corporate holiday parties in Palmdale.

A company holiday party in Palmdale.

The party is built from striped booths with games and prizes, seven concession stands, and a DJ or sound system. Performers come from a list of face painters, balloon artists, caricature artists, jugglers, stilt walkers and walk-around magicians. A small team can pick a few, and a larger company can add more. A tight lot takes a short loop of booths, and an open field takes a long row.

For a daytime family party, jumpers and a face painter join the booths. For an after-work party, the DJ, the caricature artist and the snack stands anchor the midway, and string lights run overhead as the high desert cools after sunset. Heating is the company's to arrange, along with meals, drinks, tables, chairs and any tent beyond the booths, since a December evening here turns cold quickly. Santa and Mrs. Claus hold a photo station under the holiday balloon arch for employees with children. A firm that wants a short program, such as a thank-you from the owner, can use the DJ's microphone. A company with a long workday can open the booths at midday as a break, then close them before the staff head home, or hold a later start for families once school lets out in Palmdale School District or Westside Union School District. A company with two or three buildings can give each team a set window at the booths. Where the party doubles as a client event, the caricature artist and a couple of booths give guests something to do while they talk, and the host handles the guest list and the badges.