25 Christmas Festival Ideas for Towns and Community Groups

A town Christmas festival has to work for everyone at once: the toddler who wants to see Santa, the ten-year-old who wants to go fast, the teenagers who want something to post and the grandparents who want a bench near the carolers. The festivals that pull it off build around one headline, such as the Synthetic Ice Skating Rink or the Enchanted Sleigh Train Ride, then fill in with a kids zone anchored by the Gingerbread House Bounce, festival games like Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing and a timed passport maze like Snow Mazing.

Here are 25 Christmas festival ideas for towns, parishes, service clubs and community groups, organized by festival zone: headline attractions, the kids zone, festival games, performers and characters, photo moments and closing moments. Nearly every idea is rentable from the winter rentals collection at Perfect Parties USA and comes with a planning tip, whether your festival takes over a common in Massachusetts or a fairground in Connecticut. For winter events that are not Christmas themed, the winter festival entertainment ideas post covers the rest of the season.

Headline Attractions

One big attraction gives the festival its name on the flyer and the line people talk about afterward.

1. A Synthetic Ice Skating Rink

Synthetic Ice Skating Rink: A synthetic ice rink that needs no refrigeration, built from interlocking panels and delivered with fencing and rental skates in assorted sizes, for guests of all ages. Its smallest open skating layout is 20 by 40 feet for up to 25 skaters at a time, larger layouts hold more, and it works indoors or outdoors. The synthetic ice rink rental guide covers sizing and setup. Planning Tip: Sell skate sessions in 15-minute blocks with wristbands, so the line stays predictable and families can plan the rest of the visit around their time. Rent the Synthetic Ice Skating Rink.

2. Snow Tubing on Snowzilla Sr.

Snowzilla Sr.: An inflatable toboggan slide made for adults and children: riders climb the stairs, sit in an inflatable snow tube and come down spinning and twisting, which is as close to snow tubing as a festival gets when winter does not cooperate. The product page lists 150 or more riders an hour but does not say whether snow tubes are included, so confirm the tubes at booking, and the snow tubing slide rental guide compares it with the other tubing slides. Planning Tip: It needs a 70 by 40 foot footprint with 40 feet of height and a 120-minute setup, and the product page lists no dedicated circuits, so confirm power at the site check and claim the open end of the field before the vendor map is drawn. Rent Snowzilla Sr.

3. Sleigh Train Rides

Enchanted Sleigh Train Ride: A trackless train styled as a classic horse-drawn sleigh, carrying 4 to 6 guests at a time and about 60 riders an hour around the festival grounds. It gives the youngest kids a ride of their own and gives Santa a way to arrive. Planning Tip: Map a loop around the outside of the festival with a boarding point near the kids zone, and keep it clear of the skating line. Rent the Enchanted Sleigh Train Ride.

4. SnowGlobe Live

SnowGlobe Live: A 15-foot-tall walk-in snow globe suitable for any age, the kind of attraction people spot from the parking lot. It handles about 90 guests an hour and sets the scene for every photo taken inside. Planning Tip: Give it a 25 by 25 foot space at the main entrance and allow a 30-minute setup before the gates open. Rent SnowGlobe Live.

5. World’s Largest Snowman Bounce

World’s Largest Snowman Bounce: A giant, covered snowman bounce that its product page rates for up to 15 bouncers at once; confirm the occupancy limit for your group at booking. It stands out above a crowd, and its product page says it pairs well with ice rinks. Its scarf can carry sponsor branding, which can help pay for the festival. Planning Tip: It needs a 25 by 25 foot footprint, 30 feet of height and two dedicated 20 amp circuits, and the page notes that quantities are limited, so reserve it early. Rent the World’s Largest Snowman Bounce.

The Kids Zone

A kids zone keeps families on the grounds, because parents stay as long as the kids are happy.

6. Gingerbread House Bounce

Gingerbread House Bounce: A bounce house built to look like a giant gingerbread house, with candy-cane pillars, gumdrop accents and frosted details. It handles about 90 kids an hour within the manufacturer limit of five to six kids of equal size at a time. Planning Tip: It needs a 14 by 14 foot footprint and one dedicated 20 amp circuit, with the extension cord, blower and safety stakes included, so set it beside the parents’ seating. Rent the Gingerbread House Bounce.

7. World’s Largest Santa Bounce

World’s Largest Santa Bounce: A giant Santa bounce that its product page rates for more than 20 children at once; confirm the occupancy limit for your group at booking. It has the visual pull to anchor a kids zone. Its product page advises booking early, since Santa is in high demand in December. Planning Tip: It needs a 50 by 40 foot footprint and two dedicated 20 amp circuits, so put it on the flattest open ground left after the rink. Rent the World’s Largest Santa Bounce.

8. Candy Chaos Obstacle Course

Candy Chaos Obstacle Course: A candy-themed inflatable obstacle course with climbing walls, squeeze zones and a slide finish, built for kids, teens and families. Kids race each other through it, and the teenagers come back for a rematch. Planning Tip: It needs a 32 by 24 foot footprint and three dedicated 20 amp circuits, so confirm the power plan before you place it. Rent the Candy Chaos Obstacle Course.

9. Toy Town Playland

Toy Town Playland: A kids’ playland with inflated versions of traditional toys such as a rocking horse and building blocks, plus small slides and tiny crawl spaces. It gives the smallest kids a space of their own away from the big bounces. Planning Tip: Set it in a 20 by 20 foot corner with one dedicated 20 amp circuit, next to the gingerbread table so siblings stay close. Rent Toy Town Playland.

10. Gingerbread House Making Station

Gingerbread House Making Station: A gingerbread house station stocked with graham crackers, candies and white icing for guests of all ages, about 60 builders an hour. Every family goes home with a house, and every house goes home with a story about the festival. Planning Tip: Put it in the warmest spot on the grounds, a tent or the community hall, in a 10 by 10 foot space. Rent the Gingerbread House Making Station.

Festival Games

Games give the festival a midway, and the midway is where families spend the most time.

11. Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing

Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing: Players roll balls up a snowy playfield into scoring holes to race their reindeer, Prancer, Dancer, Comet and the rest, to the finish line, with holiday theming and music. Several players race at once, and the product page names winter festivals and Christmas fairs among its best fits. Planning Tip: It fits a 9 by 9 foot space with one dedicated 20 amp circuit, so tuck it under the games tent where a crowd can gather behind the players. Rent the Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing.

12. Snow Mazing

Snow Mazing: A timed passport maze where guests get a passport with their start time, find the checkpoints, punch the letter at each to spell a word and race for the exit. Kids and adults run it again and again to beat their time, and it holds up to 75 people at one time. Planning Tip: Set the word to the festival’s name or “NOEL,” post the day’s best times on a board, and give it a 40 by 50 foot space with two dedicated 20 amp circuits. Rent Snow Mazing.

13. Winter Carnival Game Package

Winter Carnival Game Package: Four striped carnival booths with a winter look, each with an attendant, plus one table with a table covering and a choice of two tabletop games or one premium game. It turns a corner of the grounds into a midway that handles about 100 players an hour. Planning Tip: Give it a 30 by 10 foot strip with an outlet within 50 feet, where parents waiting on the rink can watch. Rent the Winter Carnival Game Package.

14. Gingerbread Games Inflatable

Gingerbread Games Inflatable: A 3-in-1 holiday inflatable, nearly 10 feet tall, with three games inside one candy-themed gingerbread structure. It gives a small festival three games in one footprint, and the gumdrops and candy canes double as a photo backdrop. Planning Tip: It needs an 8 by 18 foot footprint and one dedicated 20 amp circuit, which makes it the easiest game to fit into a festival held in a gym. Rent the Gingerbread Games Inflatable.

15. Human Reindeer Racer

Human Reindeer Racer: A racing attraction where players climb onto reindeer racers and race side by side down the track to see who finishes first. Parents race their kids, and the crowd at the finish line picks a side. Planning Tip: It needs a 60 by 28 foot footprint and one dedicated 20 amp circuit, so run heats on the hour and post a bracket by the start line. Rent the Human Reindeer Racer.

Performers and Characters

Performers fill the gaps between attractions and give the festival its sound.

16. Christmas Carolers

Christmas Carolers: Four costumed Victorian carolers singing holiday favorites across the grounds and on the stage. They set the mood from the parking lot to the closing song. Planning Tip: Schedule three sets: the opening, Santa’s arrival and the finale. Book the Christmas Carolers.

17. Holiday Entertainers

Holiday Entertainers: A holiday entertainers package for the lines at the rink, the train and Santa. The product page does not name the characters or say whether they stroll, so confirm the lineup at booking. Planning Tip: Send them to whichever line is longest each hour. Book the Holiday Entertainers.

18. Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman: A costumed Frosty the Snowman character who greets families at the entrance and wanders the kids zone. A snowman is easy for the youngest kids to approach, even the ones who cry on Santa’s lap. Planning Tip: Plan for the 60-minute setup listed on the product page and station Frosty in the kids zone at opening. Book Frosty the Snowman.

19. An Ice Skater Performance

Ice Skater: A professional ice skater, which the product page says pairs with the synthetic ice rinks. A short performance before the public sessions turns the rink into a stage and draws a crowd to the fence. Planning Tip: Clear the rink for a 10-minute show at the start of the evening and open public skating right after it. Book the Ice Skater.

Photo Moments

Every festival photo that gets posted is an ad for next year.

20. Santa Photos

Santa Photos: A Santa photo set with a Santa chair, red carpet, stanchions, photo equipment and holiday props, with an instant printed photo for every guest; book Santa Claus for the chair, since the page notes that Santa is priced separately based on availability. Planning Tip: The set handles about 45 guests an hour, so hand out timed tickets and let families spend the wait on the midway. Book Santa Photos.

21. Santa Sleigh Selfie

Santa Sleigh Selfie: A Santa sleigh photo prop where families take their own picture, about 60 guests an hour. It takes the pressure off the Santa line for families who just want the sleigh shot. Planning Tip: It needs a 15 by 12 foot footprint with 12 feet of height and one dedicated 20 amp circuit, so set it near the main stage lights. Rent the Santa Sleigh Selfie.

22. Inflatable Snow Globe

Inflatable Snow Globe: A giant inflatable snow globe with swirling snow inside that families step into for a photo, about 60 guests an hour. It is a second photo stop that keeps the lines short at the first. Planning Tip: It needs a 20 by 14 foot footprint and one dedicated 20 amp circuit, and the extension cord, blower and safety stakes are included. Rent the Inflatable Snow Globe.

Closing Moments

End the festival on a moment, not a slow drift back to the parking lot.

23. A Snowfall Finale

Snow Machine: A theatrical snow machine that turns a fluid into falling snow that does not accumulate, started on the last song of the night. It gives the festival a clear ending and a final photo. Planning Tip: Print the finale time on the festival map, give the machine one dedicated 20 amp circuit near the stage, and confirm outdoor use at booking, since the product page does not mention it. Rent the Snow Machine.

24. Hot Chocolate for the Walk Out

Hot Chocolate: A hot chocolate station near the exit for the last hour. A warm cup makes the walk to the car shorter and the festival’s last impression a good one. The product page does not list what the station includes, so confirm cups and servings at booking. Planning Tip: It fits an 8 by 3 foot space beside the main path out. Rent the Hot Chocolate station.

25. A Toy Drive at the Gate

Ask every family to bring a new, unwrapped toy for a local charity, collected in bins at the entrance and presented on stage at the finale. A toy drive gives the festival a purpose beyond the fun and gives the local paper a reason to cover it. Planning Tip: Partner with the fire department or a charity that already runs a toy drive, and stack the growing pile beside the walk-in snow globe so it shows up in photos.

How to Choose Christmas Festival Attractions for Your Town

Start with your crowd and your grounds. A parish or service club festival in a hall or a gym runs well on the gingerbread station, the reindeer racing game, the 3-in-1 gingerbread inflatable, carolers and Santa photos. A town festival on a common adds an outdoor headline, the sleigh train or the walk-in snow globe, and a kids zone with two bounces. A regional festival expecting several thousand people earns the skating rink and a snow tubing slide, the attractions people drive in for. If the festival opens with a lighting, the tree lighting event rentals page shows how to package that night, and the Christmas inflatable rentals page lists the holiday inflatables for the kids zone.

As a rule of thumb, plan one attraction per 100 to 150 guests on the grounds at once, with at least one headline per 1,000, and give the rink and the tubing slide their own volunteers to manage lines. Book six to eight weeks ahead, as early in November as you can, because festivals across Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire share the same December weekends. The tree lighting ceremony ideas list covers the lighting itself, and the holiday stroll ideas list shows how to send the festival crowd into the shops.

Rent Christmas Festival Attractions From Perfect Parties USA

Perfect Parties USA is based in Peabody, Massachusetts and owns hundreds of attractions, including every rentable item on this list, so the games you book are the games that arrive, maintained and ready to play. Every rental includes delivery (fees based on your address), professional setup, trained attendants and prizes for staffed games, and complete teardown. We are fully insured, with a certificate of insurance available for venues and schools, and we have produced events of every size across New England and the Northeast for decades, from Massachusetts, Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island to New Hampshire and New York.

Ready to get this party started? Contact Perfect Parties USA to talk to one of our Party Pros. Request a Quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good ideas for a town Christmas festival?

Good town Christmas festival ideas start with one headline, such as a synthetic ice skating rink, a sleigh train or a snow tubing slide, then add a kids zone with holiday bounces, festival games like Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing, carolers and characters, Santa photos and a snowfall finale. Perfect Parties USA rents the full lineup for towns and community groups across Massachusetts and in neighboring states.

How do you plan a Christmas festival for a community group?

Plan a community Christmas festival by zone: choose a headline attraction, a kids zone, a games area, roaming performers, two photo stops and a closing moment, then map them so families walk past everything. Give each zone a volunteer captain, publish the times for Santa and the finale, and book the attractions six to eight weeks ahead.

What Christmas festival attractions work for toddlers and older kids?

Toddlers do best with Toy Town Playland, the sleigh train, Frosty and the gingerbread station, while school-age kids head for the Gingerbread House Bounce, Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing and Snow Mazing. Teens and adults take to the skating rink, Snowzilla Sr. and the Human Reindeer Racer, so a festival with all three zones keeps every age on the grounds.

What is included when you rent Christmas festival attractions?

Every Perfect Parties USA rental includes delivery (fees based on your address), professional setup, trained attendants and prizes for staffed games, and complete teardown, with units cleaned and sanitized. Inflatables come with an extension cord, a blower and safety stakes, the rink comes with fencing and rental skates, and outdoor dates can be rescheduled for rain at no charge with 24 hours notice.

Can a Christmas festival have an ice rink without refrigeration?

Yes, the Synthetic Ice Skating Rink needs no refrigeration and no power to maintain the surface, so it works on a common, in a parking lot or indoors. Its smallest layout is 20 by 40 feet for up to 25 skaters at a time, with fencing and rental skates included, and larger layouts from Perfect Parties USA hold more skaters.

Does Perfect Parties USA serve Christmas festivals outside Massachusetts?

Yes, Perfect Parties USA serves Christmas festivals across Massachusetts and in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and New York, from parish festivals in a hall to town festivals on the common. The company is based in Peabody, Massachusetts, delivery fees are calculated for your address at checkout, and you can confirm delivery to your town with the quote.

How far in advance should you book Christmas festival rentals?

Book Christmas festival rentals six to eight weeks ahead, and earlier for the skating rink, the snow tubing slides, the sleigh train and the World’s Largest Santa Bounce, whose product page itself advises booking early. Booking early with Perfect Parties USA also leaves time to plan the power, the layout and the volunteer schedule.