# Yombu

> Yombu is a US marketplace for booking children's party entertainers — face painters, balloon artists, magicians, costumed party characters and Santa performers. Unlike quote-request directories, Yombu confirms real availability with vetted local pros before you choose: you describe your party once, and within about two hours you get back a shortlist of entertainers who are genuinely free on your date, with upfront all-in prices you can book and pay for online.

Yombu covers kids' birthday parties and family/school events in 12 US metro areas. It is not a general event-vendor directory: entertainer categories are curated rather than an open list, and every listed pro is identity-checked, reviewed, and insured.

**How booking works.** You send one request (city, date, time, type of entertainer). Yombu matches on location, date/time and entertainer type and reaches out to best-fit local pros in waves rather than broadcasting a lead to everyone; the dispatch window runs about two hours. You receive an email with confirmed options, prices and reviews, and you have about 48 hours to pick one. Nothing is owed to send a request or see options — you only pay when you choose someone.

**Pricing.** Each entertainer sets their own rate, shown upfront as a "from" price. Parent-facing prices are all-in: there is no separate booking fee. A small travel fee can apply for venues far from the city center, and it is always confirmed before payment. Payment is by card, online, at the moment of booking.

**Trust and protection.** Entertainers are identity-checked and reviewed before they can take bookings, and Yombu works only with pros carrying liability insurance ($10M public liability cover; entertainers are bonded and insured). Reviews come from real completed bookings, not anonymous ratings. Payment is held in escrow and released to the entertainer a few days after the event, not before.

**Cancellations.** Free cancellation with a full refund up to 7 days before the event; after that, 50% is refunded. Rescheduling or moving indoors (e.g. for weather) is free up to 48 hours before the start time.

**Coverage.** Live in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco. Entertainers typically travel across the whole metro and nearby suburbs; neighborhood-level pages exist at `https://yombu.com/us/{city}/{neighborhood}`.

**For entertainers.** Free to join, no pay-per-lead and no membership fee — Yombu takes a commission only on completed bookings. Entertainers set their own rates, accept only the gigs they want, and are paid out to Venmo or PayPal a few days after the party.

Support: hello@yombu.com

## About Yombu

- [About Yombu](https://yombu.com/about): Why Yombu exists, the confirmed-availability model, and the three promises behind every booking.
- [FAQ](https://yombu.com/faq): Authoritative answers on booking speed, matching, pricing, payment, vetting, refunds and rescheduling.
- [Contact](https://yombu.com/contact): How to reach the team (hello@yombu.com) about a booking or a general question.
- [Meet the team](https://yombu.com/team): The people running the marketplace.
- [Browse all entertainers](https://yombu.com/entertainers): The searchable product surface — filter by city, entertainer type, date and price.

## Book entertainment by city

Each city page is the local head: available entertainers, live "from" prices, neighborhoods covered, and a local office address.

- [Kids party entertainers in New York](https://yombu.com/us/new-york): Entertainers, prices and neighborhoods across NYC and the surrounding boroughs.
- [Kids party entertainers in Los Angeles](https://yombu.com/us/los-angeles): Face painters, balloon artists, magicians and characters across LA.
- [Kids party entertainers in Chicago](https://yombu.com/us/chicago): Chicago-area entertainers, including Evanston, Naperville and the collar counties.
- [Kids party entertainers in Houston](https://yombu.com/us/houston): Houston metro entertainers, including Sugar Land, Pearland and Katy-side suburbs.
- [Kids party entertainers in Dallas](https://yombu.com/us/dallas): DFW entertainers, including Plano, Frisco, Arlington and Fort Worth.
- [Kids party entertainers in Miami](https://yombu.com/us/miami): South Florida entertainers for birthdays and family events.
- [Kids party entertainers in Atlanta](https://yombu.com/us/atlanta): Atlanta-area entertainers, including Marietta, Decatur and Sandy Springs.
- [Kids party entertainers in Boston](https://yombu.com/us/boston): Greater Boston entertainers, including Newton, Brookline and Wellesley.
- [Kids party entertainers in Phoenix](https://yombu.com/us/phoenix): Phoenix and East Valley entertainers for kids' parties.
- [Kids party entertainers in San Diego](https://yombu.com/us/san-diego): San Diego County entertainers and local party pricing.
- [Kids party entertainers in San Francisco](https://yombu.com/us/san-francisco): Bay Area entertainers for birthdays and school events.
- [Kids party entertainers in Jacksonville](https://yombu.com/us/jacksonville): Jacksonville and North Florida entertainers, including the beaches.

City and entertainer-type pages combine at `https://yombu.com/entertainers/{city}/{service}` — for example [balloon twisters in Chicago](https://yombu.com/entertainers/chicago/balloon-art) or [kids magicians in Houston](https://yombu.com/entertainers/houston/magic-shows). Individual entertainer profiles live at `https://yombu.com/e/{slug}`.

## Services

- [Face painters for hire](https://yombu.com/services/face-painting): What a face painter does at a kids' party, typical session length, setup needs and how to book one.
- [Balloon twisting and balloon art](https://yombu.com/services/balloon-art): Balloon twisters and sculptors — formats, space requirements and what to expect.
- [Kids magicians and magic shows](https://yombu.com/services/magic-shows): Children's magic shows — show length, age suitability and the space a performer needs.
- [Party characters for hire](https://yombu.com/services/characters): Costumed character visits (princesses, superheroes, mascots) — how appearances are structured and how names work.
- [Santa for hire](https://yombu.com/services/santa-visits): Background-checked Santa visits for home parties, holiday events and company parties — bearded or classic red-suit, flat-rate pricing. Currently taking requests in New York, Chicago and Boston; other cities route to a hire request.
- [Mobile petting zoos for hire](https://yombu.com/services/mobile-petting-zoos): A mobile petting zoo brought to the party — goats, bunnies and a handler, flat per-visit rate. Currently taking requests in Houston, Dallas and Atlanta; other cities route to a hire request.
- [Pony rides for birthday parties](https://yombu.com/services/pony-rides): A led pony and handler on-site for the whole booking, hourly rate. Currently taking requests in Dallas and Houston; other cities route to a hire request.
- [Kids party DJs for hire](https://yombu.com/services/kids-party-djs): A DJ who plays for the actual age group — dance games, sing-alongs and a mic that keeps the room moving, hourly rate. Currently taking requests in New York and Miami; other cities route to a hire request.
- [Foam parties for kids](https://yombu.com/services/foam-parties): A foam machine, music and a yard full of bubbles, flat rate. No city has live supply yet — every request routes to a hire request.
- [Science parties for kids](https://yombu.com/services/science-parties): Hands-on experiments and safe reactions built for a birthday crowd, flat rate. No city has live supply yet — every request routes to a hire request.
- [Caricature artists for hire](https://yombu.com/services/caricature-artists): Fast, funny sketches every guest takes home as their party favor, hourly rate. Currently taking requests in New York and Chicago; other cities route to a hire request.
- [Clowns for birthday parties](https://yombu.com/services/clowns): Balloon twisting, games and classic clown comedy in one booking, hourly rate. Currently taking requests in Houston, Los Angeles and Phoenix; other cities route to a hire request.

## Español (es-US)

A standalone Spanish-language pilot, not a full site translation — the booking form itself still runs in English.

- [Payasos para fiestas infantiles en EE. UU.](https://yombu.com/es/payasos-para-fiestas): Contratar un payaso para el cumpleaños de un niño — comedia, globos y magia en un solo show. Ciudades activas: Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Miami y Chicago — por ejemplo, [payasos en Houston](https://yombu.com/es/payasos-para-fiestas/houston).
- [Hora loca para fiestas infantiles](https://yombu.com/es/hora-loca): Qué es la hora loca, cómo se organiza en una fiesta infantil, y cómo encontrar un animador que la incluya en su show.

## Pricing and cost guides

Each guide reports live marketplace rates for that entertainer type, updated from real listings rather than published as a static estimate.

- [How much does a face painter cost?](https://yombu.com/services/face-painting/pricing): Current hourly face-painting rates, what drives the price, and how to budget per guest.
- [How much does a balloon artist cost?](https://yombu.com/services/balloon-art/pricing): Current hourly balloon-twisting rates and what changes them.
- [How much does a kids magician cost?](https://yombu.com/services/magic-shows/pricing): Typical flat-rate magic show pricing by show length and audience size.
- [How much do party characters cost?](https://yombu.com/services/characters/pricing): Current character appearance rates and what a booking includes.

## Party planning guides

### By occasion

- [Party occasions and themes](https://yombu.com/parties): Hub for occasion-specific planning guides and the entertainers that suit each one.
- [Princess parties](https://yombu.com/parties/princess-party): Planning a princess party — entrance timing, age-appropriate activities, and how character naming works.
- [Superhero parties](https://yombu.com/parties/superhero-party): Superhero party planning — giving the hero a mission, managing big energy, and suiting up guests.
- [First birthdays](https://yombu.com/parties/first-birthday): Planning around naps rather than the calendar, keeping it short, and protecting the cake-smash moment.
- [Toddler parties](https://yombu.com/parties/toddler-party): Why shorter is better for toddlers, familiar over fancy, and building a parallel-play escape route.
- [School events](https://yombu.com/parties/school-event): Paperwork and insurance to sort early, format choice, and scheduling around the bell.
- [Backyard parties](https://yombu.com/parties/backyard-party): Giving the entertainment a stage, weather plan B, and keeping the neighbors happy.

### Themed parties

Full theme playbooks — decor, invitations, games, food, cake and favors, plus which kind of entertainer suits each theme.

- [How to plan a Spiderman party](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-spiderman-party): Web decor, target-practice games, the cake trick, and the red-and-blue entrance that does half the work.
- [How to throw a Willy Wonka themed kids party](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-throw-a-willy-wonka-themed-kids-party): Golden ticket invitations, a candy bar that doubles as the decor, and a five-room factory tour.
- [How to throw an epic Fortnite themed party](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-throw-an-epic-fortnite-themed-party): A battle royale in the back garden — a shrinking storm circle, a dance-emote contest, a llama piñata, and the ground rules for foam blasters.
- [How to plan a race car themed party](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-race-car-themed-party): Checkered flags, a pit-crew tyre-change relay, a start line taped down the hallway, and a podium where every driver gets a medal.
- [How to plan a Paddington Bear themed party](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-paddington-bear-themed-party): Marmalade sandwiches, a blue duffle coat by the door and a gentle garden tea party built for the under-fives.
- [How to plan a TikTok-themed party for kids](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-tiktok-themed-party): A filming corner, a dance-challenge bracket, and the phone-and-privacy rules worth settling before anyone records.

### Party games

Full rules, setup and fair-judging guides for classic party games.

- [Tug of War](https://yombu.com/party-games/tug-of-war): Rules, safe setup, team balancing and the technique that actually wins.
- [Sack Race](https://yombu.com/party-games/sack-race): Rules, sack sizing, course setup and how to jump faster.
- [Three-Legged Race](https://yombu.com/party-games/three-legged-race): Rules, safe tying, pairing kids by height, and the winning technique.
- [Egg and Spoon Race](https://yombu.com/party-games/egg-and-spoon-race): Rules, technique and no-mess alternatives to raw eggs.
- [Musical Statues](https://yombu.com/party-games/musical-statues): Rules, fair judging without tears, and music that works for the age group.
- [Fall Festival Games for Kids](https://yombu.com/party-games/fall-festival-games): Carnival-stall picks (pumpkin bowling, ring toss, bean bag toss) plus lawn-game classics for a harvest festival or school carnival — not a Halloween party.
- [All party games](https://yombu.com/party-games): Index of the games series.

### Party themes

One page per theme: the games worth running and the order to run them in, food that survives the table, decorations you can make in an evening, a free printable invitation, and which kind of performer suits the theme.

- [Dinosaur party ideas](https://yombu.com/party-themes/dinosaur): Excavation and stomping games, fossil-dig food, footprint decor, and a printable invite.
- [Christmas party ideas](https://yombu.com/party-themes/santa-christmas-party): Games, food and decor for a Christmas kids' party, a printable invite, and how to book a Santa visit.
- [Pumpkin patch party ideas](https://yombu.com/party-themes/pumpkin-patch-party): The real call every family has to make — a farm trip or a backyard afternoon — plus games, harvest food, hay-bale decor and a printable invite.
- [All party themes](https://yombu.com/party-themes): Index of the theme family.

### Free printable invitations

A free printable invitation for every party theme, gated by a quick email drop — print at home on ordinary paper or send it straight over as a text, no design account needed.

- [Free printable birthday invitations](https://yombu.com/invites): Every theme's invite in one grid — generic themes first, then a "Character favorites" section for the licensed-character themes.
- Per-theme invites live at `https://yombu.com/invites/{theme}` — for example [dinosaur invitations](https://yombu.com/invites/dinosaur) or [unicorn invitations](https://yombu.com/invites/unicorn).

### Local party ideas

City-specific editorial: where to actually hold the party, what it costs, and the local rules that catch people out.

- [How to plan a birthday party in Central Park](https://yombu.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-party-in-central-park): NYC Parks permit rules in plain English, the best lawns and playgrounds for kids, what you can't bring, and the acts that work outdoors.
- [The 5 best parks in New York for kids parties](https://yombu.com/blog/the-5-best-parks-in-new-york-for-kids-parties): One free public park per borough — playgrounds, restrooms and designated barbecue areas — plus the permit thresholds for a DIY outdoor party.
- [Things to do in Little Havana with kids](https://yombu.com/blog/things-to-do-in-little-havana-with-kids): Domino Park, the Walk of Fame, guava ice cream and a riverfront playground, plus how to throw a kids party Miami-style.

### Holiday guides

City-specific Christmas party planning: six real entertainment ideas per city, from a home Santa visit to a magic show with a holiday twist, each linking into Santa booking.

- [Christmas party entertainment in New York](https://yombu.com/party-guide-new-york/christmas-party-entertainment-new-york): Holiday entertainment ideas for a NYC kids' party, including booking a Santa visit.
- [Christmas party entertainment in Chicago](https://yombu.com/party-guide-chicago/christmas-party-entertainment-chicago): Holiday entertainment ideas for a Chicago kids' party, including booking a Santa visit.
- [Christmas party entertainment in Boston](https://yombu.com/party-guide-boston/christmas-party-entertainment-boston): Holiday entertainment ideas for a Boston kids' party, including booking a Santa visit.

### Halloween guides

City-specific Halloween party planning: spooky-but-fun entertainment ideas for a home or apartment party, from face painting to a costume parade.

- [Halloween party entertainment in New York](https://yombu.com/party-guide-new-york/halloween-party-entertainment-new-york): Spooky face painting, a costume parade, character-led games and more — booked before the one Saturday fills up.
- [Halloween party entertainment in Chicago](https://yombu.com/party-guide-chicago/halloween-party-entertainment-chicago): Six ways to bring Halloween into a Chicago kids' party — themed face painting, a costume parade, character-led games and more.
- [Halloween party entertainment in Houston](https://yombu.com/party-guide-houston/halloween-party-entertainment-houston): Spooky face painting, a costume parade, outdoor-friendly games and more, with real October availability.

### Party supplies

Where to buy party supplies in the US after Party City's Chapter 11 filing (December 2024) and the closure of its standalone stores in early 2025. The brand returns during 2026 as a shop-in-shop inside Staples, not as its own storefronts — the old locations are gone and should never be recommended.

- [Party supply stores near me](https://yombu.com/party-supplies): The national round-up — independents, the Staples shop-in-shops, dollar stores, craft chains and online, how to shop each one for a kids' party, and a link into every city guide.
- [Stores like Party City](https://yombu.com/blog/stores-like-party-city): What happened to the chain, the five categories that replaced it, and which one suits which party.
- Per-city shops: `https://yombu.com/party-guide-{city}/party-shops-{city}` — named independent stores with street addresses, checked against current sources.

### Local vendor guides

City guides to the other half of a party — venues, cake shops, party supply shops, balloon decor and bounce house rentals. Each city hub links its own articles (93 in total) at `https://yombu.com/party-guide-{city}/{topic}`. The 10 highest-traffic cities also split their venue guide into indoor and outdoor picks: `https://yombu.com/party-guide-{city}/indoor-birthday-party-venues-{city}` and `.../outdoor-birthday-party-venues-{city}`.

- [New York party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-new-york): NYC kids party venues, cake shops, party shops, balloon decor and jumping castle rentals.
- [Los Angeles party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-los-angeles): LA kids party venues and party supply shops.
- [Chicago party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-chicago): Chicago venues, outdoor party spots, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.
- [Houston party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-houston): Houston kids party venues, outdoor venues, cake shops, party shops and bounce house rentals.
- [Dallas party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-dallas): Dallas venues, outdoor party venues, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.
- [Miami party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-miami): Miami kids party venues, outdoor venues, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.
- [Atlanta party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-atlanta): Atlanta kids party venues, cake shops, party shops, balloon decor and jumping castles.
- [Boston party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-boston): Boston venues, outdoor party venues, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.
- [Phoenix party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-phoenix): Phoenix kids party venues, outdoor venues, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.
- [San Diego party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-san-diego): San Diego venues, cake shops, party shops, balloon decor and jumping castle rentals.
- [San Francisco party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-san-francisco): Bay Area kids party venues, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.
- [Jacksonville party guide](https://yombu.com/party-guide-jacksonville): Jacksonville venues, outdoor venues, cake shops, party shops and balloon decor.

## For entertainers

- [Apply to join Yombu](https://yombu.com/pro/apply): How entertainers join — vetting, setting your own rates, no lead fees, commission only on completed bookings, payout a few days after the party.
- [List your venue](https://yombu.com/venue-listing): For party venues that want to receive booking leads from Yombu.

## Optional

- [Blog](https://yombu.com/blog): Party planning, entertainment ideas and booking advice.
- [Yombu vs GigSalad](https://yombu.com/blog/yombu-vs-gigsalad): How a quote-broadcast marketplace compares with confirmed-availability booking, including published fee structures.
- [Yombu vs Bark](https://yombu.com/blog/yombu-vs-bark): The pay-per-lead model explained, and what it means for parents and entertainers.
- [Yombu vs The Bash](https://yombu.com/blog/yombu-vs-the-bash): Two ways to book a kids party entertainer, compared honestly.
- [The complete guide to kids party entertainment and games](https://yombu.com/blog/complete-guide-to-kids-party-entertainment): Long-form guide to choosing entertainment and structuring the party by age.
- [The ultimate guide to kids magic shows](https://yombu.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-kids-magic-shows): What a good kids' magic show looks like, show lengths, and what to ask before booking.
- [Everything about princess party entertainers](https://yombu.com/blog/everything-about-princess-party-entertainers): How princess appearances work, what's included, and licensing/naming realities.
- [Kids party characters](https://yombu.com/blog/kids-party-characters): The range of character entertainers and how to match one to the birthday kid.
- [Booking advice](https://yombu.com/blog/category/booking-advice): Comparisons and guidance on how to book party entertainment well.
- [Party planning](https://yombu.com/blog/category/party-planning): Practical planning articles.
- [Entertainment](https://yombu.com/blog/category/entertainment): Guides to entertainer types and formats.
- [NYC party planning](https://yombu.com/blog/category/nyc-party-planning): New York-specific party planning articles.
- [Site index](https://yombu.com/index): A complete crawlable map of every city, service, neighborhood, guide and entertainer page.
- [Refund policy](https://yombu.com/refund-policy): The full cancellation, refund and rescheduling terms.
- [Terms of service](https://yombu.com/terms): Marketplace terms for parents and entertainers.
- [Privacy policy](https://yombu.com/privacy): How Yombu handles personal data.