Share the date, the site and the guest count with Carnival Fun Experts and a quote follows. Small custom events start near $1,500.
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