How to Plan a School Field Day on the Northshore
Short answer: Treat field day as stations, not as “rent a bounce house.” For 300+ kids rotating, plan 4 to 6 inflatables, a COI that names the school, and a layout for grass or blacktop. Book April through May dates 4 to 6 weeks out.
This is the operator version, not a Pinterest list. We already run these days out of Covington for St. Tammany and Tangipahoa schools. Full packages live on School & Field Day Rentals.
1. Lock the date before you pick colors
Field day season (April through May) is our busiest block after summer birthdays. Schools that rebook annually get priority. A late “can you do Friday the 15th?” is how you get the leftover units, not the 60-foot obstacle.
Have the rain plan in writing. Light rain is usually fine on inflatables. High wind is the stop. We reschedule if it’s unsafe. Don’t promise parents a water day if the only backup is “we’ll see.”
2. Count kids on the field, not enrollment
The question is how many grades are outside at once. A 300-student school with two grades out at a time is a different setup than all 300 in one wave.
We typically recommend 4 to 6 inflatables for 300+ students rotating through stations. That number is also in How Many Inflatables Do I Need for 300, 500 or 1,000 Guests?
Madisonville Elementary is a three-day job for us: foam party, mini golf, and our 60-foot obstacle course. That’s three stations, three days, not one bounce house for the whole school. SSA and Pitcher Junior High field days taught us middle schoolers will take an obstacle course personally. Plan age lanes: toddlers and 8th grade do not share a combo.
3. Pick stations that kill lines
- One long obstacle (up to 60 feet) for older kids and throughput.
- Foam or water as a separate station if you have power, hose access, and a dry backup.
- Mini golf or games for the kids who won’t wait 20 minutes in a bounce line.
- Bounce houses as extras, not the whole day.
Four identical bounce houses is still one kind of line. Mix the stations. More on why: Capacity vs. Throughput: How to Prevent Giant Lines.
4. Walk the field like a crew would
Grass fields stake. Parking lots and blacktop get sandbags and water barrels. We assess that on the quote, not Saturday morning.
Power: every blower wants its own circuit. A dual-lane slide can need 3 dedicated circuits within 100 feet. Two exterior outlets on the gym is a generator conversation. Measure truck access and where parents park so we’re not threading a 60-foot obstacle through a car line. Full power notes: How Much Power Does a Large Inflatable Event Need?
Parks and district fields: send the COI requirements with the quote. We name the school or district as additionally insured. Don’t wait until the park board emails you Wednesday.
5. Staff and pickup
Standard school setup is delivery, a safety walkthrough with your team, and pickup at the scheduled time. For large field days we can leave attendants on site. An adult still has to own each station. We are not the PTA volunteer list.
One invoice. Don’t send the PTA through the birthday cart. Plan Your Event with date, school name, headcount, and a photo or measurement of the field.
Phone is (985) 999-6663. Warehouse: 13406 Seymour Meyers Blvd, Suite 14, Covington, LA 70433. We run Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Hammond, and Ponchatoula. Company picnic instead? Corporate Events. Church festival? Church Events.
Questions we get on this
How many inflatables does a Northshore field day need?
For 300+ kids rotating through stations, plan 4 to 6 inflatables. Count how many grades are outside at once, not total enrollment.
When should we book April through May field day dates?
Book 4 to 6 weeks out. Schools that rebook annually get priority. A late ask is how you get leftover units, not the 60-foot obstacle.
Can you set up on blacktop or a parking lot?
Yes. Grass fields stake. Parking lots and blacktop get sandbags and water barrels. We assess that on the quote, not Saturday morning.
Do you leave attendants on a school field day?
Standard setup is delivery, a safety walkthrough with your team, and pickup at the scheduled time. For large field days we can leave attendants on site. An adult still has to own each station.