Christmas carnivals in South Pasadena.
A Christmas carnival is a December event in which the carnival is the attraction: striped booths in red and white and in green and white, warm string lights, candy-cane signage on the games, a holiday balloon arch and Santa and Mrs. Claus at a photo station. Christmas carnivals in South Pasadena can serve a school community in the South Pasadena Unified School District, a congregation, a neighborhood group or a company, and each one starts with a site, a date and a guest count.
South Pasadena names five parks a host can ask the city about: Garfield Park, Arroyo Seco Park, Orange Grove Park, Eddie Park and War Memorial Park. The city decides which can hold a carnival and when. A campus event goes through South Pasadena Unified instead, and either way Carnival Fun Experts supplies the equipment and the insurance paperwork each owner asks for.
Carnival Fun Experts produces Christmas carnivals across Los Angeles County and writes each South Pasadena quote from the site and the guest list.
A Christmas carnival in South Pasadena.
The midway opens at a balloon arch with candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures. Behind it, striped booths stand in two color families, red and white beside green and white, with a lit ring-toss marquee marking the row. Each game has candy-cane skins and prizes, and string lights run overhead so the carnival keeps its warm look when the light fades early in December.
Concession booths offer pretzels, popcorn, snow cones, caramel apples, nachos, cotton candy and churros. The walk-in snow globe inflatable is a photo prop, and nothing falls inside it. Snow-flocked décor is a static finish on trim and props. Santa and Mrs. Claus sit at the photo-op station, and the host chooses whether families use their own phones or whether to add the photographer Carnival Fun Experts offers. The host also arranges tables, chairs, drinks and any heating, and marks where they go on the plan.
What's typically included.
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Two-color booth row.
Red-and-white and green-and-white striped 10x10 booths with warm string lights above.
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Games and prizes.
Traditional carnival games with candy-cane skins and prizes at every booth.
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Entrance arch.
A balloon arch with candy canes, peppermint and gingerbread at the gate or the photo station.
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Concession booths.
Seven concessions from booths with one, two or three machines.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus.
A photo-op station, with the snow globe inflatable as an extra photo prop.
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Delivery and paperwork.
Carnival Fun Experts delivers and strikes the equipment and provides the certificate of insurance or the paperwork a permit asks for.
Typical timeline for Christmas carnivals in South Pasadena.
- 1
Choose the place
Ask the city about a park or the district about a campus, and settle the date.
- 2
Shape the quote
Choose booths, concessions and the Santa station with Carnival Fun Experts. A 50% deposit holds the date.
- 3
Documents and power
The certificate goes to the owner of the space, and generators run Carnival Fun Experts equipment when venue power falls short.
- 4
Carnival day
The midway is built, the string lights come on and the host sets out its own tables, tents and drinks.
Specifics for South Pasadena.
- Park list: Garfield Park, Arroyo Seco Park, Orange Grove Park, Eddie Park and War Memorial Park are named parks. The host confirms space and dates with the city.
- School campuses: South Pasadena Unified School District decides which winter dates a campus event can use, so a PTA asks the district office first.
- Layout: A loop, an L or a straight row can fit a lawn or lot, and Carnival Fun Experts draws the plan once the host knows the space.
- Price ranges: A neighborhood or HOA carnival costs $4,000 to $10,000, a company event costs $10,000 to $25,000 and a multi-department event costs $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Church events start from about $2,000, and the smallest custom event starts around $1,500.
- Early dark: December sunset comes early, so an after-school carnival leans on the string lights and any lighting the site provides.
- Host's side: Meals, drinks, tables, chairs, extra tents, heating, Christmas trees and other vendors are the host's or the site's.
South Pasadena, CA.
ZIPs: 91030
Carnival Fun Experts delivers Christmas carnivals throughout South Pasadena and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. Pin shows the city center; we cover every ZIP listed above.
Common questions.
Which South Pasadena parks can a carnival ask about?
Garfield Park, Arroyo Seco Park, Orange Grove Park, Eddie Park and War Memorial Park are named parks. The city decides what a carnival may use, and Carnival Fun Experts provides the paperwork a permit asks for.
Can a PTA hold one before winter break?
A PTA can ask the South Pasadena Unified School District about a campus date. Carnival Fun Experts provides the certificate of insurance a campus asks for.
What is the lowest cost?
The smallest custom event starts around $1,500, and church events start from about $2,000.
Can Santa be booked alone?
No. Santa and Mrs. Claus come as a photo-op station inside an event.
Can a tree lighting share the day?
Yes. The host runs the lighting and supplies the Christmas tree, and Carnival Fun Experts builds the carnival beside it.
Who brings the heat for an evening carnival?
The host or the venue. Carnival Fun Experts does not provide heating.
About this guide.
This local guide to Christmas carnivals in South Pasadena was compiled by Carnival Fun Experts, the Los Angeles County operation of My Little Carnival, producers of winter carnivals, school festivals, backyard birthdays and community events across Los Angeles County.
Helpful local references: City of South Pasadena · South Pasadena Unified School District
Christmas Carnivals in nearby cities.
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