Church and Parish Festival Planning Guide
A year-round planning guide for parish festivals, picnics and Vacation Bible School in Miami-Dade and Broward: budgets, parking-lot setup, fundraiser math and the paperwork your parish office will ask for before the deposit clears.
What does a parish festival usually cost?
A mid-size parish fall festival for about 300 to 700 attendees typically lands between $2,400 and $3,400 for attractions, based on our church and nonprofit rentals catalog as of August 2026. Broader school and organization festivals run $2,000 to $6,000, and large city-style events run $6,000 to $10,000 or more. Bundles often come in below the sum of the line items, so ask for a package quote before you build the budget from the catalog alone.
Add two lines that are easy to forget: trained attendants at $300 per 4-hour shift, and a generator at $119 to $249 if the parking lot or courtyard has no usable power for blowers.
Attractions that fit a parish budget
These ranges come from our published church and nonprofit catalog. Prices include delivery, setup and takedown across Miami-Dade and Broward.
| Category | Catalog range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bounce houses | $209–$425 | Dry units for younger kids |
| Combo units | $429–$499 | Bounce plus slide in one footprint |
| Water slides | $249–$1,195 | Need hose, power and drainage |
| Obstacle courses | $359–$1,399 | Keep lines moving for older kids |
| Concessions | from $179 | Popcorn, cotton candy, sno-cone |
| Foam party | $489 | Needs water and a clear runoff path |
| Dunk tank | $549 | Ages 18+; popular fundraiser add-on |
| Staffed mechanical | $1,199–$2,500 / 3 hr | Typically includes trained staff |
For carnival-game clusters, the 5-in-1 Carnival Game is $379 (18 x 18 x 19 ft, all ages), and the Grand Carnival with four games is $699. For a long run that holds a crowd, the 100ft Caution Run is $849 (106 x 14 x 19 ft, ages 6+), and the 140ft American Rush needs a 146 x 16 x 27 ft footprint.
Year-round parish calendar
October is the busiest month for parish festivals, but the parish calendar runs year-round. Book against the season, not against the week of the event.
- October fall festivals: book by late August. For October-specific layout and weather tips, see our fall festival planning guide.
- December events: book in early November.
- Spring festivals: book in January.
- Vacation Bible School: book in February or March. Details are on our VBS rentals page.
- Parish school field days: book in January or February.
- Summer camps: book in April or May.
If your festival shares a weekend with other Miami-Dade or Broward parish events, inventory moves early. Lock the date once the parish calendar is set.
Parking-lot power and asphalt
Many parish festivals run in the parking lot, not on a grass field. That changes anchoring and power.
- Anchoring. Grass takes stakes. Asphalt and concrete need ballast anchoring. Tell us the surface when you request the quote so the crew arrives with the right weights.
- Power. Most parking lots and courtyards have no usable outlets for continuous blower loads. Generators rent for $119 to $249. We supplied more than 900 generators last year. Our generator power guide covers placement and cord runs.
- Layout. Leave room for fire lanes, accessible parking and a path from the food tables to the attractions. Measure open asphalt against setup footprints, not just the advertised length of each unit.
Confirm the surface and the nearest outlet before you sign the deposit. A parking-lot festival without a generator plan is the most common reason a parish has to cut attractions the week of the event.
Fundraiser math that holds up
Many parishes sell all-you-can-play wristbands in the $10 to $15 range as the fundraiser itself. You set the wristband price; we supply the attractions. A practical mix for 300 to 700 attendees is one bounce or combo for younger kids, one carnival-game cluster, one longer obstacle course for older kids, and one concession so families stay on site.
Work the math backward from expected paid attendance. If you expect 400 paid wristbands at $12, that is $4,800 in gross before food and raffles. An attractions package in the $2,400 to $3,400 range leaves room for attendants, a generator and a tent if the parish wants shade over the ticket table. Tents from our organizational catalog run $649 to $1,399.
Ask for a bundle quote. Catalog line items add up higher than a packaged parish festival, and the package is easier for the finance committee to approve on one invoice.
Parish paperwork
Parish offices, dioceses and temples ask for the same packet schools and cities do. We Rent Fun is an approved vendor with Miami-Dade and Broward schools and parks. Certificates of insurance that name the church, parish, temple or diocese go out within 24 hours at no charge. We accept W-9 requests, purchase orders and tax-exempt certificates. Our rides are FDACS-inspected, units are anchored to ASTM standards, and attendants are safety-trained.
Send the exact legal name for the COI when you request the quote. That avoids a second round of paperwork the week of the event. More detail is on the Schools, Cities & Organizations page and in our planning guides.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mid-size parish fall festival cost?
A mid-size parish fall festival for about 300 to 700 attendees typically runs $2,400 to $3,400 for attractions, based on our church and nonprofit catalog as of August 2026. Broader school and organization festivals land between $2,000 and $6,000; large city-style events run $6,000 to $10,000 or more.
Can you set up inflatables in a church parking lot?
Yes. Grass takes stakes; asphalt and concrete need ballast anchoring. Most lots have no usable outlets for blowers. Generators rent for $119 to $249, and we supplied more than 900 generators last year across Miami-Dade and Broward.
What paperwork does a parish need from the rental company?
Certificates of insurance that name the church, parish, temple or diocese go out within 24 hours at no charge. We accept W-9 requests, purchase orders and tax-exempt certificates. We are an approved vendor with Miami-Dade and Broward schools and parks. Rides are FDACS-inspected, units are anchored to ASTM standards, and attendants are safety-trained.
When should we book October festival dates or Vacation Bible School?
Book October by late August. December events need early November. Spring festivals book in January. Vacation Bible School books in February or March. Field days book in January or February, and summer camps in April or May.
How do wristband fundraisers work with rental attractions?
Many parishes sell all-you-can-play wristbands in the $10 to $15 range as the fundraiser itself. You set the wristband price; we supply the attractions. Pair a bounce house, a carnival game cluster and a concession so families stay on site longer, and ask for a bundle quote.
Get a quote for your parish event
Send the parish or temple name for the COI, the event date, the venue surface (grass or parking lot), expected headcount and ages, and whether you need a generator. We will recommend a package that fits and return an itemized quote with the COI and W-9 attached.
Call 305-985-0505 or email info@WeRentFun.Net
Get a quote and the paperwork together
Tell us the parish or temple name, event date, venue surface and expected headcount. You get back an itemized quote, a certificate of insurance and a W-9 — the whole packet, not just a price.
Call 305-985-0505 info@WeRentFun.Net