School carnivals in Southwest Florida are a beloved tradition, and with the 2025-2026 school year already underway, many PTOs and PTAs in Cape Coral and Fort Myers are starting to plan their big spring 2026 events. If you're on the planning committee this year, there's one attraction that consistently delivers the highest ROI in both fun and fundraising: bounce house rentals.
Why Bounce Houses Beat Every Other Carnival Attraction
Over the past decade, we've set up at hundreds of school carnivals from Ida Baker High to Cape Coral Elementary, and the data is clear: the bounce house line is always the longest. Kids ages 3-13 will happily wait (and come back multiple times) for their turn to jump, slide, and laugh with friends. That means:
- Longer time spent at the event = more tickets sold for games, food, and raffles
- Happy, tired kids = happy parents who stay longer and spend more
- Zero downtime - bounce houses run continuously with almost no staff needed
2026 Trends We're Already Seeing in Lee County Schools
This year, schools that book early are requesting our larger combo units with slides and obstacle courses. Popular choices right now include the Tropical Combo, Castle Bounce & Slide, and the brand-new 60-foot Radical Run Obstacle Course that two classes can race through at once. These bigger units allow more kids per hour, which is perfect when you're expecting 500+ attendees.
How to Make Your Bounce Houses Even More Profitable
Smart schools are now selling "Unlimited Bounce" wristbands for $15-$20. With just one of our medium combo units handling 40-50 kids per hour, a single bounce house can generate $600-$1000 in pure profit in a 4-hour carnival. Add two or three units and you're easily covering most of your event budget.
Pro tip: Place food vendors and the cake walk near the bounce house exit - tired, hungry kids = big sales!
Book Early for Spring 2026 - Dates Are Already Filling
March through May are the busiest months for school carnivals in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, and our calendar is already 40% booked for 2026. Schools that reserve by January 31st get priority scheduling and our best rates.
Ready to make your 2026 carnival the best one yet? Contact SWFL Amusements today for a free quote on bounce house rentals in Cape Coral and Fort Myers. Let's make some memories (and raise some serious money for your school!)
Get Your Free Carnival Quote Today, or call us at (239) 212-0011
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