I will provide everything necessary for a complete BUBBLE EXTRAVAGANZA! I begin by entertaining the crowd with my spectacular bubble show. The adults will marvel as the children excitedly chase the bubbles and try to pop every last one. After 25-30 minutes of bubble-popping fun, I set out eight trays of bubble solution and an assortment of giant colorful wands so the kids can make their own bubbles too. I custom-make my own high-performance bubble solution and also modify my bubble wands with high-performance yarn & swivels for ease of use for kids and adults of all ages. After supervising the children (and adults) in bubble making, I will end by making more bubbles myself.
At the beginning of 2023, I started playing music during the second half of the hour while the kids make their own bubbles. It really adds to the fun and makes your party feel like a party! I get tons of positive feedback on my playlist, it's well-known music that both kids and adults enjoy.
I will adjust the volume to be considerate of other parties that might be in the area.
For mostly girl parties in the 7-10-year-old range, I have a Taylor Swift playlist that's been a huge hit lately!
Note: 40 kids max please. With large numbers of kids, they start running over each other and things can get a little chaotic. Also, when there are too many kids, the smaller ones may have trouble popping the bubbles because the older kids are dominating too much. If you have 40+ kids, we can discuss doing separate groups. (Best for ages 3-10 with the kids all of similar age).
One hour is generally the perfect amount of time for a complete bubble experience. Sometimes the kids/adults are still enthralled with the bubbles at the end of the hour, so I stay longer at no extra charge. Other times the hostess/host switches to cake or other activity shortly before the hour is up. However things unfold, I promise to make sure your party is a magnificent bubble-filled success!
Note, the bubbles work best in humid weather with a light steady breeze. High winds and/or dry air will prevent me from doing certain tricks including the really giant bubbles, but I can put on a fun and exciting show in virtually all weather conditions except heavy rain (Light intermittent rain is fine).
Preferable locations: Public parks with grass or turf, or large backyards with grass or turf. (I don't work on concrete/pavement, it's too dangerous). Small backyards are more appropriate for ages 2-3, with not a lot of kids. I bring a lot of equipment including 10 gallons of bubble solution so please no stairs, thanks!
***For SF folks, scroll down for a list of parks I recommend. Note, when reserving parks with Rec & Park, I recommend that you do not mention the bubbles. The person answering the phone might be required to say no, but rest assured my bubble juice won't kill the grass and I've even been hired by Rec & Park for some of their events!
(Click the 'BOOK NOW' button below for booking.
Please inquire for corporate event rates, or school/summer camp rates: sfbubbleman@gmail.com)
San Francisco/Daly City - $425
Burlingame/Pacifica/San Mateo/Belmont/Redwood City: - $450
Palo Alto/Menlo Park/Atherton/Woodside - $475
North Bay to Novato: - $450
-Sorry, I'm not doing East Bay shows at this time!-
**After reviewing your reservation, I will send you payment options for leaving a refundable $100 deposit to complete your booking. I accept Paypal, Venmo, and Square/Google Pay**
Below are some San Francisco Parks I recommend, but others not listed here can work also.
Go to SF Rec & Park to reserve your spot. I recommend NOT mentioning the bubbles over the phone, they might be required to say it's not allowed, but they've actually hired me for two of their events! Note, I don't do parties at Dolores Park, Glen Park playground, Alta Plaza, Mother's Meadow, Presidio Heights playground, or Lafayette Park, sorry! Lafayette is a particularly beautiful park and I've done countless shows there but parking can be really challenging and also the groundskeeper doesn't like me doing my shows there. It's the only park I've had difficulty with in that regard and I'd rather not have any conflict with Rec & Park so it's best I just do my shows at one of the locations below. The other parks I mention above all have at least one or two qualities about them that make things difficult so I choose to avoid them, thanks for understanding!
Great parks for my show:
Midtown Terrace: This park has been great so far and is probably my favorite. It has a small playground so it's not too crowded, really easy parking, and very well contained. There is also an indoor space available to rent which is a good choice during the winter months. (But the bubble show will have to be outdoors of course)
Mountain Lake at 11th Ave: The spot where I make bubbles here is on the east side of the tennis courts right by 11th Avenue and Lake Street. Most people bring their own little table for snacks etc. If you reserve the picnic area in the playground area, you'll need to gather the kids together when it's bubble time and walk over to the grass area where I'll be set up (Hopefully another party won't be happening in the meadow at the same time). Mountain Lake at 8th Ave Tables, 9th Ave Shelter, and 10th Ave Meadow also work! Like many parks within SF, later afternoons can get quite windy, particularly during the summer months!
Koret Children's Quarter Barnyard: This is a very unique location between the carousel and playground in Golden Gate park. Luckily it's surrounded by a low wooden fence which makes it your own private area. It has a red barn structure which makes this a very memorable and fun little spot. Parking can be challenging at times on sunny days or when there are major events happening in the park.
Robin Williams Meadow Picnic Tables 4, 5, 6
This spot is close to the carousel also, but above it and to the west. There are other tables available, 1, 2 & 3, but I don't recommend those because there isn't a good grass spot by those for my show. Tables 4, 5, 6 work great though.
45th Avenue Playground/Boat Picnic Area (Outer Sunset)
This one has a smaller playground and is usually not too crowded. Since it's close to the ocean, there is a higher chance of fog. This is good news for the bubbles, they thrive in humid conditions! It could be cool here, always check the weather and dress appropriately. (This applies to all parks in SF actually, you never know what you're going to get with SF weather!) Parking got more difficult here after the pandemic when they closed the street off, I'm not sure of the current situation.
George Washington Grove Picnic Area (Outer Sunset, just off Lincoln & 25th Avenue)
Not a very well-known spot, and no bathroom or playground. One picnic table is available. It's not very well known, but it's a nice meadow that works for my bubble show.
Douglass playground: Very well contained, secluded, and scenically interesting. It has a small playground and is generally not too crowded. Easy parking. I like this hidden gem. (Note, I only book this particular park in the summer and fall. During the winter and spring it can get too muddy, it's the most prone to mud in the whole city because rainfall trickles down the surrounding hills onto the grass and there is nowhere for it to drain!)
West Portal Playground: Another well-contained park. Mid-sized playground, and has a view of Sutro Tower in the background. Parking is pretty easy. I like this one.
St. Francis Wood Park: Usually not too crowded. It's often foggy here in the summer months which is actually really good for the bubbles. Parking has been easy every time I've been here.
Parkside Square Playground Park (Parkside, Vicente and 28th Avenue)
There's a good spot for my bubble show on the grass behind the picnic tables at the rear of the playground. This park has restrooms and a parking lot with good parking. I've been doing more and more parties here in the last couple of years.
McLaren Park Redwood Grove Picnic Area:
Very easy parking, and restrooms. Google navigation didn't work very well the last time I went there, but maybe they've fixed that by now.
Presidio Wall Playground (Formally Julius Kahn): I've done a LOT of parties here. Semi contained. Good playground. An indoor space is available. We do the bubbles on a slight slope but it's not a problem. There is sometimes soccer or baseball practice happening on the field below but I've never had any complaints about the bubbles. It can get really windy at this one, particularly in the later afternoons. Strong winds make the really giant bubbles impossible but the kids still have fun chasing the smaller bubbles around. :)
Lindley Meadow: This is one of the spots I would go to on weekdays to practice bubbling when I first started making giant bubbles back in 2012. I've done a few weekend parties here, the humid air from the nearby Pacific Ocean makes for good bubbles. Parking is okay. They have BBQs. A bit of a walk to get to the bathroom though. Tends to get windy in the later afternoons during the summer months. Picnic table #1 should give us the most privacy. Tables 10-11 should also be good from a privacy point of view.
Hellman's Hollow: Very close to Lindley Meadow, and similar, but bathrooms are much more convenient. Picnic tables 1 & 2 will be the most private section for the bubble show.
McKinley Square: Not a very well-known park, but it works well. Not too crowded which is nice, and the parking is usually quite good. However, I don't think there is a bathroom? Best for people who live nearby for bathroom access. Boys can probably find a spot in the trees.
Precita Park: I've done a few parties here. You'll need to corral the kids from the playground over to the big grass space for the show. There should be a bathroom for your guests to use at the nearby cafe? I recommend you double-check their hours.
Little Marina Green: There's no playground, and no picnic tables, but there is a great big grass space for the bubbles. And there are restrooms. And of course, it's a beautiful spot right next to the bay.
George Moscone Park: I've done a handful of parties here. There's a picnic table near the playground that can be reserved I believe. It's not the greatest location for my show but it can work in a pinch.
Sunnyside: Big playground, also very well contained. Pretty easy parking. Tends to have swirling wind patterns, but on calmer days this is a great spot.
Christopher Playground: There's a private picnic area available, and we would do the bubbles on the big grass field. The grass can get a bit thick and soggy in the winter/spring months, but it's a good spot overall with lots of space for the kids to chase the bubbles. And it's nice having the Safeway parking lot available.
I'm sure there are other parks that can work well too, let me know if you want a spot not on this list and I can research it to make sure it will work for my show! Very large backyards are another option for small parties!