For most school carnivals, church fall festivals and HOA events in Palm Beach County, renting carnival games is the better deal: you get big, bright games that are delivered, set up and picked up, with nothing to store afterward. Buying or building your own only makes sense if you hold the same event several times a year and have storage, a truck and volunteers to run it.
Fall is carnival season in South Florida. Schools plan fall festivals and winter carnivals, churches host trunk-or-treats, and HOAs throw block parties. The first question on every planning committee is the same: should we rent the games, buy them, or make our own? Here is a simple side-by-side so you can decide fast.
Option 1: Make your own carnival games (DIY)
DIY games are the cheapest on paper. Think cardboard ring toss, bean bag boards, cup pyramids and a duck pond in a kiddie pool.
- Good for: small classroom parties, toddler events and tight budgets.
- The catch: they take hours to build, they look small on a big field, and they rarely survive a rainy Florida afternoon. Kids walk past a cardboard booth when there is something big and bright nearby.
- Hidden cost: volunteer time. Someone has to shop, build, paint, haul, set up, run and clean up every booth.
Option 2: Buy carnival games
Buying feels like a smart long-term move, but commercial inflatable games cost real money. For example, one online seller lists a 3-game inflatable carnival module at about $2,000 on sale. That is before the blower, shipping, tarps, stakes and repairs.
- Good for: groups that run the same carnival several times every year and have a place to keep the gear.
- The catch: storage space, a truck or trailer to move it, cleaning after every event, and someone trained to set it up and anchor it safely.
- Hidden cost: the same games every year. Families get bored of the same booths, and you are stuck with them.
Option 3: Rent carnival games from Crazy Games FL
Renting gives you big, crowd-pulling games for one day, with none of the hauling or storage. Here are some of our own carnival-style games and their prices on our site today:
- 4 in 1 Carnival ($349): four games in one inflatable booth, with a football throw, star darts, a banana throw and a safe inflatable axe throw.
- Classic Ring Toss ($250): the old favorite, big and bouncy.
- Jumbo Basketball ($325): a giant inflatable hoop that kids and adults line up for.
- Whack A Mole ($450): with a built-in scoring system so players can see their score.
- Football First Down ($349) and Soccer Target ($350) for sports fans.
- Giant 4 Connect ($195): the classic game, super-sized.
- Treats: Popcorn Machine ($199) and Cotton Candy Machine ($120).
Our crew delivers, sets up and picks up every rental. Delivery, setup and pickup are free within 15 miles of West Palm Beach. Farther out, the delivery fee for your address shows at checkout before you book. Our minimum order is $350, and the damage waiver is optional. Games come without staff, but you can add a game attendant by the hour on many games (the rate is on each game's page).
Rent vs. buy vs. DIY at a glance
| What matters |
DIY |
Buy |
Rent from Crazy Games FL |
| Upfront cost |
Low |
High (about $2,000 for one 3-game inflatable module) |
Pay per game, per event |
| Setup and takedown |
Your volunteers |
Your volunteers |
Our crew |
| Storage |
Some |
A lot |
None |
| "Wow" factor |
Low |
Medium |
High |
| New games each year |
Lots of work |
No |
Yes, pick different games every time |
| Best for |
Small, indoor parties |
Groups with several events a year |
Most school, church and HOA events |
Which one should you choose?
School fall festival or winter carnival: rent. A school needs games that handle a crowd and look great in photos. Mix 3 or 4 big games with a treat machine, and let parent volunteers run the ticket table instead of building booths.
Church fall festival or trunk-or-treat: rent. One or two big games plus popcorn keep families around after the candy is gone. See our trunk-or-treat and fall festival rentals for ideas.
HOA block party: rent a couple of games for the kids and add Giant 4 Connect for the grown-ups.
Small classroom party: DIY is fine. Paper games work well indoors with 20 kids.
Rec center with weekly events: buying might pay off over time, if you have the storage and staff. Many centers still rent for their big seasonal events to keep things fresh.
How to plan your carnival in 5 steps
- Count your guests. More kids means more games, so lines stay short.
- Pick 3 or 4 games. Mix skill games (ring toss, darts) with active ones (basketball, soccer).
- Plan who runs each game. Assign a volunteer to each one, or add a Crazy Games attendant.
- Check power and space. Inflatable games need a power outlet nearby (or add a generator) and flat ground.
- Book early. Fall weekends fill up fast. Read how far in advance to book.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to rent or buy carnival games?
For one or two events a year, renting costs less. Buying only pays off if you run the same carnival many times and already have storage, a vehicle and people to set it up.
How many carnival games do I need?
For most school and church events, 3 to 4 games plus a treat machine is a good start. Add more for bigger crowds so lines stay short.
Do the games come with staff?
Games come without staff, but you can add an attendant by the hour on many games. The rate is listed on each game's page.
Do you deliver and set up?
Yes. Our crew delivers, sets up and picks up. It is free within 15 miles of West Palm Beach. Farther out, you see the delivery fee for your address at checkout. We serve Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Martin counties.
Can we use the games indoors?
Many of our games fit in a school gym or fellowship hall. Check the size on each game's page against your room.
Ready to plan your carnival?
Browse our carnival and interactive game rentals and book online, or call Crazy Games FL at 877-963-8368. We'll help you pick the right games for your crowd.
Purchase price example: Bouncing Angels online store, Carnival Arena 3-Game Module listed at $1,995 (sale) on Oct. 9, 2026. Crazy Games FL prices from our live product pages on Oct. 9, 2026.
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