Inflatable Games For Block Party
June 21, 2011 10:33 AM Subscribe
We're having a block party. We're going to spend up to $1,000 on inflatable games (bounce castle, jousting arena, dunk tank, etc). Help me decide which games to pick.
There will be a variety of people at the block party. Children ages 5, up to 16. Active adults will also be interested in participating. We have enough space (so the land/transportation/setup shouldn't be a problem).
Games we're considering:
* Bounce castle for the kids
* Sumo suits
* Jousting arena
* Dunk tank
* Obstacle course
I'm mostly interested in feedback for games that weren't as cool as they seemed on the website. For instance, I can see the dunk tank getting lame. Also, if the weather doesn't hold, it could be useless.
What rentable games were a hit at your block party?
There will be a variety of people at the block party. Children ages 5, up to 16. Active adults will also be interested in participating. We have enough space (so the land/transportation/setup shouldn't be a problem).
Games we're considering:
* Bounce castle for the kids
* Sumo suits
* Jousting arena
* Dunk tank
* Obstacle course
I'm mostly interested in feedback for games that weren't as cool as they seemed on the website. For instance, I can see the dunk tank getting lame. Also, if the weather doesn't hold, it could be useless.
What rentable games were a hit at your block party?
Bouncy castle is an absolute must. Think about the number of people who will be able to enjoy it at once, as well as how comfortable they will be/how long it will take them to get in and out. Also, you could probably keep it up even if the weather isn't great (most of them have tops, so they won't get ultra-hot or slippery, especially if you have people take off shoes inside).
I haven't done a sumo suit thing myself, but aside from other people being able to watch it, it seems like only a few people could do it at once and it would take a lot of finagling to get in and out (on a hot day, too -- not super comfortable). Bouncy castle = in and out (and in and out about 85 more times, if you're most kids).
The dunk tank would be my second choice, especially if you have certain people in the neighborhood who people would like to dunk more than others :)
The wax hands machine looks fun to me (and, I'm sure, to the many teenagers who will make dirty shapes), but maybe I'm just weird.
posted by Madamina at 10:44 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
I haven't done a sumo suit thing myself, but aside from other people being able to watch it, it seems like only a few people could do it at once and it would take a lot of finagling to get in and out (on a hot day, too -- not super comfortable). Bouncy castle = in and out (and in and out about 85 more times, if you're most kids).
The dunk tank would be my second choice, especially if you have certain people in the neighborhood who people would like to dunk more than others :)
The wax hands machine looks fun to me (and, I'm sure, to the many teenagers who will make dirty shapes), but maybe I'm just weird.
posted by Madamina at 10:44 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Getting the maximum number of people on the thing without massive lines seems like it should be the biggest priority. I vote moon bounce!
posted by mdonley at 10:44 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by mdonley at 10:44 AM on June 21, 2011
in my experience, the obstacle courses are a huge hit for kids of all ages. Downside is that 16 year olds like to flip off the highest point so any more timid younger kids who slide down are in the fall zone. But, yeah, kids love the things.
Jousting is also a blast and requires less suit up time than sumo wrestling. sure only 2 go at a time, but don't under estimate the fun people will have cheering for their friends. it looks similar to the one i have seen in person, and the entire time it was in use people stood around it yelling and laughing.
what is your climate? It is hotter than hell here and that vinyl stuff gets HOT to slide down or climb up, so keep that in mind.
bouncy castles are great too... maybe you could restrict the ages on it a little bit to keep smaller kids more comfortable.
posted by domino at 10:57 AM on June 21, 2011
Jousting is also a blast and requires less suit up time than sumo wrestling. sure only 2 go at a time, but don't under estimate the fun people will have cheering for their friends. it looks similar to the one i have seen in person, and the entire time it was in use people stood around it yelling and laughing.
what is your climate? It is hotter than hell here and that vinyl stuff gets HOT to slide down or climb up, so keep that in mind.
bouncy castles are great too... maybe you could restrict the ages on it a little bit to keep smaller kids more comfortable.
posted by domino at 10:57 AM on June 21, 2011
as far as dunk tank - i have seen them be lots of fun, but mostly that was when students were getting dunk teachers they hated. unless you have lots of good sports willing to be dunked and who are willing to maybe taunt the throwers and make it a good time, i would spend my money elsewhere.
posted by domino at 11:00 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by domino at 11:00 AM on June 21, 2011
+1 for moon bounce and obstacle course. Quick turnaround, and you can have older people go on the obstacle course.
-1,000,000 for sumo suits. We had them at my old job (minor league baseball, in between inning games) and they are indeed hot/a pain in the ass to get people in and out of. Funny to watch the first or second time, but they get old quick. They also get pretty gross inside quick. Also you might run into a situation where someone knocks himself out by running at his friend with his head down like a bull/idiot. And then the EMTs will have to cut the suit open, meaning you have to buy a replacement. And then you'll get sued even though a waiver was signed. NOT LIKE I HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT OR ANYTHING.
posted by AlisonM at 11:18 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
-1,000,000 for sumo suits. We had them at my old job (minor league baseball, in between inning games) and they are indeed hot/a pain in the ass to get people in and out of. Funny to watch the first or second time, but they get old quick. They also get pretty gross inside quick. Also you might run into a situation where someone knocks himself out by running at his friend with his head down like a bull/idiot. And then the EMTs will have to cut the suit open, meaning you have to buy a replacement. And then you'll get sued even though a waiver was signed. NOT LIKE I HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT OR ANYTHING.
posted by AlisonM at 11:18 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
bouncy castles are great too... maybe you could restrict the ages on it a little bit to keep smaller kids more comfortable.
Ideally, the person supervising will be moving people in and out in "rounds" alternating between little and bigger kids. Or you could get two, they're a great choice. Inflatable slides and velcro climbing walls are also pretty good.
posted by dagnyscott at 11:21 AM on June 21, 2011
Ideally, the person supervising will be moving people in and out in "rounds" alternating between little and bigger kids. Or you could get two, they're a great choice. Inflatable slides and velcro climbing walls are also pretty good.
posted by dagnyscott at 11:21 AM on June 21, 2011
A bouncy castle for the kids -- AND another one for the adults (you can get them rated for adult sizes - maybe for fewer at one time).
Bouncy castles are so popular with all ages - they were musts at college events when I was in the UK.
Any ball pits available? also awesome.
posted by jb at 11:24 AM on June 21, 2011
Bouncy castles are so popular with all ages - they were musts at college events when I was in the UK.
Any ball pits available? also awesome.
posted by jb at 11:24 AM on June 21, 2011
Depending how many kids will be there and what the age range is, I would recommend getting two bouncy castles, so you can have a toddlers only one, and an older kids one. Bounce houses seem to be interesting to kids from age 1 up to about 14, and the little kids get easily scared when rambunctious non-toddlers get in and go crazy. Have you checked the prices on these things in your area? Here in LA its all ridiculously cheap, and $1000 will get you about 12 bouncy houses for a day.
posted by Joh at 11:37 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by Joh at 11:37 AM on June 21, 2011
Oh man, I know the most amazing thing for your block party. I don't know what they're called, but I'll try to describe, and maybe somebody else knows the name. The structure is basically two very tall, well-supported poles. Each pole has a bungee cord attached at the top. The other ends of the bungee cords attach to a harness that a person can step in to. Underneath the person is a trampoline. Basically, the person jumps super high on the trampoline and can do all kinds of amazing flips without any danger of hurting him/herself, because the bungee cords prevent you from crashing with any force in to the trampoline. It's so, so much fun.
posted by Cygnet at 11:40 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by Cygnet at 11:40 AM on June 21, 2011
OK, here is a YouTube home video of somebody on one of the things I'm talking about.
posted by Cygnet at 11:45 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by Cygnet at 11:45 AM on June 21, 2011
Seconding the bounce house.
The other thing that's been consistently popular at parties I've been to is a large inflatable slide. Stairs on one side and a wide slide on the other. Everybody likes to have their picture taken going down the slide. I think there's even a video on YouTube of a Corgi going down the slide.
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:08 PM on June 21, 2011
The other thing that's been consistently popular at parties I've been to is a large inflatable slide. Stairs on one side and a wide slide on the other. Everybody likes to have their picture taken going down the slide. I think there's even a video on YouTube of a Corgi going down the slide.
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:08 PM on June 21, 2011
I can't recomend an inflatable water slide enough. People still talk about my son's 5th and 6th birthday parties
posted by Redhush at 12:13 PM on June 21, 2011
posted by Redhush at 12:13 PM on June 21, 2011
Bounce house, jousting, obstacle course and water slide are the biggest hits at the middle school's annual festival.
If you can't afford all of them, get some slip-n-slides and water soakers to go with them. Dunk tank? Nah.
posted by misha at 12:51 PM on June 21, 2011
If you can't afford all of them, get some slip-n-slides and water soakers to go with them. Dunk tank? Nah.
posted by misha at 12:51 PM on June 21, 2011
I saw a block party that rented a climbing wall and a petting zoo. I just saw it while I was watlking past, I didn't stick around to see how great it was because it wasn't my block, but I thought it was cool because I didn't even know you could rent those.
posted by RobotHero at 1:18 PM on June 21, 2011
posted by RobotHero at 1:18 PM on June 21, 2011
Bounce houses are awesome. Just, you know, be careful.
posted by cooker girl at 1:21 PM on June 21, 2011
posted by cooker girl at 1:21 PM on June 21, 2011
Our town festival has had two bounce houses, a large and small obstacle course and a large slide for a few years and the kids never tire of it. Last year they added a water slide and I thought the kids to would never leave.
posted by saffry at 5:13 PM on June 21, 2011
posted by saffry at 5:13 PM on June 21, 2011
A party I went to had these realistic, but GIANT, boxing gloves. Like, comically oversized.
It was super difficult to swing those suckers due to sheer size, which made it absolutely impossible to hurt anyone.
Just an alternative to sumo suits - easy in and out, minimal grossness, hilarious to watch.
posted by functionequalsform at 5:41 PM on June 21, 2011
It was super difficult to swing those suckers due to sheer size, which made it absolutely impossible to hurt anyone.
Just an alternative to sumo suits - easy in and out, minimal grossness, hilarious to watch.
posted by functionequalsform at 5:41 PM on June 21, 2011
Yep, the dunk tank has the highest risk/reward, depending on the personalities involved. Who's the principal of your block? Put that person in.
I'd also be curious where the term "bounce house" is popular? Australia? Because there are fewer castles? We always called them bouncy castles--admittedly lame.
And, seriously, what about a cake-walk?!
posted by vecchio at 7:10 PM on June 21, 2011
I'd also be curious where the term "bounce house" is popular? Australia? Because there are fewer castles? We always called them bouncy castles--admittedly lame.
And, seriously, what about a cake-walk?!
posted by vecchio at 7:10 PM on June 21, 2011
The bouncer/ slide combos are difficult to supervise.
Dunk tanks aren't great. There is a narrow window between being old enough to be dunked and strong enough to hit the target, and being young enough to have an interest in it.
posted by oceano at 9:33 PM on June 21, 2011
Dunk tanks aren't great. There is a narrow window between being old enough to be dunked and strong enough to hit the target, and being young enough to have an interest in it.
posted by oceano at 9:33 PM on June 21, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Joust is fun, but will you need supervision ?
posted by k5.user at 10:40 AM on June 21, 2011