What Is a Foam Party? A Guide for Rochester Hosts

How a foam party goes, from setup to cleanup

A foam party starts with the equipment. We bring a commercial-grade foam cannon and a high-end sound system, set both up, and operate them for the whole event. The cannon mixes water with foam solution and sends out a steady stream that builds into a soft, deep layer across the play area.

Once the music is on and the foam starts to pile up, the party finds its own pace. Some guests run straight into the deepest part. Others start at the edge, scoop up handfuls, and work their way toward the middle. Before long, most of the group is in it, and a few of the adults usually are too.

Because the cannon is professionally operated from start to finish, you never have to manage the equipment. We run the foam and the music, and you get to watch the party.

Each package is built around a first hour of foam, and longer events can add more time. Setup and takedown time are included and do not reduce your foam party time. When the foam stops, we take care of the cleanup and pack up our equipment. See our packages for current pricing and what each one includes.

What you provide as the host

Less than most hosts expect. The cannon, the foam, the music, and the cleanup all come with us. On your side, the essentials are an electric outlet, a water spigot, and open space for the foam. One Brighton parent put it simply after her party:

“Such a fun time! Elyse and Josh came ready to go! All I did was show them where the electric outlet was and the water spigot. They did everything else! …” (Meghan, Brighton)

For space, think open and flat. A backyard lawn, a park field, or a school field all work well, as long as guests have room to move and nothing breakable sits close by. Foam drifts with the wind, so keep it away from open windows, electronics, and anything you would rather keep dry.

It helps to know where your outlet and spigot are before the day. Mention them when you book, along with anything unusual about the space.

One job stays with you: supervision. We run the cannon and the music, and you and the other adults keep an eye on the kids for the whole event. At a birthday, that might mean a couple of parents stationed at the edge of the foam. At a school or camp, it means your staff, just as on any field day.

What guests should wear to a foam party

Dress for water play. Foam is mostly water and air, so everyone who goes in will get wet, and anything they wear should be able to handle it. A short packing list covers almost every guest:

If you are sending invitations, put a line about clothing right on them. Parents appreciate knowing ahead of time that their child will come home damp, and one sentence on the invitation saves a lot of questions at drop-off.

• Swimsuits or quick-dry clothes that can get soaked
• Water shoes or old sneakers that stay on when wet
• Swim goggles for younger children who dislike water on their faces
• A towel and a full change of clothes for the ride home
• Hair ties for anyone with long hair
• A dry table for phones and cameras, well away from the foam

Who books a foam party

Birthdays are the obvious fit, but they are only part of who books us. Foam works for any group that wants a shared, high-energy activity outdoors. The people who plan our events include:

Organizations tend to plan further ahead than families. Schools, camps, and daycares often book early, so if you are filling a spring or summer calendar, reach out as soon as you have a date in mind.

Group size is rarely the limit. The Small Foam Experience suits gatherings of up to 50 people, and the Large Foam Experience is built for groups of over 50 guests. We customize the number of foam cannons to fit your event. Between the two packages, foam fits a backyard birthday as well as a school, a camp, or a community festival.

• Parents planning birthday parties
• Schools
• Camps
• Daycares
• Rec centers and town parks
• Companies
• Colleges
• Franchises

What the foam is and how it behaves

Our foam is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable. It feels light, soft, and wet, and it holds its shape for a while before the bubbles begin to pop and the layer settles. On grass, it gradually settles and fades as the bubbles break.

Foam can also be dressed up for the occasion. Color Foam comes in your choice of blue, pink, purple, orange, or green. Glow in the Dark Foam uses UV glow foam and UV black lights, and it is best at night. Foam with Colored Lights adds LED lasers, glow bars, and colored light effects. Each is an add-on to a foam package, add-ons can be combined, and current pricing is on our packages page.

Foam Experience or Bubble Experience?

We offer two formats. Foam is our main event, run with the cannon. The Bubble Experience is a hands-on alternative built around bubble stations, for groups who would rather make bubbles than dive into foam. Here is how they compare:

Every package starts with a first hour, and you can add time for a longer event. If your guest count sits close to one of these limits, ask us, and we will help you choose the right fit.

Planning a foam party in the Rochester area

We are based in Rochester and serve Monroe and Wayne counties, with travel available throughout Western New York. Closer to home, that includes Brighton, Pittsford, Fairport, Webster, Henrietta, Spencerport, and Brockport. Outdoor foam suits the warmer months, so late spring through early fall is its natural season here.

In Rochester, weather is a fair first question. Events go ahead in light rain or wind. If ROC in the Bubbles cancels due to unsafe weather conditions, including lightning, high winds, or other weather that makes the event unsafe, all payments including the $50 deposit will be refunded or applied to a future event date.

When you have a date, a rough guest count, and a location in mind, send us a booking request. Tell us about the space and the group, and we will suggest the package that fits.