If you’re looking for National Night Out entertainment ideas, Kaleidoscope has been working in partnership with local communities for over a decade to create amazing partnerships.
Here are the top entertainment ideas we’ve seen local police and community partners use to create high-attendance and high-engagement National Night Out ideas happen across CT, MA, RI, NH, VT, and ME.
5 High-Value National Night Out Entertainment Ideas
While these National Night Out entertainment ideas do require professional entertainers, they can often be worth their weight in marketing opportunities!
1. Paw Patrol Mascots
At-A-Glance: Invite families to meet their favorite first responders at your National Night Out–perfect for the theme of community safety!
Ages: Toddlers – 1st grade
Guests Per Hour: 20-30 families per hour.
Marketing Considerations: When booking a mascot company, ask for photos of their actual mascots so you can use their actual faces on any marketing you do. (Even at a glance, families will understand that their kids will meet the characters, verses just be attending a themed party.)
Set Up Needed: Mascot actors need to be in shade or indoors during the hot evenings of August, as well as have access to a private dressing room or break room for events over 45min. Learn more about mascot safety here.
Above: our face painter Bella painting at 3rd Ave‘s National Night Out event in Burlington, MA!
2. Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
At-A-Glance: Hire face painters and balloon twisters for free community entertainment that’s sure to attract a crowd.
Ages: Toddlers – Tweens
Guests Per Hour: In our experience, the type of face painter (and face paint designs) make a huge difference.
A volunteer face painter can typically only get through around 10-15 faces per hour, even with simple designs
A professional face painter can typically get through 12-15 impressive “full face” designs per hour
Our custom speedy face menu can get through 20-30 guests per hour.
The same is true with balloon twisting. We suggest a professional twister with a simplified menu to get through 20-30 guests per hour, verses the 10 or so balloon dogs a free volunteer can make.
Marketing Considerations: Free face painting and balloon twisting is probably THE best way to draw a crowd. Ask your artists for photos of their work to use on your social media, and in turn ask them if they can promote your free event on their own social media.
Set Up Needed: Face painters typically require 1 table and 2 chairs each. Balloon twisters usually require 1 table and 1 chair. Given that it’s August, make sure you set them up in the shade (with their line in the shade as well) to prevent any medical emergencies while children are waiting in line.
At-A-Glance: Hire a family-friendly entertainer to stroll through your crowd and entertain with a touch of magic.
Ages: Prek – Adult
Guests Per Hour: Typically strolling magicians can get through around 6-10 groups per hour, a group consisting of a family, a segment of a line waiting for food, or any other cluster of people.
Marketing Considerations: Magic is wonderful, but doesn’t tend to draw as many families as face painting or balloon twisting. To get the most bang for your buck, ask your magician if they can share the free event on their social media or email list.
Set Up Needed: Typically a magician just needs a place to store extra props and a water bottle, even if that’s just their car parked near by.
At-A-Glance: These bucket-list worthy cartoons of your party guests are always the most popular station at any event.
Ages: Tween – Adult
Guests Per Hour: 6-10 faces per hour per caricature artist, so you’ll likely want to hire multiple artists.
Marketing Considerations: Caricatures can draw a good crowd for an event, but the real marketing magic can be in getting custom caricature paper created. Families will keep these forever and often hang them in their houses, so your department can make an impact by getting your name and logo front and center.
Set Up Needed: Each caricature artist will need 1 table and 3 chairs (1 chair for them and 2 for guests since couple caricatures are so popular). Make sure this is in the shade because caricature lines can be long and in August we don’t want anyone to faint in the direct sun!
At-A-Glance: Having a DJ can set a great ambiance for your event, but more importantly a professional DJ can also become a much-needed Master of Ceremonies to help advertise different activities, host games, or run giveaways.
Ages: All Ages
Guests Per Hour: Your whole event!
Marketing Considerations: While a DJ typically won’t draw a crowd by themselves, you can use your DJ to make announcements for community advertising partners to sweeten your partnership packages. If you’re considering doing tiered community sponsorships, use our DJ’s ability to make announcements in one of the higher tiers available to local businesses who help make your event a success.
Set Up Needed: DJ equipment will need to be in the shade and have access to a 3-pronged, grounded outlet. (Make sure their set up is close enough to an outlet so no one will trip over any cables!)
National Night Out Entertainment Ideas Using Things You Already Have!
1. K9 Unit Meet & Greet
Whether it’s a petting station or a station where kids can learn how to appropriately interact with working dogs, animals are always a huge draw for families.
2. Touch a Truck with the Fire Department
Team up with a local fire station to bring out one of their trucks and to meet and greet with one of their fire fighters in their gear.
(Bonus points: ask them for some demonstrative equipment for the next idea!)
Above: a demonstration of what a themed photo booth prop table can look like. This was for one of our corporate clients, but for your National Night Out you can use odds and ends from your department.
3. Dress Up DIY Photo Station
Gather up any demonstration handcuffs, uniforms, hats, badges, or anythings else around your department to create a photo booth prop table. Even better, ask EMTs or Fire if they can add anything else.
This station can go a lot more smoothly with a professional photo booth attendant and set up, but you can also make it a selfie station with a volunteer.
Far away from the main event, park a police cruiser and invite kids one at a time to try the sirens!
(Just make sure it’s far, far away from the main event. While there sirens may be just background noise to you, there will be families with young and autistic children that may need to leave if your party is too noisy!)
5. FREE Police Badge Sticker Crafts (Above)
Print out the above FREE craft on label paper. Invite families to color, cut out, and stick their DIY police badges onto themselves!
3 Community Building & Marketing National Night Out Entertainment Ideas
1. Have community members sponsor event entertainment booths
If you’re not sure that entertainment is in your budget, talk to local banks, daycares, grocery stores, cafes, or real estate agents about sponsoring an entertainment booth.
Place the free entertainment at their booth, with the advantage to them that while families are waiting in the line their sales team can talk to waiting parents or hand out promotional materials.
2. Work with the local food pantry or churches to rally donations
Do good in your community by teaming up with community members to collect food for pantries.
This has a triple advantage: a reason for families to come, an activity anyone can participate in, and more marketing partners to get the word out about your event.
3. Work with local outdoor shopping centers to host your National Night Out
In our experience, outdoor shopping centers often have designated spaces for community programming and are often looking for community members to use those spaces.
Talk to a local outdoor shopping center about potentially teaming up and hosting your event. Again: the more community members you team up with, the more families on your collective social media and email lists.
Tips for Making Your National Night Out Entertainment Ideas Work For You
1. Use “high value” entertainment to lead your marketing. Your “why” is to meet your community members. But their “why” is likely not to meet you–it’s likely to get their kids out of the house with something for free. Using entertainment as a marketing hook is a great idea.
2. Remember that free volunteers may struggle with high volume events. If you can get free volunteers, that’s awesome. But especially for “line” activities like face painting and balloon twisting, you’ll need more than you think you will. Even with simple designs, volunteers doing something they’re not used to will struggle with a large event (we’ve seen this plenty of times).
3. Don’t assume families can pay for food, entertainment, or experiences at your National Night Out. If you want to bring in food trucks that may be a great option for you, but regardless of your community don’t bring in a lower tier of free activities (like touch a truck and a craft station) and a paid tier of nicer activities (like face painting or caricatures). Don’t leave out kids whose parents can’t afford to pay for activities because you want to pass on your event costs to guests. This may be an attendance boost one year, but will turn families away from your event for good going forward.
If you’re looking for event entertainment ideas for ABA Centers, here is our list of the top 5 ideas we’ve seen work well for our ABA Center clients!
Kaleidoscope has been serving ABA Centers in CT, MA, RI, and NH for close to a decade and works with an accessibility & inclusion consultant to make sure that our artists know how to modify and adapt performances for all children at every event–including at ABA Centers! Entertainment and programming ideas only work if they work for everyone, and Kaleidoscope is committed to making sure that’s the case.
5 Event Entertainment Ideas for ABA Centers
1. Face Painting and Balloon Twisting: Together and with Modifications
At A Glance: Face painting and balloon twisting are classic kids entertainment that are popular with all ages.
We Love It For:
Open houses (listing “free face painting and balloon twisting” are great magnets for new families)
Family days (especially with siblings of ABA clients who would enjoy being included)
RBT appreciation days (even adults love face painting and balloon twisting)
Accessibility Problems: Children may not want to be touched by a stranger (or at all) or may be fearful of balloon textures or noises.
Accessibility Solutions: Make sure you hire artists who can do and bring both face painting and balloon twisting together so children can pick which art they can tolerate. If the station has more choices, more children can participate.
At A Glance: A favorite cartoon character can come visit your ABA center.
We Love It For:
Special evenings (parents night out, family celebrations)
Camp weeks (featuring a different character on different days)
Accessibility Problems: We’ve actually found that children in ABA centers prefer mascot visits to “face characters” (like princesses or super heroes), so this programming idea may be an accessibility solution to itself. However, some children are still nervous about tall mascots walking towards them.
Accessibility Solutions: Have a meet and greet room where children can choose to approach the mascots instead of having mascots walk into the center of your ABA Center. This room can also double as a changing room for your mascot actor, but is a better contained space for sensitive kids and offers them entertainment which they can consent to participate in. (For very shy kids who are fearful of adults, this can be one of our favorite Event Entertainment Ideas for ABA Centers with the right accomodations.)
At A Glance: A sensory-friendly magic show for young children with lots of silliness that doesn’t require a long attention span!
We Love It For:
Seated programming for vacation camps or special events
Marketing added value to parents choosing between centers
Indoor programming
Accessibility Problems: Children may not be able to sit down for a full 30min show, may not be able to tolerate loud noises or unexpected movements, or may not be able to follow longer magic show plots.
Accessibility Solutions: Make sure your magician can:
come with more tricks than they typically need,
can pivot to close-up magic if the group isn’t able to sit and watch the show,
is able to moderate their volume and the volume of any tricks,
and can perform their show without on-stage participants.
In general, we’ve found that shows are great event entertainment ideas for ABA centers only if the entertainers can pivot. Every group is different, but if an entertainer is expecting the same responses in your center that they do at a neurotypical birthday party, it can be a disengaging experience for all.
At A Glance: A bubble performance and bubble play station are a great mix of seated entertainment and sensory play that can be assessable to many children with different play styles.
We Love It For:
Outdoor ABA center summer camp programming and entertainment ideas
Low-sensory splash day alternative programming
All-ages hands-on entertainment
Accessibility Problems: ABA clients may not be able to sit for a full show, even if the show is modified for young children. Other children may not enjoy the sensory experience of bubble liquid on their hands.
Accessibility Solutions: Make sure your bubble artist can pivot to a bubble play sensory station with the kids if they’re unable to sit and watch the full show. Ask your bubble artist if they’re able to bring wands of contained bubble liquid for children who don’t want to free play with bubble wands and open trays of liquid.
At A Glance: If your ABA center loves shows, a kids’ science show can be a great alternative to magic or bubbles.
We Love It For:
Educational programming ideas for ABA centers
Themed camp weeks
Accessibility Problems: Like our other shows, kids may not be able to follow a longer plot of a show or sit for a full 30min show.
Accessibility Solutions: We love the combination of a science show with a slime lab to entertain both children who are higher energy and lower energy; hands on or shy. As long as your science show performer understands that different children may be more or less drawn to different aspects of the performance, they can find some way to engage everyone.
Bonus: Event Entertainment Ideas for ABA Centers We DON’T Recommend!
After a decade of providing accessible entertainment and programming for ABA centers, here are the top Event Entertainment Ideas for ABA Centers we don’t recommend.
Caricatures. We love them, but young or high energy children often struggle to sit still long enough for it to work (and often the pay out for sitting still isn’t worth the struggle!)
Stilt walkers. These are fun for huge events, but often intimidating for young children of any ability (and unpredictable movement or behavior near a stilt walker can be dangerous for everyone).
Hair art. Hair art can be a great alternative to face painting for a festival atmosphere, but can often be harder for parents to remove than face painting, especially if their children already struggle with bath time.
Tarot or psychic services. We don’t perform this type of entertainment for any group under 16, as they don’t understand the difference between metaphor or story telling and facts.
3 Tips for Working With Vendors for Event Entertainment Ideas for ABA Centers
Kaleidoscope is committed to the entertainment and fun of kids of all abilities, with an accessibility & inclusion consultant on our team; ethical labor practices that include accommodations for artists with invisible disabilities; and required internal trainings so that everyone on our team is both the best performer they can be and the safest adult to all children.
However, if your center is not located in New England (we serve all of CT, MA, RI, NH, and most of VT and ME) then here are our tips for making sure that your entertainment and programming vendors can adapt their ideas to your ABA center.
1. Make sure they understand what autism and an ABA Center is.
Don’t assume they know as much as you–even the basics.
When sending an introductory email to an entertainer, explain the demographic of your center and what your needs are (not just their pricing and availability).
2. Ask what entertainment or programming modifications they can prepare.
If your entertainer does have an idea about autism or ABA, still explicitly ask what modifications they can make for common problems like touch aversion, noise sensitivity, communication difficulties, or unpredictable movements/behavior.
3. Ask if they can prepare backup or alternative entertainment or programming.
Can your entertainer bring more than what you’ve hired them for if your original programming or entertainment idea for ABA centers doesn’t work?
Many can, so in your research make sure this is possible.
If you’re planning a shopping plaza or outdoor retail event, here are some of the most popular Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas we’ve seen over the past decade! Whether you’re organizing a grand opening, sidewalk festival, or family weekend, you’ll find plenty of shopping center entertainment inspiration to make your event unforgettable.
Here are our favorite Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas, organized into three categories: booth & tent activations, strolling performers, and seasonal or holiday specials — perfect for bringing fresh shopping center entertainment inspiration to your next event.
Booth & Tent Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas
Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
AAge Range: Toddlers through tweens (and even plenty of teens and adults!)
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist:
Full face paint designs or multi-balloon creations: 10–12 guests per hour
Speedy face designs or simple balloons: 15–20 guests per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 20 per event
At a Glance: Our artists set up at branded booths or tents and keep lines moving quickly with bright, engaging designs that appeal to all ages.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: This is our most popular option for retail plazas and outdoor shopping events! Our speedy face painting menu is specially designed to handle high-volume crowds — averaging 15–20 faces per hour, with some artists reaching nearly 30. With up to 20 artists available, we’re unmatched in both scale and efficiency. It’s a proven way to attract families, boost foot traffic, and create a lively, colorful atmosphere on a budget.
Not Recommended For: Face paint isn’t ideal for events with water features or splash zones, and balloons can be tricky for events with lots of hands-on activities (since parents often end up holding them). That said, these remain our most-requested entertainment options for outdoor shopping center events of all sizes!
Logistical Considerations: Face painters need 1 table and 2 chairs per painter. Balloon twisters just need some table space and 1 chair per twister. Besides that, we’re pretty self-contained!
Age Range: Upper elementary, tweens, teens, and adults
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist: Up to 10 caricatures per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 8 per event
At a Glance: Our caricature artists create fun, personalized cartoon portraits that guests can take home as a keepsake. To keep lines moving quickly — a must for large-scale retail events — we focus on black-and-white bust caricatures, allowing more guests to be drawn each hour without sacrificing quality or charm.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Caricatures are always a hit — they’re the ultimate keepsake and conversation starter! We can even design custom templates featuring your shopping center’s logo, seasonal branding, or event theme, turning every drawing into a mini piece of marketing. It’s the perfect way to combine art, entertainment, and brand visibility at once.
Not Recommended For: Events centered on very young children, who may struggle to sit still long enough for their turn (about six minutes per drawing).
Logistical Considerations: Each caricature artist needs 1 table at dining-height (no high tops or children’s tables) with 3 chairs for them and guests.
At a Glance: Guests can mix and match from a variety of temporary tattoo options! Our built-for-speed menus keep lines moving — attendees simply pick a design and have it applied in seconds. Tattoos can last anywhere from a few days (glitter or flash) to about a week (airbrush or henna), and most remove easily with rubbing alcohol (except henna).
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Temporary tattoo stations are fantastic Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas because they appeal to all ages and keep guests engaged without long wait times. They’re especially useful as “line-buster” activities that keep visitors entertained while they shop, explore, or wait for other attractions — providing fun, flexible shopping center entertainment inspiration for high-traffic events.
Not Recommended For: Marketing-specific activations where branding or crowd draw is the primary goal — in those cases, face painting and balloon twisting are usually more visible attention-getters.
Logistical Considerations: Each temporary tattoo artist requires one table and two chairs. Airbrush tattoo stations also need access to a standard three-prong electrical outlet, while glitter, flash, and henna options are completely self-contained.
Age Range: Toddlers and early elementary-age children
Number of Guests Entertained Per Mascot: Up to 30 guests per hour
Number of Mascots Available: Our roster includes over a dozen beloved characters, with up to six mascot performers available for any single event. (Ask us for our current lineup!)
At a Glance: Bring theme park magic right to your shopping center with our larger-than-life cartoon mascots! These friendly characters greet families, pose for photos, and create memorable moments that delight kids and parents alike.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Mascot meet-and-greets are one of the most powerful Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas for drawing young families and boosting foot traffic. They create a natural photo opportunity that fuels organic social media sharing — making them both a crowd favorite and a cost-effective marketing tool for your plaza or retail district.
Not Recommended For: Stage performances or events held in extreme heat. Mascots can safely appear on stage for introductions but cannot perform detailed activities like face painting, balloon twisting, or crafts. Since costume interiors can be up to 20°F warmer than the outdoor temperature, performers should be scheduled for regular shade and cooling breaks during summer events.
Logistical Considerations: Mascots require an adult handler from your team (or we can provide one); one 15min break per every contracted hour (so a 2hr contract from 2:00-4:00p would include two 15min breaks during that time); and a space to change/break. We are love our professional actors and it’s extremely important to us that they stay safe at events. Please read more about mascot safety here.
Kids: One tie-dye artist can assist up to 6 kids at a time, reaching approximately 25 participants per hour.
Teens & Adults: One tie-dye artist can assist up to 10 guests at a time, averaging about 40 participants per hour.
At a Glance: Our tie-dye artists guide guests through an easy, low-mess process to band, spray, and bag their own colorful apparel. This hands-on, make-and-take activity typically takes about six minutes per guest when there’s no line — making it a great balance between creativity and efficiency. (It’s also one of our most unique Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas!)
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Interactive “make-and-take” experiences like tie-dye stations are among the most engaging Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas you can offer. They encourage guests to stay longer, create a sense of community, and give them something memorable to take home — perfect shopping center entertainment inspiration for boosting dwell time and repeat visits.
Not Recommended For: Formal events, settings where mess must be avoided (though our spray-dye method is much cleaner than traditional tie-dye), or entertainment for children under six who may not yet have the motor skills for spraying.
Logistical Considerations: Each tie-dye setup requires 2–3 long folding tables (we provide drop cloths). Guests can bag and take their tie-dye items home immediately, or you can provide one additional long table per 15 participants as a drying station. (We supply gallon bags with name tags for easy transport.)an traditional tie-dye), or entertainment for kids under 6 who may not have the motor skills to spray.
Strolling Performers for Outdoor Shopping Center Entertainment Ideas
Strolling magicians
Age Range: Toddlers through adults
Number of Guests Entertained Per Magician: Approximately 6–7 tricks per hour, performed up-close for small groups of up to 10 guests per trick
Number of Performers Available: Our magicians are truly one-of-a-kind, with up to four available on any given day
At a Glance: Our strolling magicians move throughout your event, performing close-up magic and engaging guests wherever they are. This adds a spontaneous, personal touch that brings energy and curiosity to even the largest gatherings.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: A strolling magician is one of the most memorable Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas because it adds a sense of wonder and surprise to everyday spaces. Guests love the unexpected delight of seeing professional magic up close — it’s an easy way to spark smiles, create shareable moments, and elevate the guest experience across your plaza or retail district.
Not Recommended For: Fully seated or formal events such as galas or dinners. While magicians can stroll between dining tables, the magic works best in a dynamic, festival-style environment where guests are mingling and exploring.
Logistical Considerations: Our magicians are highly flexible and require minimal setup. They typically need only a small area to store extra props or materials. If parking is available nearby, they can easily manage everything from their vehicle — making this one of the easiest, most adaptable forms of shopping center entertainment to add to your lineup.
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist: Stilt walkers, clowns, and jugglers are more about creating atmosphere than performing for a specific number of guests. Just one or two performers can make a big visual impact across your entire event.
Number of Performers Available: This is one of our most specialized offerings, with 3–4 circus performers available on any given day.
At a Glance: Our stilt walkers, clowns, and jugglers roam through your event, adding color, motion, and energy to the space. They’re the perfect “wow factor” for carnival-themed festivals, shopping center celebrations, or seasonal events.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Circus performers are an easy, high-impact way to create a lively and immersive environment — ideal for drawing attention from every corner of your property. One or two roaming performers can transform the entire vibe of your plaza or promenade, making this one of the most cost-effective Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas for boosting energy and excitement.
Not Recommended For: Open-field, beach, or campground settings where uneven ground can make walking acts unsafe.
Logistical Considerations: Clowns and jugglers are completely self-contained. Stilt walkers, however, require one 15-minute break per contracted hour (for example, a 2:00–4:00 p.m. booking includes two breaks) and a tall, sturdy surface such as a bar top, car roof, or stage edge to safely mount their stilts. For safety, stilts should only be used on flat blacktop or indoor flooring — never on sand, dirt, or uneven grass.
Up to 20 face painters or balloon twisters available
At a Glance: Welcome spring in style with a visit from the Easter Bunny and seasonal activities that keep families smiling! Our team offers themed face painting and balloon twisting menus tailored for spring celebrations. (We also provide plenty of inclusive, secular spring and Purim designs so every family feels welcome.)
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: After a long New England winter, families are eager to get outside again — and nothing brings them together like a cheerful spring celebration. A festive Easter Bunny meet-and-greet combined with colorful booths and live entertainment is the perfect way to boost foot traffic and re-energize your plaza. It’s one of our favorite Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas for kicking off the warm-weather season and creating buzz across your community.
Logistical Considerations: If you’d like our artists to bring spring-specific menus or themed options, please let our office know when booking so we can tailor the experience to your event.
Mascots (including the Easter Bunny) require an adult handler from your team (or we can provide one); one 15min break per every contracted hour (so a 2hr contract from 2:00-4:00p would include two 15min breaks during that time); and a space to change/break. We are love our professional actors and it’s extremely important to us that they stay safe at events. Please read more about mascot safety here.
Strolling Magicians: Our magicians are all unique, but we have several available on any given day
At a Glance: Throw a fall festival that mixes traditions and is full of fall color! Our special fall products are never-scary and family-friendly and our special seasonal menus feature spooky hints at Halloween while still having plenty of entertainment options for families who don’t celebrate it.
Why We Love it for Outdoor Shopping Events: We love fall! We love New England! We would love to celebrate the best season to be a New Englander with you!
Christmas elf add-ons: turn any of your entertainers into elves! (Guests per hour depend on art type.)
Number of Artists Available:
Up to 1 Santa per event
Up to 15 elves for face painting, balloon twisting, temporary tattoos, or caricatures
At a Glance: Bring festive magic to your shopping center this winter! We offer Santa visits, cheerful elves, and classic holiday designs — but we also know that New England’s communities are beautifully diverse. Every one of our seasonal entertainment menus includes Christmas, Hanukkah, and secular winter options so every child feels welcome and included.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Nothing draws families to a plaza faster than a free photo with Santa! Pair that with themed face painting, balloon twisting, and other family-friendly attractions, and you’ve got one of the most crowd-pleasing Outdoor Shopping Center Event Entertainment Ideas of the year. Our inclusive approach ensures that every guest — regardless of background or tradition — enjoys a joyful winter experience, making your shopping center the heart of the season.
Logistical Considerations: Santa will need a sturdy chair for meet-and-greets. We must be informed at least one week in advance if your event is outdoors or indoors so we can ship heated layers for our performers. For outdoor events, our artists must be positioned near outdoor heaters for safety. (We love our performers and keeping them safe is our #1 priority!)
*Note, Patriotic menus are only available in full face designs and multi-balloon designs, not speedy designs, in order to incorporate red white and blue into everything.
Number of Artists Available: Up to 20
At a Glance: Our flexible red, white, and blue menus are perfect for three day weekends–Labor Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day are all covered with one unique menu! National Night Out, Touch a Truck, or a military discount event? Those too! Available for both face painting and balloon twisting.
Why We Love It for Outdoor Shopping Center Events: Turning your shopping center into a popular shopping destination often includes making it feel like an accessible, “third place” that’s part of the local community. These menus were engineered with outdoor shopping centers in mind to help create that small-time-festival feel and make you feel woven into your local town in the most New England way possible.
Logistical Considerations: If you want our artists to come prepared with a patriotic menu, please notify us at the time of booking so we can be prepared.
If you’re looking for town and city community event examples and ideas, here are the most popular event entertainment ideas we’ve seen over the past decade! Whether you’re looking for festival ideas for small towns or big city block party entertainment ideas, we have you covered!
Kaleidoscope has entertained at hundreds of town and city events, from Union CT’s Old Home Day (population 3,200) to Boston MA’s public block parties (population 673,000 and counting).
Here are our favorite types of entertainment for your upcoming town or city community event, sorted into three categories: booth & tent entertainment, strolling performers, and holiday specials.
Booth & Tent Entertainment Ideas for Towns & Cities
Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
Age Range: Toddlers – Tweens (and even some teens and adults!)
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist:
Full face paint designs or multi-balloon designs: 10-12 guests
At a Glance: Our artists set up at a booth or tent and move quickly through a line of kids!
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: This is THE most popular festival option we have! Our speedy face menu is custom-engineered to move through a huge line fast with a guarantee of 15-20 faces per hour with some artists reaching close to 30 faces per hour. With up to 20 artists available, no one can match our speed! Perfect for drawing in a large crowd on a budget.
Not Recommended For: We don’t recommend face paint for events with a ton of water activities (it will wash off easily) or balloons for events with a ton of hands-on activities (parents end up holding them). But honestly, these are our most popular types of entertainment for both small town festivals and big city block parties!
Logistical Considerations: Face painters need 1 table and 2 chairs per painter. Balloon twisters just need some table space and 1 chair per twister. Besides that, we’re pretty self-contained!
Age Range: Upper Elementary, Tweens, Teens, and Adults!
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist: Up to 10 guests drawn per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 8 per event
At a Glance: Our caricature artists will draw fun cartoons of your guests. To maximize speed (a constant consideration since we specialize in large events), we limit our caricatures to black and white busts to get more heads drawn per hour.
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: Caricatures are THE bucket-list item! Plus, we can create custom templates that advertise your town, department, or event on every page. (If you’re looking for city or town event entertainment idea that will draw a huge crowd, this is one of our biggest marketing magnets!)
Not Recommended For: Events focusing on young children, who often don’t know why they have to sit still for 6 minutes!
Logistical Considerations: Each caricature artist needs 1 table at dining-height (no high tops or children’s tables) with 3 chairs for them and guests.
At a Glance: Mix and match any temporary tattoos you want! Guests will line up, pick a tattoo from our built-for-speed menus, and have it quickly applied to them. Tattoos last anywhere from a few days (glitter, flash) up to a week (airbrush, henna) but most can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol (except henna).
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: Our temporary tattoo stations are perfect line-buster activities because we can get through so many guests at once, and are popular with all ages if you want to make sure there’s something for everyone.
Not Recommended For: Marketing-specific purposes. If your event goal is to draw the biggest crowd possible, face painting and balloon twisting are typically more popular crowd magnets.
Logistical Considerations: Temporary tattoo artists need 1 table and 2 chairs per artist. Airbrush tattoos additionally *require* a 3-prong electrical outlet near their station. (Glitter, flash, and henna are self-contained.)
Number of Guests Entertained Per Mascot: Up to 30 families per hour
Number of Mascots Available: We typically have about a dozen characters in our roster and up to 6 mascot actors available on any given day. Check out our current line up here.
At a Glance: Cartoon mascots come for a theme-park style meet-and-greet!
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: Cartoon meet-and-greets pack a massive marketing punch that draw a huge crowd of young families, and are often very cost-effective for your town or city! (This is probably the highest value example on our list of town event entertainment when you think about the cost per famiy.)
Not Recommended For: Stage shows or extreme heat events. Mascots cannot talk or see very well, so they can be introduced on a stage but cannot do things like face paint, balloon twist, or do crafts. The mascots also heat the person inside at least 20°F hotter than the outdoor temperature, so they cannot be placed in the direct sun and during summer require heat safety breaks.
Logistical Considerations: Mascots require an adult handler from your team (or we can provide one); one 15min break per every contracted hour (so a 2hr contract from 2:00-4:00p would include two 15min breaks during that time); and a space to change/break. We are love our professional actors and it’s extremely important to us that they stay safe at events. Please read more about mascot safety here.
For kids, one tie-dye artist can assist up to 6 kids at a time and up to 25 kids per hour.
For teens and adults, one tie-dye artist can assist up to 10 at a time and up to 40 teens and adults per hour.
At a Glance: Our tie-dye artists help guests band, spray, and bag tie-dye apparel! This low-mess solution is the perfect make-and-take station that, if there’s no line, takes guests about 6 minutes to move through and complete.
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: We love any activity that emphasizes play or hands-on participation. Make-and-take stations are perfect for that, and this is our favorite one!
Not Recommended For: Formal events, events where mess is a concern (although our spray dye is cleaner than traditional tie-dye), or entertainment for kids under 6 who may not have the motor skills to spray.
Logistical Considerations: Tie-Dye needs at least 2-3 long folding tables (we will provide drop cloths). Guests should either plan to take their tie-dye with them in a bag, or you should prepare another 1 long folding table per 15 guests as a drying station. (We will provide gallon bags with name tags.)
Strolling Performer Town Event Entertainment Ideas
If you’re looking for city and town event entertainment ideas for your parade, sports game, or downtown festival, strolling event entertainment may be for you!
Strolling magicians
Age Range: toddlers through adults
Number of Guests Entertained Per Magician: About 6-7 tricks per hour, up-close with groups of up to 10 people per trick
Number of Artists Available: Our magicians are one of a kind, but on any given day, we have up to 4 available.
At a Glance: Our magicians walk through your event performing up-close tricks for event-goers. It’s a special, intimate touch on large events!
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: If you’re trying to add an element of wonder and surprise to your event, an up-close magician is an unexpected encounter that will be the highlight of guests’ day!
Not Recommended For: Purely seated events, like galas or dinners. Magicians can stroll through tabled dining rooms, but often this breaks up guests’ conversations and doesn’t have the same element of surprise as a large festival or public event where everyone is standing.
Logistical Considerations: Our magicians need a small spot to stash extra items, but if they can park close to where they’re strolling, they can always leave things in their car. This is one of our most flexible types of entertainment!
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist: Stilt walkers, clowns, and jugglers are more of a “vibe” addition than entertainment, so one or two will make a large impact on everyone at your event.
Number of Artists Available: This is one of our most specialty products with only 3-4 circus artists available at any given time.
At a Glance: Our clowns, stilt walkers, and jugglers make their way through your event, adding ambiance to any carinval, festival, or circus-themed event!
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: One or two circus performers can make a huge difference on the festive atmosphere of your event, no matter how many guests you have–making it a very budget-conscious addition to your event.
Not Recommended For: Events out in open fields, on beaches, or in camps. Uneven terraine can make working while walking unsafe and not very much fun.
Logistical Considerations: Clowns and jugglers are self-contained. However, stilt walkers require one 15min break per every contracted hour (so a 2hr contract from 2:00-4:00p would include two 15min breaks during that time) and a tall platform to get onto their stilts (bar top, their car roof, a stage edge). For their safety, stilts should only be performed on flat black top or indoor flooring, and never on sand, dirt, or uneven lawn.
We can’t get enough of a cute New England town event that brings neighbors together to celebrate the holidays. Here are our favorite small town event entertainment ideas for the holidays (also great for big city events looking for some cozy New England charm!)
Easter, Purim, and Spring Celebrations
Age Range: Elementary kids
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist:
Easter Bunny Visits: up to 30 kids per hour
Face painting: 10-12 kids per hour
Balloon twisting: 10-12 kids per hour
Number of Artists Available:
Up to 4 Easter Bunnies available
Up to 20 face painters or balloon twisters available
At a Glance: Invite the Easter Bunny to your bash! We also have spring-specific face painting and balloon twisting menus for any celebration. (And don’t worry–all of our holiday menus are for everyone in your community, so we have plenty of Purim and secular spring designs we include for families who don’t celebrate Easter.)
Why We Love It for Town & City Events: By spring, we are all desperate to reemerge from winter’s dark isolation. Kick off spring in New England by inviting families out for a themed event!
Logistical Considerations:If you want our artists to bring spring-specific menus, please notify our office at the time of booking.
Mascots (including the Easter Bunny) require an adult handler from your team (or we can provide one); one 15min break per every contracted hour (so a 2hr contract from 2:00-4:00p would include two 15min breaks during that time); and a space to change/break. We are love our professional actors and it’s extremely important to us that they stay safe at events. Please read more about mascot safety here.
Strolling Magicians: Our magicians are all unique, but we have several available on any given day
At a Glance: Throw a fall festival that mixes traditions and is full of fall color! Our special fall products are never-scary and family-friendly and our special seasonal menus feature spooky hints at Halloween while still having plenty of entertainment options for families who don’t celebrate it.
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: We love fall! We love New England! We would love to celebrate the best season to be a New Englander with you!
Christmas elf add-ons: turn any of your entertainers into elves! (Guests per hour depend on art type.)
Number of Artists Available:
Up to 1 Santa per event
Up to 15 elves for face painting, balloon twisting, temporary tattoos, or caricatures
At a Glance: Throw a perfect winter town event! We have Santa, elves, and tons of classic Christmas designs, but one of the things we love about New England is how diverse our communities are. All of our special winter menus come with Christmas, Hanukkah, and secular winter designs so no child ever feels left out.
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: Nothing will pull families to your event like a free visit with Santa! And our special winter face painting and balloon twisting menus will include every family in your town.
Logistical Considerations: Santa requires a chair. We **MUST** be informed if the event is outdoors or indoors with a minimum week’s notice before your event if we need to ship extra heated layers to keep our artists warm, and for outdoor events our artists **MUST** be placed next to outdoor heaters for their safety. (We love our artists and safety is our #1 priority here!)
At a Glance: Let us bring our patriotic red, white, and blue menus to your Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, or Veterans’ Day event! These flexible menus have something for anyone who wants to get their face painted.
Why We Love it for Town & City Events: When you’re celebrating a local or federal holiday, these menus have been crafted to give a nostalgic Americana feel to any event.
Logistical Considerations: If you want our artists to use any holiday menus at your event, including patriotic ones, please let our office know at the time of booking. (And if you’re looking for parade entertainment, we don’t recommend walking balloon twisters unless you are ok with extremely simple dogs-or-swords type options. Mascots make for better parade walkers, but talk to our office at the time of booking.)
Looking for apartment complex event ideas in New England? Kaleidoscope is New England’s largest artistic entertainment company with artists in CT, MA, RI, NH, and additionally serving VT and ME.
We’ve compiled our Top 12 most creative apartment complex event ideas for both kids AND adults in this guide full of quick tips and at-a-glance stats to help you quickly plan an amazing apartment complex party. These are all products and entertainment services that we provide, and if you’re interested in booking some apartment event entertainment in New England, we’d love to work with you!
12 Apartment Complex Event Ideas for New England:
1. Paint Parties
Age Range: Teens and Adults
At-a-Glance: Residents sit down with one of our professional artists and create a painting (which you, the event planner, chose) as a group. Think: Bob Ross meets Paint and Sip parties.
Seasonal Event Ideas: Paint parties are perfect for when it’s cold outside and you’re looking for cozy indoor programming. This is by far our most popular apartment complex event idea from November – March every year!
Number of residents entertained: 20-200 per painting.
LogisticalConsiderations: If you have groups over 80, we will need audiovisual equipment, so most of our apartment complex clients opt to host paint parties as a reoccuring monthly event in their clubhouse for smaller groups.
You’ll also need to provide a chair and table for every resident, plus tablecloths. Paint parties aren’t very messy, but please consult your maintenance team for any rules your campus might have.
If your apartment complex is largely families, please note to guests that this is an activity for adults to enjoy themselves without children and not a family event or babysitting service.
We love it for: Evening programming alternatives to alcohol or cannabis; cold-weather activities; and calm adults-only programming.
Not recommended for: outdoors (the wind makes them hard) or family-centric apartment complex event ideas.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement: If your apartment complex is able to provide catering or a bar, we’ve seen plenty of amazing apartments host paint parties with snacks and drinks.
At-a-Glance: Kids (and adults!) line up for some fun face painting or silly balloon twisting.
Seasonal Event Ideas: bring balloons for pool parties, face painting for family movie nights, or both for fall carnivals!
Number of residents entertained: 10-12 per hour (regular size) or 15-20 per hour (“speedy” selection).
Considerations: Face painters need 2 chairs and some table space; balloon twisters need 1 chair and some table space. In the heat, both will need to be placed under shade for residents’ heat safety. In the cold, both should be placed indoors.
We love it for: circus-themed events; family-centric events; and anything sports-related.
Not recommended for: formal events.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do, which your staff can organize to take balloon twisting and face painting to the next level:
Use face painting for themed holiday events that typically involve costumes–like Mardi Gras, Purim, Halloween, Day of the Dead–and let our artists create something amazing in-theme!
If you love hosting sports watching events, have our face painters or balloon twisters create Game Day sports faces or wearable balloon designs in team colors to add some team spirit (and friendly rivalries).
At-a-Glance: Set up a station where residents can get their own henna, glitter, flash, or aibrush tattoos done.
Seasonal Event Ideas: Summer block parties, large winter holiday parties, or 3 day weekends when you expect extra attendance at your event.
Number of residents entertained: Anywhere from 10-12 guests per hour (henna) to 25 guests per hour (airbrush) per artist with up to 10 artists available per tattoo. We love these for large-scale events where you want to get a ton of residents something fun in a short amount of time–especially with apartmenxt complexes that expect 100+ residents at an event.
Considerations: Temporary tattoo artists require 2 chairs and some table space per artist, and for outdoor events must be placed in the shade (over 75*F) or in a heated area (under 55*F). Airbrush tattoos require electricity.
We love it for: events over 100+ guests.
Not recommended for: Small intimate events where you want guests to linger at an entertainment station (tattoos are generally very quick to apply).
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your temporary tattoo entertainment to the next level:
Add all 4 types of tattoo stations throughout a spread-out event across a large apartment campus. Have guests go on a scavenger hunt and collect all 4 for a prize.
Because airbrush tattoos specifically are fast, the cost per guest is significantly less than some higher-end entertainment types. Use airbrush tattoos to add some budget entertainment so you can also offer guests more expensive niche experiences without breaking your budget.
At-a-Glance: Guests are invited to dance in waist-high foam and bubbles.
Seasonal Event Ideas: Summer alternative to a pool day; fall back to school block party; or Memorial Day / Labor day pool opening or closing parties**.
Number of residents entertained:Up to 50 at a time (2 cannons). Can be done in lined waves (like an amusement park line) or organically (typically guests are done after about 10-15min in the foam).
Considerations: Foam must be done outdoors and requires a large flat area (such as blacktop or a grass lawn) with no obtrusive objects (sprinklers, sewers, rocks, holes, landscaping). Additionally, foam needs to be no more than 100′ from a grounded power outlet on its own circuit and 100′ from an outdoor water spigot. Residents will get wet, but that’s part of the fun!
*We suggest having separate family parties and separate 18+ parties.
**PLEASE NOTE, foam cannot be sprayed near or in pools as it is a drowning risk if lifeguards cannot see a person in need of help under the foam.
We love it for: high energy outdoor events; nighttime parties with lighting rentals and a DJ; or kids’ summer programming.
Not recommended for: indoor events; low-energy events.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your foam party to the next level:
Use foam cannons as “checkpoints” every 1k for a 5k race or at intervals throughout walking/running fundraisers on a track.
Use foam to let guests cool down at an outdoor event like a BBQ or outdoor fundraiser
Throw a foam party for a wellness week to encourage movement or to bust stress.
At-a-Glance: Our professional makeup artists and face painters will create over-the-top glitter looks for your guests.
Seasonal Event Ideas: winter holiday events; June Pride events; 4th of July BBQs.
Number of residents entertained: 12-15 per hour per artist.
Considerations: Glitter look artists need 2 chairs and some table space each. Recommended over tile floors or outdoors as glitter can be messy.
We love it for: events where you want just a touch of entertainment or something special.
Not recommended for: carpeted areas (glitter will stay in those carpets for years).
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your glitter looks entertainment to the next level:
Combine a face painting station for kids with a glitter looks station for teens and adults so everyone can get something they’re excited about!
Using glitter looks at Purim to help adult guests feel “dressed up” or at Chanukah to add some sparkle to the festival of lights!
At-a-Glance: We provide both the light rental and the artists to create glowing UV looks.
Seasonal Event Ideas: winter indoor events or outdoors at night with heated tents.
Number of residents entertained: 10-12 per hour per artist
Considerations: The area should be dark with only limited color lights (such as uplights or LED strips) as well as UV. (Ask our office about lighting packages with our DJ services.)
*We recommend separate kids & families parties from 21+ parties
We love it for: events that are stuck inside or want to embrace New England’s dark nights.
Not recommended for: outdoor day light events; indoor spaces where lights cannot be shut out by shutters, blinds, or curtains.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your UV-reactive entertainment to the next level:
Ask families to bring consoles to project party games like Mario Cart or Super Smash onto the walls for a glowing game night tournament.
Pre-movie night entertainment.
Create a kids’ nightclub-inspired event by combining UV face and body painting with DJ services.
At-a-Glance: Your residents will bring a question or problem to our tarot and palm readers, who in turn will use the “grammar” of palmistry and tarot to discuss the questions the guests have. (Palm and tarot do not use any religious themes or witchcraft.).
Seasonal Event Ideas: This is our #1 favorite idea for Hallween parties, but are also popular year-round at evening adult events!
Number of residents entertained: 6-8 guests per hour per reader.
Considerations: Each reader needs a table and 2 chairs far away from the “action” of the event (DJs, food lines, other stations) for a cozy and private chat.
*Children under 16 cannot understand the difference between facts and metaphors, so they may not understand the entertainment or feel scared by sentences like “change is coming”. To keep all of our entertainment age-appropriate, we don’t do tarot card readings for children or tweens.
We love it for: Halloween or fall events; cozy indoor events; apartment complex event ideas themed around chill, relaxation, or zen.
Not recommended for: Loud and large events (these readings feel intimate and quiet).
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your psychic entertainment to the next level:
Create a “psychic” area at your upcoming fall event.
Hire massage therapists or yoga instructors for a wellness day, and add some lighthearted fun with tarot or palm readers.
For a cozy event, pair psychic services with “craft bars” where residents can build terrariums or succulent gardens for their apartments.
Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults (great for mixed-age groups)
At-a-Glance: One of our magicians or mind readers will walk throughout your event and invite guests to participate in some up-close magic. (Please note, this is not a stage show.).
Seasonal Event Ideas: strolling magic is perfect year-round, indoor or outdoor. It’s one of our most flexible entertainment types!
Number of residents entertained: Up to 40 per hour. (Ideal for large-scale events.)
Considerations: Strolling mentalism and magic is extremely flexible and require nothing from the planner except a place to stash personal belongings like a coat, water bottle, and extra props.
We love it for: Halloween or fall events; summer BBQs; carnival-themed events; and any events of over 100+ residents of mixed ages.
Not recommended for: Small events under 50 people; events looking for a sit-down show; events where this is the only entertainment.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment buildsing do which your staff can organize to take your magical entertainment to the next level:
Add a strolling magician to a formal seated event, like a dinner or holiday party, for some strolling entertainment and a fun touch to a classy event.
Throw an outdoor event inspired by vintage carnivals with carnival rides, games, tarot/palm readers, stilt walkers, and strolling magicians.
Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults (great for mixed-aged groups)
At-a-Glance: Residents drop by a craft station where, with the help of one of our professional tie-dye artists, they twist, wrap, and spray their creations. They can instantly bag and take their creations with them.
Seasonal Event Ideas:
Number of residents entertained:15-25 residents per hour per tie-dye artist.
Considerations: Spray dye is lower mess than traditional dip-dye, but should still be done over tile floors or outdoors to facilitate clean up. All apparel must be 100% cotton and can be provided by your brand (including logo-branded apparel) or by Kaleidoscope.
We love it for: outdoor events; drop-by BBQ activities; events with a large array of mixed ages.
Not recommended for: events where residents’ clothing cannot get dirty. (Dye is washable until heat set, but residents who are afraid of dye on their clothes won’t participate.)
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your tie-dye station to the next level:
Include tie-dye in an event series with decades-themed days for the 60’s or 70’s and include a DIY hemp jewelry station.
Create an “Adult Summer Camp” event where residents can live the nostalgia of childhood summes with tie-dye, a foam party, and classic camp crafts that ignite their inner children.
Prepare 100% cotton apparel with your brand or complex logo and have our tie-dye artists bring only colors that reflect your brand. (Just let our office know at the time of booking.)
At-a-Glance: Our professional DJ will set up a karaoke station for residents including all music, monitors with lyrics, microphones, and optional add-ons like photo booths or lighting.
Seasonal Event Ideas:
Number of residents entertained: Up to 14 songs per hour (up to 4 mics available for 4 guests to sing together).
Considerations: Our DJ should be kept either inside or under shade outdoors to stop equipment from overheating and will need access to grounded power outlets on their own circuits.
We love it for: evening programming with food and a bar (if your luxury apartment complex can provide catering); single mingle nights; or months without obvious themes where you’re looking for something original indoors (January-March are perfect).
Not recommended for: outdoor events after 8pm (the local area may have sound ordinances that don’t allow loud music to be played outdoors after a certain time); events where you want to encourage dancing and have regular DJ services.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your karaoke party to the next level:
Host Karaoke Brackets, where the bravest residents can bring their fans (or friends) and compete in a bracket-style competition where the audience gets to vote. Think Reality Show meets March Madness!
Have a fun spin on a Halloween costume contest where residents are invited to come in costume, but then judged not on the costume itself but their character’s ability to pull off a fantastic karaoke number. (For instance: a guest in a Barbie costume singing the 90’s pop hit Barbie Girl; or a group dressed up as the characters of Grease singing Grease Lightning.)
For events that are alternatives to alcohol and cannabis use, hire a DJ for an event series to host a series of activities that are reminiscent of the social parts of a bar–such as karaoke, trivia, music Bingo, board game night, or a cornhole tournament–but swap the alcohol to snack bars. We’ve seen sundae bars, cereal bars, taco bars, and brunch bars be huge hits with all ages!
Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults (great for mixed-age groups)
At-a-Glance: Guests line up to be drawn as cartoons by one of our professional artists.
Seasonal Event Ideas: Caricatures are hugely popular for summer events reminiscent of boardwalks or theme parks, like BBQs, pool parties, or community sporting events.
Number of residents entertained:Up to 10 faces per hour per artist.
We love it for: lighthearted events; carnival-inspired events; outdoor picnics; department-wide events; events looking to use entertainment as a marketing hook to draw in large numbers of residents.
Not recommended for: formal or serious events; family events events geared towards entertaining young children. (Caricatures are appropriate for younger children, but often kids under 10 get bored siting still and staring at an adult.)
Considerations: Each caricature artist will need 1 table and 3 chairs. This should be indoors or, for outdoor events, in the shade for days over 75*F or with heat for days under 50*F.
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment buildings do which your staff can organize to take your caricature entertainment to the next level:
Use caricatures as a fun alternative to photo booths and help guests get a break from screens and cameras.
Create a “beach day” with a foam party, caricatures, a DIY sand art craft station, airbrush tattoos, ice cream trucks, and other entertainment reminiscent of boardwalks and summer sand.
At-a-Glance: A cartoon character will visit your event for a theme park-style meet and greet.
Seasonal Event Ideas: Bring the Easter Bunny for a spring time visit (with photos), or a popular cartoon character any time of year!
Number of residents entertained: Up to 60 kids an hour.
Considerations: Being in a mascot is serious physical work, and we take our talented actors’ safety very seriously!
Mascot characters need a 15min break for every 45min of work in an area where they cannot be seen by party guests and can take off their stilts or costumes. Every mascot entertainer MUST have an event volunteer organized by the Client to be the mascot’s assistant or “handler”. For corporate or nonprofit events, this should be a staff member or volunteer. For weather over 70°F, all entertainers must be placed in the shade. Over 85°F, the entertainers may request to be moved to an indoor space with AC if they begin to feel symptoms of heat sickness.
We love it for: Kids and family style programming, especially if you want to move a lot of children through a line of entertainment very quickly.
Not recommended for: events looking to mascots as an activity for kids to participate in. (We classify mascots as “atmospheric entertainment,” which add to the overall vibe of your event, but are not a specific activity.) Events in high summer outdoors where mascot actors may be heat sick (there are no fans or AC units in their costumes).
Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:
Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other apartment complex do which your staff can organize to take your use of mascots to the next level:
Station your mascot in front of a large banner branded with your logo so parents can take photos they’ll keep forever.
Use mascot visits as community events to increase brand awareness and advertise these events to the public who may be your future residents. (A themepark styled meet and greet is one of our fastest entertainment types, so the cost per guest is relatively low.)
Although we love art entertainment like face painting and balloon twisting, we recognize that “art stations” aren’t right for every party.
Kaleidoscope is proud to offer a huge selection of shows and experiences for your upcoming event, no matter what your venue, guests’ age range, or entertainment goal.
Take a look at what we have to offer, and follow the links to learn more!
Magic Shows
Kaleidoscope is New England’s only creative entertainment agency that hosts it’s own variety of magic shows. You can take a look at all of our magicians here, and the shows that we currently have for you to choose from are:
1h Kids Comedy Extravaganza with Kenny (ages 2-tween)
If magic isn’t your style, our Silly Science Show with Kenny is an amazing alternative!
Created for elementary schoolers, the science show features just as many laughs and cool tricks as Kenny’s famous comedy magic shows, but uses the scientific method to inspire curiosity about how the world works.
For kids who want to get more hands’ on, the Silly Science Show also comes with a slime lab, perfect for ages 4-14!
Can’t decide between magic and science? Our bubble show is a fantastic mix of both!
From the science of how bubbles are made to the magic of what they can do, our bubble show will captivate ages 2-teen with its hypnotic tricks and mystery.
Foam parties are best described as “a dance party in an outdoor bubble bath!” From pre-schools to summer camps to huge corporate events to tiny birthday parties, they are truly one of the coolest and most unique types of entertainment we offer.
Foam parties are amazing for all ages, and our office would love to work with you to customize your guests’ experiences.
Looking to show your employees, tenants, club members, students, or guests you truly appreciate them? Arty Party paint nights are one of our most elevated experiences. Ranging from 90min – 2hrs, our talented paint party instructors will come to any location in New England and host a custom paint night for you.
Guests will sit down as a group and paint together for the full duration of the class, with built-in downtime to socialize or grab a bite to eat.
Paint parties are perfect for tweens, teens, and adults! They also make a great alcohol-alternative party for your school or corporate event, or feel free to serve guests libations as they sip and paint. Either way, the event WILL sell out and be one of your most popular events of the year!
PLEASE NOTE: this is not a kids’ craft station or a babysitting alternative but is best suited for ages 12+.
Looking for a magical alternative to a seated stage-show? Our strolling magicians can wander through any crowd and entertain them one-on-one in a hands-on experience they won’t forget!
Our strolling magic options are:
Clowning-around with Kenny (magic, gags, and juggling–perfect for kids and families)
Victorian classical magic with James (cards, coins, ropes, and rings–perfect for all ages)
Enchanted magical objects with Alexis (precious metals, wooden boxes, and magical rings–perfect for all ages)
Mentalism and mind reading with Marissa (crystals, essential oils, and tarot–perfect for teens and adults)
Don’t let our artists have all the fun–let us teach your guests the arts of balloon twisting, juggling, and magic! From elementary schoolers through senior citizens, our circus camp classes will have everyone at your event clowning around.
Circus camp classes are best done in groups of 10-15 and can be done in “waves” for summer camps or libraries who want to stick to a schedule. Depending on the number of guests per wave, we may suggest longer or shorter time frames, or teach more or fewer concepts.
PLEASE NOTE: adults such as parents, camp counselors, or chaperones are welcome at all classes and should be available if needed as our creative experiences are not babysitting services.
If you’re looking for a hands-on craft station, the tie-dye station is a great option for guests of any age to drop in, create something fun, and continue with the event.
A professional artist will help guests twist, tie, and spray-dye the apparel of their choice. Then we’ll help them bag and label their creations for a low-mess experience that keeps your event moving.
Unlike our more-structured Circus Camp Classes (all ages) or Paint Parties (tweens, teens, and adults), guests can drop in, get crafty, and continue to other activities in your event at any time. For camps, we recommend bringing campers in waves; for parties and events, we recommend having the station accessible for the duration of the event.
Not only are our face painters, balloon twisters, and other party entertainers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire top-notch artists, but they are also fantastic with kids! In addition, face painting is a surefire way to bring fun and excitement to any party.
Kaleidoscope began in 2013 as a Connecticut-based face painting and balloon twisting party entertainment agency. Since then, we have grown into New England’s largest creative entertainment company. Today, we proudly offer face painters, balloon twisters, caricature artists, magicians, and more throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, with additional services available in Vermont and Maine.
If you’re looking for end of the year school party ideas to celebrate elementary school graduation, fundraise for your PTO, or just bring your community together, we’d love to inspire you!
As New England’s most popular event entertainment company (and the highest-rated in the US, despite only servicing our 6 little states!), here are our favorite end of year school party ideas for elementary schools!
8 Amazing End of Year School Party Ideas for Elementary Schools
Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist:
Full face paint designs or multi-balloon designs: 10-12 guests
At a Glance: Our artists set up at a booth or tent and move quickly through a line of kids!
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: These are *the* classic entertainment that kids will want to line up for. Plus, with our special speedy menus, we can get through a huge amount of them very quickly! Great for impatient younger siblings and tight budgets.
Logistical Considerations: Face painters need 1 table and 2 chairs per painter. Balloon twisters just need some table space and 1 chair per twister. Besides that, we’re pretty self-contained!
Number of Guests Entertained Per Mascot: Up to 30 per hour
Number of Mascots Available: We typically have about a dozen characters in our roster and up to 6 mascot actors available on any given day. Check out our current line up here.
At a Glance: Cartoon mascots come for a theme-park style meet-and-greet!
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: Younger siblings will love to meet their favorite characters while, especially ones who are too young for other activities like face painting or foam parties.
Logistical Considerations: Mascots require an adult handler from your team (or we can provide one); one 15min break per every contracted hour (so a 2hr contract from 2:00-4:00p would include two 15min breaks during that time); and a space to change/break. We are love our professional actors and it’s extremely important to us that they stay safe at events. Please read more about mascot safety here.
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist: Up to 20 per artist.
Number of Artists Available: Up to 10 artists available.
At a Glance: Kids choose between hair tinsel, hair chalk, and hair glitter to get a custom ‘do!
Special Notes: Hair chalk is popular for all hair lengths and genders! Often parents worry that this activity won’t be for boys, but we promise they love the hair chalk as much as anyone else.
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: Hair art is a fast alternative to face painting, and great for kids who aren’t interested in face painting. (Especially the ones who think they’re “too old” for little kid stuff!)
Logistical Considerations: If your event is indoors, please make sure it’s ok with the school or venue to use glitter.
1 cannon at a time: Up to 25 kids per “wave” of dancing
2 cannons at a time: Up to 50 kids per “wave” of dancing
Kids typically want to spend 15-30min in the foam before moving onto the next activity
Number of Artists Available: While we have up to 3 cannons available, we recommend only hiring a maximum of 2 cannons at a time to keep groups of kids smaller (and safer) at any one time.
At a Glance: Our trained foam techs will blast music and bunches of bubbles to create a soapy, over-the-top dance party!
Special Notes: Safety is the #1 priority for foam! Parent volunteers or staff must be present at all times. Children will be instructed on how to act safetly in the foam, but our techs are not baby sitters or life guards.
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties:
Logistical Considerations: Foam should be sprayed in a 50 ‘ x 50′ flat area (black top or lawn) with adequate drainage and not hidden tripping hazards (sprinklers, rocks, stumps, toys, playground materials, curbs, drains). Foam techs must be placed within 100′ of water spigots and 100’ of grounded electricity. The electrical must be 3-pronged, grounded, and on a unique breaker (breaker cannot be combined with other rentals or utilities). Read more about foam requirements on our foam site.
At a Glance: Mix and match any temporary tattoos you want! Guests will line up, pick a tattoo from our built-for-speed menus, and have it quickly applied to them. Tattoos last anywhere from a few days (glitter, flash) up to a week (airbrush, henna) but most can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol (except henna).
Special Notes: We do not recommend henna tattoos for this age group since it can be very messy. So you’ll see it listed on our site, but not on this page 🙂
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: Temporary tattoos are value-friendly line-busters for when you need a ton of kids entertained on a tight budget!
Logistical Considerations: Temporary tattoo artists need 1 table and 2 chairs per artist. Airbrush tattoos additionally *require* a 3-prong electrical outlet near their station. (Glitter, flash, and henna are self-contained.)
Number of Students Entertained Per Magician: About 6-7 tricks per hour, up-close with groups of up to 10 people per trick
Number of Magicians Available: Our magicians are one of a kind, but on any given day, we have up to 4 available.
At a Glance: Our magicians walk through your party performing up-close tricks for event-goers. It’s a special, intimate touch on large events!
Special Notes: Some of our magicians are able to dress up in costumed characters for your event. Ask our office while booking!
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: In our decade+ of experience, your end of year school event is likey not booking enough entertainment for the amount of kids you have and the lines will be long. (We get it, you had to fundraise and the budget is tight!) Strolling magic is a great way to make your lines more interesting while kids wait in them and double the fun kids have.
Logistical Considerations: Our magicians need a small spot to stash extra items, but if they can park close to where they’re strolling, they can always leave things in their car. This is one of our most flexible types of entertainment!
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist: Our DJ can bring speakers for up to your entire elementary school! Just make sure you speak with us about the number of kids you expect while booking 🙂
Number of Artists Available: You’ll only need one DJ for your event, but if you want things like structured games or a photobooth, we can send assistants.
At a Glance: Our DJ will come with huge speakers and a library of family-friendly music for your event. We can also MC announcements or graduating speeches–just ask!
Special Notes: If you want upgrades like lighting, monitors, photobooths, or games ask us at the time of booking.
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: Music is one of those details that MAKES a party!
Logistical Considerations: Our DJ will need access to power very close by to their station. Please give ou office as many details about your party’s size and venue when booking so we can make sure we bring the right equipment. You MUST specify if the event is outdoors at the time of booking so that our DJ can provide a tent rental to keep equipment from overheating.
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist: For kids, one tie-dye artist can assist up to 6 kids at a time and up to 25 kids per hour. (For teens and adults, this number is higher as they need less assistance.)
Number of Artists Available: Up to 8 tie-dye artists available
At a Glance: Our tie-dye artists help kids band, spray, and bag tie-dye apparel! This low-mess solution is the perfect make-and-take station that, if there’s no line, takes guests about 6 minutes to move through and complete.
Special Notes:Want to turn tie-dye into a great keepsake? Pre-order shirts with your class year, school logo, or mascot on it for students to grab and custom-dye!
Why We Love it for End of Year School Parties: We love any activity that emphasizes hands-on play as an alternative to screens. And this is our favorite make-and-take station!
Logistical Considerations: Tie-Dye needs at least 2-3 long folding tables (we will provide drop cloths). Students should either plan to take their tie-dye with them in a bag, or you should prepare another 1 long folding table per 15 guests as a drying station. (We will provide gallon bags with name tags.)
If you’re looking for Project Graduation event entertainment ideas, here are our top ones! From night-club-inspired parties to nostalgic throwbacks, our Safe Grad party ideas will be a hit with your high school students.
Safe Grads are an amazing alternative party to keep high school students safe on their graduation night, but did you know they originated in New England? Launched for the first time in Oxford Hills, Maine in the 1980s, it’s since become a national movement to keep kids safe after graduating high school while celebrating their accomplishments.
As a proudly New England local event entertainment company that services CT, MA, RI, NH, and parts of ME and VT, these are some of our favorite events to do of the year.
Here’s our definitive list of our favorite project graduation ideas!
8 Perfect Project Graduation Entertainment Ideas
UV & LED Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist:
UV face painting: 10-12 faces per hour
LED simple balloon twisting: 15-20 designs per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 10 per type of entertainment
At a Glance: Make your safe grad glow with a “night club” inspired remix on these childhood favorites! The perfect blend of silly fun and eye-catching interest for tweens and teens.
Special Notes: UV face and body painting does require ultraviolet / blacklights. You can provide them for your event or rent them for the duration that our artists are at your event.
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: If it feels like your teens are growing up too fast, this is the perfect entertainment that mixes little-kid-nostalgia with something more “grown up” that feels like it should be at a nightclub.
Logistical Considerations: UV paint and LED balloons work best in dark places. If an area of your event is dark except for ultraviolet / blacklights or decorative lights, that’s the perfect spot. If you’re using our light rental services, just make sure we have access to 3-pronged outlets. (And just note that artists will need tables and chairs.)
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist: Up to 10 guests drawn per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 8 per event
At a Glance: Our caricature artists will draw fun cartoons of your students. To maximize speed (a constant consideration since we specialize in large events), we limit our caricatures to black and white busts to get more heads drawn per hour.
Special Notes: Want to add a pre-printed design with your school’s logo, mascot, or graduating class? Ask our office about adding custom printed paper to your order!
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: Caricatures are the PERFECT keepsake for your students’ once-in-a-lifetime event. They’re perfect for this age range and one of the most popular things we provide at graduation parties.
Logistical Considerations: Each caricature artist needs 1 table at dining-height (no high tops or children’s tables) with 3 chairs for them and guests.
At a Glance: Mix and match any temporary tattoos you want! Students will line up, pick a tattoo from our menus, and have it applied to them. Tattoos last anywhere from a few days (glitter, flash) up to a week (airbrush, henna) but most can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol (except henna).
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: Students can lay on the tattoos as few or as many as they want. Temporary tattoo stations are the perfect quick-drop-by activity, or students can get a full sleeve from one of our artists. They’re a fun mix of nostalgia and feeling grown-up!
Logistical Considerations: Temporary tattoo artists need 1 table and 2 chairs per artist. Airbrush tattoos additionally *require* a 3-prong electrical outlet near their station. (Glitter, flash, and henna are self-contained.)
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist: Up to 15 students per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 20 artists available
At a Glance: Like with face painting, students line up to get a custom look. Great for all genders!
Special Notes: Can’t decide between face paint and glitter looks? Talk to our office about how you can combine them for your event.
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: Teens and young adults who often feel too old for face painting love our glitter looks! They’re fun for all genders and an “adult” spin on something classic as your students see off their childhood at your Project Safe Grad!
Logistical Considerations: Glitter looks artists need 1 table and 2 chairs per artist. For indoor events, you should check with your school or venue to make sure they allow glitter in their venue.
Number of Students Entertained Per Mentalist: About 6-7 tricks per hour, up-close with groups of up to 10 people per trick
Number of Artists Available: We have 1-2 mentalists available at any given time, and they can work in pairs for your event
At a Glance: Our mentalists will walk throughout your event to perform up-close mind-reading using mystical objects like tarot cards, crystals, essential oils, and jewelry.
Special Notes: Mentalists use psychology, not any magic or witchcraft, and will work to keep your event feeling positive and uplifting.
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: While students are waiting in lines for other types of entertainment, we love mentalism as a strolling experience that can make every part of your Project Graduation fun–even the lines!
Logistical Considerations: Our mentalists need a small spot to stash extra items, but if they can park close to where they’re strolling, they can always leave things in their car. This is one of our most flexible types of entertainment!
Number of Students Entertained Per Artist: Up to 10 per hour
Number of Artists Available: Up to 6 psychics available per event
At a Glance: Students drop by our psychic station for tarot or palm reading. They’re invited to ask any questions and bring their personal beliefs to the experience. Our psychics will do quick 3-card or 4-line readings if there is a line, or can do longer readings if there is time.
Special Notes: Students of any religion or skepticism are invited to this experience! Our tarot and palm readers want to create a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone and will not challenge any students’ beliefs; predict the future; talk to the dead; or give advice. Our readings are open-ended and optimistic with the belief that we all have the ability to shape our lives and futures 🙂
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: Tarot and palm reading are extremely popular with teens and young adults. It’s one of our most sought-after experiences for Project Graduations, but sells out very quickly in June every year because of this.
Logistical Considerations: Tarot and palm readers need 1 table and 2 chairs placed far away from the loud chaos of the rest of the event so we can have a quiet conversation with your students.
Karaoke station: up to 20 songs per hour with up to 4 microphones per song
Party DJ: we can bring speakers for up to 600 students
Number of DJs Available: For your event we will only need 1 DJ, but if you want to add things like games with prizes, photo booths, or other DJ services our DJ can bring assistants.
At a Glance:
Karaoke station: Put aside a separate room or area. Our DJ will provide playlists, screens/projectors (as appropriate) and up to 4 wireless mics so students can sing their hearts out!
Party DJ: Our DJ will set up with speakers for your entire event! From playlists to requests, our DJs can make sure your students hear the music they love at their Safe Grad night!
Special Notes: Party DJs and karaoke stations are separate packages. If you want both, please specify with our office while booking. We will either need to create a schedule of set up / break downs to run one station after the other, or provide 2 DJs for your event.
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: Karaoke is another great example of an “adult” feeling entertainment that’s just as fun for high school students as when they were in elementary school.
Logistical Considerations: Our DJ will need access to power very close by to their station. Please give ou office as many details about your party’s size and venue when booking so we can make sure we bring the right equipment.
Number of Guests Entertained Per Artist: For teens and young adults, one tie-dye artist can assist up to 10 at a time and up to 40 high school age per hour. (For younger children, this number is much lower as they need more help.)
At a Glance: Our tie-dye artists help guests band, spray, and bag tie-dye apparel! This low-mess solution is the perfect make-and-take station that, if there’s no line, takes guests about 6 minutes to move through and complete.
Special Notes: Want to turn tie-dye into a great keepsake? Pre-order shirts with your class year, school logo, or mascot on it for students to grab and custom-dye!
Why We Love it for Safe Grad / Project Graduation: We love any activity that emphasizes hands-on play as an alternative to screens. And this is our favorite make-and-take station!
Logistical Considerations: Tie-Dye needs at least 2-3 long folding tables (we will provide drop cloths). Students should either plan to take their tie-dye with them in a bag, or you should prepare another 1 long folding table per 15 guests as a drying station. (We will provide gallon bags with name tags.)
Our CT MA RI NH balloon twisters are talented artists who are amazing with kids. Since 2013, Kaleidoscope has been New England’s most popular creative entertainment company–let us show you why!
