School Assembly Shows for Bay Area Elementary Schools

We offer two programs for schools, and both are performed at your site.

• Educational Puppet & Magic Show. $375 for 45 minutes. Handmade puppets, live comedy magic and audience participation, built around an educational theme you select.
• Puppetry Workshop. $395 for 35 to 45 minutes. A hands-on session in which students learn how puppets are built and operated, practice character voices, and see how the storytelling works.
• Both programs on the same visit. $50 less per program.

Each show is built around a theme you choose, so it reinforces work already underway in class. The themes we are asked for most often are:

• Literacy and reading comprehension (story sequencing, character analysis, prediction).
• Social and emotional learning (kindness, empathy, teamwork, perseverance).
• Creative thinking and imaginative expression.
• STEM curiosity, in selected themed shows.
• Cultural awareness and inclusion.

Teachers often tell us students return to class ready to talk and write about what they saw.

Yes. Tell us your focus when you book (Literacy and Reading, STEM, Health and Wellness, Environmental Awareness, Character Education, or Cultural Celebration) and we build the Educational Puppet & Magic Show around it. There is no additional charge.

On request we can send discussion questions and simple activity ideas to extend the learning. They are optional. The show works on its own, but some teachers use them to connect the performance to current classwork. Ask for them when you book.

Pre-K through Grade 5, ages 2 to 10, for both programs. We adjust pacing, vocabulary and participation to the age group in front of us, and mixed-grade assemblies are routine.

No. Our programs are written for Pre-K through Grade 5, and we do not currently offer a middle school or high school program. If you are planning a mixed K-8 event, call us and we will give you an honest assessment of whether it suits your older students.

• Small groups. 10 to 50 students, in a classroom or small multipurpose room.
• Medium assemblies. 50 to 150 students, in a standard gym or cafeteria.
• Large assemblies. 150 to 500 or more, for full-school and multi-grade events.

For very large groups we may recommend a microphone setup. Let us know your expected attendance and we will advise.

Yes, and it is the format schools request most. Back-to-back shows let you serve different grade bands with age-appropriate content in a single visit, and booking both programs on the same day reduces the cost by $50 per program.

1. Call or text (925) 605-4655, or email booking@californiakidsfun.com.
2. Send your date, school name, grade levels, estimated attendance and preferred theme.
3. We confirm availability and send a booking agreement.
4. Once the agreement is signed, your date is held. No deposit is required, and we confirm details with you before the event.

If your district needs a W-9 or a vendor packet, let us know and we will provide it.

Four to eight weeks is typical. Book earlier for high-demand periods such as Literacy Week, Read Across America in March, end-of-year celebrations and back-to-school events. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.

Monday through Friday during school hours. Morning slots between 9:00 and 11:30 AM and early afternoon slots between 12:30 and 2:30 PM are booked first. We work around your bell schedule, prep periods and lunch windows.

No. We do not require a deposit for school bookings. Your date is held on a signed booking agreement, with nothing paid in advance.

Yes. The same programs run for summer camps, day camps and after-school sites, at $375 for the 45-minute show. We adjust pacing for camp audiences, which are usually wider in age range. If you are running multiple sessions in one day, the $50 per program reduction applies.

Yes. Library programs are $395 and run 35 to 45 minutes. We perform regularly for summer reading events and seasonal library programs, using the same interactive puppet and magic format themed to what your program is promoting.

• Educational Puppet & Magic Show. $375, 45 minutes, Pre-K through Grade 5.
• Puppetry Workshop. $395, 35 to 45 minutes, Pre-K through Grade 5.
• Both programs on the same visit. $50 less per program.
• Add-ons. Balloon twisting and dance games, priced on request.

There is no travel fee anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area or the Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto region, and no deposit. The quoted price is the final price. For multiple dates or large-scale assemblies, contact us for a quote.

Yes. Most of our school bookings are funded this way, through PTA and PTO budgets, Title I enrichment funds, literacy grants and book fair proceeds. We provide W-9 forms, itemized invoices, program descriptions for grant reporting, and letters of support for grant applications. Tell us what your business office or grant administrator requires.

Yes. If the assembly does not deliver the experience we described, we will work with you to make it right.

• Performance area. A minimum of 12 by 12 feet. Multipurpose rooms, gymnasiums, cafeterias and covered outdoor areas all work.
• Power. One standard electrical outlet.
• Setup. 15 to 20 minutes before the performance.
• Staging. No stage is required. We bring our own backdrop, props, puppets and sound equipment.

If you are not sure your space will work, we can discuss it by phone or arrange a site visit for larger events.

Yes. We regularly perform at outdoor schoolyard events and in covered areas. We ask for shade or cover and a weather backup plan. Mention it when you book and we will prepare accordingly.

Yes. Our performers check in at the front office on arrival, follow your visitor sign-in policy, wear visible identification, and coordinate with your designated staff contact throughout the visit. We carry professional liability insurance and provide certificates of insurance on request, and we are familiar with district vendor approval paperwork.

Yes. Every program is age-appropriate and free of material that could exclude or embarrass a student. The comedy is never at a child's expense. We are mindful of cultural sensitivity and reflect California's diverse school communities in our storytelling and characters.

Schools are welcome to share performance photos and video in newsletters, social media and internal communications, provided it complies with your existing student photo release policy. Tell us your requirements when you book and we will follow them.

• 15 to 20 minutes before. The performer arrives, checks in at the front office and sets up.
• Before the show. We walk the space, test equipment and confirm logistics with your coordinator.
• The show. 45 minutes of interactive performance suited to your students.
• Pack-down. 10 to 15 minutes, with minimal disruption to your schedule.
• Afterwards. We follow up and welcome your feedback.

No preparation is required. Letting students know a show is coming helps build anticipation, but we have their attention from the start. Teachers are welcome to stay and take part.

We contact you immediately and work out a solution, usually rescheduling at no charge or sending an alternate performer. We have been performing in schools since 1998. On the day of your event you can reach us directly at (925) 605-4655 by call or text.

Contact us by phone or email and we will cancel the booking. Payments for cancelled shows are refunded in full. Where possible, please give us enough notice to rebook the time slot.