Attractions at Seasonal Events

City of Upper Arlington

Parks & Recreation Department

Various Locations, Upper Arlington Ohio

Bid Number: UA26-13

Issue Date: February 23, 2026

Close Date and Time: March 9, 2026 @ 11:00AM

This Bid contains:

• Bid Requirements

• Bidding Forms

• Required Contract Terms

• Information to Bidders

Notes:

• Bidder must quote firm or fixed prices for a period of 60 calendar days, unless otherwise noted in the specifications.

• The bid prices or agreed price will remain firm once a purchase order has been issued and delivered to the Bidder/Vendor.

• By submitting a bid for the City’s consideration, bidder acknowledges and agrees that the attached terms will be part of any contract with the City.

2026 Seasonal Events Inflatables and Attractions Request for Proposals

The City of Upper Arlington seeks a vendor to provide inflatable games, activities and attractions/experiences for seasonal events. Required games/attractions are provided below. Vendors may submit equal games/attractions for consideration.

1.1 City Requirements

A. Proposal responses must comply with the attached required contract terms. By submitting a proposal/bid for the City’s consideration, bidder acknowledges and agrees that the attached terms will be part of any contract with the City.

B. Proposals must be itemized as outlined below, and include all associated costs such as staffing, travel, delivery, operation and equipment including setup and tear down. Proposals should account for an appropriate number of staff to operate and observe inflatables and entertainment in order to provide a safe experience for users, with a focus on prevention of issues/injuries.

C. All inflatables must have a current inspection by the Ohio Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs (https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/amusement-ride-safety-and-fairs/resources/amusement-ride-company-search)

D. Proposals must quote firm or fixed prices for a period of 60 calendar days, unless otherwise noted in the specifications.

E. Proposal prices or agreed price will remain firm once a purchase order has been issued and delivered to the winning Bidder/Vendor.

F. The City expects that the successful proposer will provide excellent service by arriving and setting up in a timely manner; respecting staff and attendees; and providing exceptional quality in a safe and fun operation for each event.

G. The schedule is subject to change based on scheduling, funding and other restrictions. The City reserves the right to cancel entertainment services without payment up to 48 hours prior to the event at its discretion. In the case where the event is cancelled 24-48 hours in advance due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the City agrees to pay the vendor 50% of the fees for that event.

H. The City reserves the right to cancel this contract if the Contractor does not perform to the City’s satisfaction. The City shall provide a two-week written notice of such cancellation.

1.2 Form of Proposal

A. Statement of the ability to provide high quality entertainment for the seasonal events included in this Request for Proposal.

B. Evidence that the firm has been engaged for at least the past five (5) years in providing entertainment services in the Columbus region. A list of events should be included.

C. The name, position, telephone number and the e-mail address of three references.

D. Completed bid sheet with proposed fees for each individual event.

E. Breakdown of equipment and services that will be provided for each event/product.

F. Copy of W9 form

G. Proof of Liability Insurance

H. Proof of Worker’s Compensation

I. Demonstration of a Comprehensive Background Screening Process for Staff

1.3 Item #1 - Scheduled Seasonal Events

A. Spring Fling

i. Saturday, May 9 | 11 am-2 pm

ii. Sunny 95 Park | 4395 Carriage Hill Lane

iii. Event Description: Celebrate the arrival of spring with the community at Spring Fling! This family-friendly event offers activities like Touch A Truck, the annual Fishing Derby, inflatables, arts & crafts, a stunt dog performance, and more.

iv. Inflatables (typically grouped together at the event)

• Switch Obstacle Course: Inflatable Nintendo game/Switch-themed obstacle course with two lanes and multiple obstacles, ~47Lx11’Wx14’H

• Rocket Pop Slide: Inflatable popsicle-themed slide with three lanes, ~35’Lx13’Wx24’H

• Construction Kid Zone: inflatable construction-themed slide and bounce house combo, ~16’Lx16’Wx22’H

v. Attractions/Experiences

• Sand Art - Qty 800: activity open to all event attendees providing a variety of sand colors to fill bottles of various sizes and shapes

• Foam Pit Party: inflatable foam arena filled with nontoxic foam made from organic materials that are non-harmful to the skin; water hookup available for foam machine

B. Fall Fest

i. Sunday, October 4 | 1-5 pm

ii. Fancyburg Park | 3375 Kioka Avenue

iii. Event Description: Enjoy a Sunday full of all things fall including hayrides, caramel apples, pumpkin decorating, playing in the corn pit, petting a farm animal, inflatables and a free live music performance.

iv. Inflatables (typically grouped together at the event)

• Turkey Bounce: Thanksgiving/turkey-themed inflatable bounce house that can accommodate 3-4 patrons at a time; ~19’x16’x18’H

• Spooky Playland: Halloween-themed inflatable bounce house combo with themed-interactive play features within; ~16’x18’x10’H

• Party Barn: large barn-themed bounce house; ~18’x25’x14’H

• Barn Games: farm-themed inflatable three-in-one carnival game featuring a horseshoe toss, feed-the-farm game and an apple basket toss, ~5’x19’x12’

• Hulk Smash Combo: Hulk-themed inflatable bounce house and slide combo, ~33’x13’x14’H

• X-Factor: inflatable obstacle course and slide combo with 2 lanes where participants race in an “X” format down, back, under and over and end down a slide, ~18’Wx40’Lx16’H

v. Attractions/Experiences

• Mini Donuts - Qty 800: mini donuts with cinnamon sugar or pumpkin spice topping served hot and fresh from a vendor-provided tent

• Caramel Apple Bar - Qty 800: vendor staff assist patrons with applying caramel dip (if desired) and various toppings to an apple on a stick; all supplies including tent, apples, bowls, dip/warmers, toppings, etc. provided by vendor

C. Winter Festival

i. Friday, December 4 | 6-8:30 pm

ii. Mallway Park | 2096 Arlington Ave

iii. Event Description: Upper Arlington’s festive holiday celebration features the official community tree lighting, school caroling performances, visits with Santa, a bonfire with s’mores, ice sculpting, iceless skating, and fun activities for all ages.

iv. Attractions/Experiences

• Iceless Ice Rink: a 64’x40’ or larger iceless skating surface with durable fencing barriers that can accommodate over 100 skaters at once; provide skates for check-out/in by vendor staff; vendor staff should also monitor rink for safety

1.4 Item #2 – Additional Events and Entertainment as Needed

A. The City is also seeking proposals for inflatables and attractions for not-yet-scheduled events and to fill not-yet-determined additional needs at scheduled events. See the information below and on the bid sheet for specifications.

i. Potential Add-Ons/Substitutions for Scheduled Events:

• Spring Fling:

i. 9 Hole Express Putt Putt: nine mini golf holes with various challenges for each; vendor provides putters, golf balls, hole flags, score cards and staff to help coordinate

• Fall Fest:

i. Corn Maze: inflatable corn maze; ~35’Wx40’Lx11’H

ii. Axe Throwing Inflatable: inflatable with two lanes/targets for throwing five soft, Velcro axes per target, ~16’Wx10’Lx12’H

• Winter Festival:

i. Snow Globe: round inflatable with winter background, clear front surround, and “snow” inside for patrons to throw around and take their picture, ~20’Wx20’Lx10’H

ii. Trackless Train: festive train that can accommodate 15-25 passengers of adults/children at once with lights, train sounds (bells/whistles) and quiet electric operation, ~36’ in length, staff to operate and manage line

ii. Not-Yet Scheduled Event Inflatables/Attractions:

• Inflatable for 3 hours at Thompson Park, 4250 Woodbridge Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43220 - potentially 8/7/26

i. Wacky Chaos Jr.: inflatable obstacle course with two lanes that can accommodate smaller kids and has the start and finish at the front rather than a long front to back course, ~22'6”Wx25’Lx12’H, staff to monitor

• Silent Disco Family Event for 2 hours at Bob Crane Community Center, 3200 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221

i. Silent Disco: Large supply of glowing LED headphones that light up to multiple color-coded DJ channels of different genres; staff to operate; provide pricing for other LED/neon-themed activities or components including LED Bar Sections, LED Cocktail Tables, LED Curved Seating, LED UpLights, etc.

1.5 Instructions to Vendors

A. All proposals must be submitted via the IonWave portal.

B. Proposals received after the time and date for closing will not be accepted.

C. You may withdraw your proposal at any time prior to the time and date set for closing.

D. The award will be made to the responsible proposer whose proposal is determined to be the lowest and best pursuant to UACO Section 138.

E. Proposers are encouraged to NOT submit any confidential, proprietary information or trade secrets; however, any information submitted that Proposer considers confidential, proprietary or trade secrets must be marked as such in notes. If the City Attorney’s Office concurs, this information will not be considered public information. The City Attorney’s Office is the final authority as the extent of material, which is considered proprietary or confidential. Pricing information cannot be considered proprietary.

F. Proposers must provide the bid breakdown listed below. Conditional proposals will not be considered.

G. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or any part thereof, or to accept any proposal or any part thereof, or to withhold the award and to waive or decline to waive irregularities in any proposal when it determines that it is in its best interest to do so. The City also reserves the right to hold all proposals for a period of 60 days after the opening date and the right to accept a proposal not withdrawn before the scheduled proposal opening date.

H. The successful proposer is expected to enter in a standard form of agreement approved by the City of Upper Arlington.

I. Any person, firm, corporation or association submitting a proposal shall be deemed to have read and understood all the terms, conditions and requirements in the specifications/scope of work.

J. All responses and accompanying documentation will become the property of the City at the time the proposals are opened. Upon award, all proposal responses are subject to public records requests.

K. Questions regarding this Request for Proposal, must be submitted through the IonWave portal. All formal inquiries must be submitted by the Question Cutoff Date listed on the procurement website. Failure to submit inquiries by this deadline will result in the inquiry not being answered.

L. The City will not reimburse any proposer the cost of responding to a Request for Proposal.

Reference 1:	Contact Name: Contact Title:
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Reference 3:	Contact Name: Contact Title:
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2026 Seasonal Events Inflatable and Entertainment Bid Sheet

Item #1 - Scheduled Seasonal Events:

Event	Date/Time	Location	Product(s)	# Staff	Cost
Spring Fling	5/9/26 11 am-2 pm	Sunny 95 Park 4395 Carriage Hill Lane	Inflatables (Switch Obstacle Course, Rocket Pop Slide & Construction Kid Zone Combo)		$
			Sand Art (qty 800)		$
			Foam Pit Party		$
Fall Fest	10/4/26 1-5 pm	Fancyburg Park 3375 Kioka Avenue	Inflatables (Turkey Bounce, Spooky Playland, Party Barn, Barn Games, Hulk Smash Combo, X-Factor)		$
			Mini Donuts & Carmel Apple Bar – qty 800 each		$
Winter Festival	12/4/26 6-8:30 pm	Mallway Park 2096 Arlington Avenue	Iceless Ice Rink 64’ x 40’		$
Total Inflatable and Attraction Cost for Scheduled 2026 Seasonal Events:	$

Event	Product	# Staff	Cost
Potential Add-Ons/Substitutions for Scheduled Events	9 Hole Express Putt Putt (Spring Fling; 3 hours)		$
	Corn Maze Inflatable (Fall Fest; 4 hours)		$
	Axe Throwing Inflatable (Fall Fest; 4 hours)		$
	Snow Globe Photo Op Inflatable (Winter Festival; 2.5 hours)		$
	Trackless Train (potential add-on to Winter Festival; 2.5 hours)		$
Not-Yet Scheduled Event Inflatable/Entertainment	Wacky Chaos Jr. Inflatable for 3 hours - potentially 8/7/26		$
	Silent Disco for 2 hours		$

Item #2 – Additional Events and Entertainment as Needed