Author: Kevin Wieging
Preparing for Holiday Events and Choosing the Best Inflatables for 2026
We were able to reach out to several manufacturers including responses from Big & Bright Inflatables, Bouncing Angels, and Leisure Activities. All provided opinions on creating the best holiday event packages and their experience in working with clients that have developed inventory to provide holiday event packages. Many rental companies operate as seasonal operations through summer and slow down as temperatures fall; however, developing strong holiday programs is a strategy for business growth.
Christmas, unlike other holidays, is a seasonal business with the longest number of weeks where multiple rental opportunities exist. Unlike other holidays, the holiday season is probably the longest, starting immediately after Thanksgiving in the US and extending until New Year’s, whereas examples like Independence Day and Halloween are focused on a weekend or two depending on how the holidays fall throughout the week.
All manufacturers agreed that Christmas ranks as one of the best seasons to create business opportunities for community tree lightings, holiday festivals, and corporate celebrations that both Tim Woodruff of Leisure Activities and Martin Arreola of Bouncing Angels mentioned, along with the private church and school events Joe Taravella of Big and Bright added.
From a business development perspective, jumping immediately into a large inventory of holiday-themed items needs to be calculated with significant planning. Although Christmas is the longest season to obtain ROI for inventory purchased, pricing needs to be adjusted for seasonal demand. When making an investment to purchase, consider what will set your company apart and the demand for Holiday themes.
Pricing SHOULD be higher for use! If the attractions are unique, in demand, and offered for a limited time, rental for the unit should be charged at a higher rate than a basic unit used throughout the entire year. Storing Holiday units throughout the year demands a significant ROI for the time that they are being used, and rental pricing should be reflected as a higher rate.
Tim Woodruff of Leisure Activities indicated their “Santa Sleigh Selfie” is one of their TOP items offered for Holiday theme events. Providing pictures and selfie opportunities was also agreed upon by Martin Areola of Bouncing Angels, indicating the popularity of the Inflatable Snow Globe, where groups can enter for that type of experience. Another opportunity for pics is to think about branding. When working with a corporate or community special event, how can you get their LOGO in all of the pics?
An example might be creating a custom Snow Globe banner that could be designed for use. Bouncing Angels can provide custom designs with their Snow Globe and then change it to a basic theme for basic events. If using a Leisure Activities Santa Sleigh or “Elfie Selfie Station”, consider simply creating a sign placed in the pic, or if your agreement is to provide picture prints to the client, making sure company branding can be included on those designs.
The basic bounce house or combo unit can be manufactured to stand out and “be different,” and the Tike Tovi theme line from Big and Bright Inflatables screams “Mele Kalikimaka” or Merry Christmas should you be celebrating on an island Holiday. Tiki Tovi exists as an everyday design by Big and Bright Inflatables.
With Tiki Tovi as a standout theme, Joe Taravella mentioned building a holiday package around three items. A “Stand Out” design like an oversized bounce house, a large Holiday theme slide, and an impact piece that screams CHRISTMAS. I’d recommend keeping the KIDS in mind when choosing a themed combo type unit with a gingerbread, snowman, or Santa theme. Hopefully some of the pics included inspire your creativity!
TRENDING, I’m starting to see firsthand at Leisure Activities new “Hybrid Designs”. These are units that provide significant benefit to rental owners and are “hybrid” bouncer and combo units in that you can change theme designs by season. For example, a basic design for the bounce or combo structure, but allow for placement of banners and a more custom look with 3D “Pop Outs” that attach with hook-and-loop material.
A better description of “popouts” could be the gingerbread, Santa, or snowman examples mentioned, but these units provide a design that could also be changed out to be pumpkins and ghosts during Halloween. I mention these specifically for operators that need to obtain inspection and licensing to operate a particular unit in the state where they may be operating. Since the basic unit can be licensed and then used longer through different seasons like Halloween and Christmas, you are not limited to ONE SEASON for rental opportunities and a better ROI.
Where and When to Purchase?
Leisure Activities has many holiday-themed units IN STOCK for quick delivery, and Bouncing Angels has manufacturing capabilities to provide customization to units at their factory located in Southern California. Contacting Big and Bright for theme designs like “Tiki Tovi” requires advance planning to guarantee availability, but one can visit the company websites of these manufacturers to view specific items or contact a sales representative.
Is it time to jump into holiday theme rentals? The answer may arise by investigating the event opportunities in your area and planning purchases for the NEXT year. If a unit is “IN STOCK”, your client says “YES,” and the price gets you an instant ROI. Do it NOW!! Opportunities like this sometimes present themselves if you go after them!
Christmas is a very strong holiday opportunity throughout the United States, but northern states like Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio have a colder climate where events typically need a larger indoor location to be successful. Warmer states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida can host outdoor Christmas Tree lightings and holiday festivals when the temps are enjoyable.
Next month we will explore the opportunity to creatively convert everyday themes into Christmas time designs, with an example being a “Tea Cups” mechanical amusement ride and rebranding it as the “Hot Cocoa Cups”, or maybe a “Bumper Cars” attraction re-imagined as an “Elf Driving School”. We thank IOA members Orlando Fun Crew for providing such great examples of creative thinking!
Special Thanks to Big and Bright Inflatables, Bouncing Angels, and Leisure Activities for their ideas and support to IOA.