Christmas carnivals in Pasadena.
A Christmas carnival takes the carnival format (striped booths, games for prizes, concessions) and dresses all of it for the holidays, with warm string lights, candy-cane game skins and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo station. Christmas carnivals in Pasadena can run on a park lawn, a school lot or a church grounds, and Carnival Fun Experts supplies everything on the midway except the site, the date and the guest list.
Pasadena has parks with names a host can put on an invitation: Brookside Park, Victory Park, Villa Parke, Robinson Park and Hahamongna Watershed Park. Schools in Pasadena Unified School District and church grounds add more options, and each site has its own person to ask about December dates.
Carnival Fun Experts puts the booths, lights, games, concessions and Santa on the ground; the host settles the site and the date.
A Christmas carnival laid out in Pasadena.
Start at the entrance, where a holiday balloon arch trimmed with candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread figures marks the way in. Past it, striped booths in red-and-white and green-and-white face each other along a walkway under warm string lights, each running a carnival game with a candy-cane skin and a table of prizes. The concession booths sit together so the line for churros or cotton candy does not block a game.
At the far end, Santa and Mrs. Claus take their seats at the photo-op station. A walk-in snow globe inflatable is the second photo spot, and snow-flocked trim on the props finishes the look as a static frosted detail. A host with a park lawn can set the booths in a loop around the Santa station, while a school lot or church parking area can take a straight midway or an L.
What's typically included.
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Holiday-striped booths.
Red-and-white and green-and-white 10x10 and 5x5 booths, strung with warm lights and trimmed with candy-cane signs.
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Games with prizes.
Traditional booth games such as ring toss and milk can toss, large games such as balloon dart and hoop shot, and prizes to hand out.
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Candy-cane balloon arch.
An entrance arch with candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread, which also serves as a photo backdrop.
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The seven concessions.
Churros, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, snow cones and caramel apples, from one-, two- and three-machine booths.
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Snow globe and flocked trim.
A walk-in snow globe inflatable (a photo prop with nothing falling inside) and a static snow-flocked finish on trim and props.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Carnival Fun Experts provides both at the photo-op station, so the host does not hire a Santa separately.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in Pasadena.
- 1
Pick a park, school or church lot
Call the owner of the site and ask which December dates are open before anything else is promised to guests.
- 2
Shape the midway
Choose the number of booths, whether inflatables join, and where Santa and Mrs. Claus sit relative to the concessions.
- 3
File the paperwork
The host submits the reservation, and Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance or the paperwork a permit asks for.
- 4
Carnival day
Carnival Fun Experts builds the layout, the string lights go on, and the carnival opens for its booked hours.
Specifics for Pasadena.
- Park choices: Brookside Park, Victory Park, Villa Parke and Robinson Park can host a carnival. The host confirms space and dates with the city before paying a deposit.
- Hahamongna option: Hahamongna Watershed Park can host an event as well. The host asks the city what is allowed on its grounds, including where vehicles and a generator can go, before choosing it.
- Campus carnivals: A Pasadena Unified School District campus can plan a carnival before winter break, with the school confirming the date and lot.
- Church grounds: A church with a courtyard or lot can host one too, with prices from about $2,000.
- Power and lights: Strings of lights and machines add up. Carnival Fun Experts brings generators to run our own equipment when venue power falls short.
- Host handles: Tables, chairs, extra tents, heating, drinks, catering and any other vendors are the host's side of the event.
Pasadena, CA.
ZIPs: 91101 · 91102 · 91103 · 91104 · 91105 · 91106 · 91107 · 91109 · 91110 · 91114 · 91115 · 91116 · 91117 · 91121 · 91123 · 91124 · 91125 · 91126 · 91129 · 91182 · 91184 · 91185 · 91188 · 91189 · 91199
Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout Pasadena and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
What does a Christmas carnival cost in Pasadena?
Neighborhood or HOA events run about $4,000 to $10,000. A company party is about $10,000 to $25,000, and a large multi-department event is $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Church events begin near $2,000, and the smallest custom event starts around $1,500.
Does the booking include Santa?
Yes, Santa and Mrs. Claus are provided by Carnival Fun Experts for the photo-op station as part of the event. Families can use their own phones, or the host can add the photographer Carnival Fun Experts offers.
Can the carnival use a Pasadena park?
A park can host one. The host confirms the date and the space with the city and files whatever reservation the park asks for.
Do you provide a Christmas tree for a tree lighting?
No. Christmas trees for a tree lighting are the host's to bring. The carnival can be paired with a lighting the host runs.
Does the snow globe hold snow?
No. The walk-in snow globe is an inflatable photo prop with nothing falling inside, and the snow-flocked décor is a static finish on trim and props. Both are there for pictures and for the look of the booths.
Who brings the food?
Carnival Fun Experts runs the seven concessions. Anything beyond that, including catering and drinks, comes from the host.
About this guide.
This local guide to christmas carnivals in Pasadena was compiled by Carnival Fun Experts for families, school groups, and community planners comparing practical event formats in Los Angeles County.
Helpful local references: City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services · Pasadena Unified School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
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