What is a Foam Party?

A foam party is an event where an area gets filled up with foam bubbles or has foam sprayed over the party guests from machines that pump foam fluid. Foam parties can be a great entertainment for messy parties and although you get very wet from the foam machines it is good clean fun. This foam party guide will give you some great information about how to have a successful foam party! Party GOAT sells messy play products and does not hire out any equipment. We ran a foam machine hire business years ago and this guide comes from that experience, so if you need a machine it will need to come from a local party hire company.

Where to have a Foam Party?

Foam party machines are great for private parties, night club events, youth groups, or they can be used with a tunnel set up to create awesome obstacles in fun runs and mud runs. Outside is usually the best place for a foam party as you and all of your guests will get very wet and bubbly. It is also safer if the foam party is set up on soft grass.

If you are going to have your foam machine set up indoors you need to be mindful of the amount of water the foam party will create. Either have an enclosure to capture the water to be drained after the foam party or make sure the run off leads to a drain or outside. The foam will create a slip hazard so make sure you have some sort of anti-slip padding down if on hard surfaces. It is hard to contain the bubbles to one area as your foam party guest will walk around with foam all over their bodies.

Where to position the Foam Machine? It is best if the foam sprays out from a high spot over the heads of your party guests. This can be a tall shelf or a tree branch or some other staging construction suitable to hold the weight of the foam machine.

If you are setting up in an open area you may wish to create some walls to help contain the foam to an area. If you do not contain the foam it is more likely to blow away in the wind. Inflatable tents and inflatable foam pits like in the video below are good options because they don't have any hard surfaces for people to run or slide into.

How to make Foam for a Foam Party

Am I fitness enough to complete a fun run

The most effective way of making bulk foam bubbles is a pretty simple procedure. It involves pumping a foam solution from a container into the front of a high powered fan which pushes the fluid through a netting or gauze.

Sounds easy but I would advise you to purchase a professional foam machine for your foam party. You could try to create a foam making machine yourself but water, foam and electricity are a dangerous mix so it is best to not put you or your friends at risk. There is more below on what to look for when you are choosing one.

There are large foam machines that project the foam out around 30 feet (9m). These are commonly called Foam Cannons because of the shape and function. The large foam machines that produce the most foam are the type with a big netting on the front. These dump bulk foam down but do not spray the foam like a cannon.

If you are having a foam party for little kids with about 10 guests, there are a couple of small foam machine options available on Amazon for a much more affordable price.

The best Foam Machine for a Foam Party

There are a lot of foam machines and foam cannons to choose from and the quality varies wildly. We looked hard at bringing foam machines into the Party GOAT range and decided against it, because the units we could source had safety issues we were not willing to put our name to. So we are not going to pick a favourite for you. What we can tell you is what to look at: a big netting front if you want bulk foam dumped down rather than sprayed across a distance, a fluid container big enough that you are not refilling it every few minutes, and a proper commercial machine rather than something homemade, because water and electricity together is not the place to save money. You can browse what is currently available on Amazon here (paid link).

Are Foam Parties safe?

Foam parties are safe if they are properly supervised and your foam party guests are somewhat behaving themselves.

Make sure the foam machine operator doesn't let the foam go over head height. This will make sure that everyone can breath normally and also see other party people.

When we used to hire out foam machines for parties we would often see people jumping into the foam like it was going to be soft like pillows. Foam will definitely not support your weight and you will hit the ground quite hard if you dive into the bubbles. If possible, set up your foam party on the grass to help avoid serious falls.

Only use plastic cups at foam parties! Broken glass would be a nightmare if hidden under the bubbles.

Are Foam Parties sanitary?

Foam parties are sanitary if the right foam machine solution is used. Common foam party fluids have antibacterial agents in them so any bacteria that lands on the bubbles is sanitized.

It is this antibacterial agent that is usually the cause for a bit of stinging when the foam gets in your eyes. Flush the foam fluid out of your eyes with water and you should feel better.

There is more on choosing a foam fluid below.

The best Foam Fluid for a Foam Party

A good foam fluid is essential for having a successful foam party. If your foam solution doesn't produce enough bubbles it can effect the foam machines output capacity. Foam fluid is diluted with water and then pumped through the foam machines but if a foam fluid is too weak, the bubbles thin out too much and won't easily build upon themselves to fill your area. If the foam solution is too strong it will burn the eyes out of your foam party guests.

Foam fluid comes as a liquid concentrate or as a powder you mix with water, and the powders are the easier ones to get hold of now. Either way it is worth reading the reviews before you commit to a big container. You can see what is currently available on Amazon here (paid link). I would suggest going for a professional foam fluid if you are hosting an event so that the chance of something going wrong is minimized. If you are having a foam party just for yourself and can justify the risk, you can make a foam fluid from ordinary store items like bubble bath and detergent. A "no more tears" baby bubble bath is the best option for all round comfort but it does not foam up as much as a dish washing detergent. If you want to mix some foamy detergent in, always choose a detergent that is gentle on the skin and environment and avoid getting it in your eyes.

Planning a big party? Add some craziness with Slime Fights, Mud Wrestling & Jello Wrestling!

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How to make a Foam Tunnel for a Fun Run

If you are planning on having a foam machine obstacle at your fun run it is a good idea to create a foam tunnel which barricades the foam into a narrow space for runners to run through. This will help the foam to build up to a nice height and will prevent the foam from easily blowing away in the wind. Here is a creation we made for our foam machine.

To make our foam machine tunnel we have used a roll of barricade mesh attached to some pipes that we hold in place with tent ropes and pegs. We aim a high powered foam cannon into the foam tunnel and the foam starts to build up. Perfect addition to a mud run. Everyone will love it!

Does a foam party ruin your clothes?

Foam fluid is not so harsh as to ruin your clothes. If you are wearing clothing that you don't want to get wet then a foam party is not for you as the bubbles can often feel quite dry but you usually end up very wet. Dress accordingly for a foam party. Usually beachwear is the way to go when playing in the foam.

Are Foam Parties still a thing?

Yes! Foam parties are definitely still a thing although it is getting harder for venues to get the green light due things like drainage and slip hazard concerns. Foam parties can be safe and extremely fun if you follow some basic safety guidelines like banning glassware, having antislip flooring and adequate drainage for your foam party venue.

Tips for great foam parties

Most foam machines don't come with a very big container for holding foam fluid and it usually goes through it fairly quickly. If you don't want the hassle of constantly filling up the small containers, I would suggest using 2 x large wheelie bins. If you use two you can drain one and then switch to the other while you refill the first with foam fluid. They last a long time so you can enjoy the party more.

FAQs for hiring a foam machine for a foam party

Party GOAT does not do any party hire services but these are some common questions about foam machine rentals. Contact your local party hire company for more details.

Do we need power for a foam machine hire? Your party hire company will usually require access to a standard power point within about 150ft (50m) of the set up area or they can bring a generator for an additional fee. Please discuss this with them prior to the day if a generator will be required.

Do we need water for the foam machine rental? Yes, access to a water tap that you can attach a standard garden hose to. A water supply close to the set up area is always preferred. Each container of foam fluid needs to be mixed with a lot of water.

Will the people and the area get wet at the foam party? Yes! To create foam water is required. Lots of water is mixed with each container of foam fluid. All of this water will end up on your guests or on the floor. It's all part of the wet and slippery fun. The foam equipment is not suitable for areas that are sensitive to water.

If you wish to set up foam equipment at a venue you are best to select a concrete area with suitable drainage, a car park or grassed area. Your foam party supplier will not be held responsible for damage to carpet, wooden floors, electrical equipment etc that is in the foam machine set up area.

Do you need to contain the foam? The foam will usually spray out from up high over the heads of your party guests. If you are setting up in an open area you may wish to create some walls to help contain the foam to an area. If you do not contain the foam it is more likely to blow away in the wind. If you are planning a fun run obstacle you can build a foam tunnel to barricade the foam into a narrow space for runners to run through. There is a guide to making one further up this page.

Most party hire companies unfortunately do not supply inflatable foam pits or foam tents. If you wish for the foam to be contained to an area you will probably need to provide your own barricades.

How long will the foam fluid last? This depends upon the brand of foam fluid you are supplied and how much of it you are getting. It's best to contact your local hire company and ask some questions.

Who will operate the foam machine? Standard prices DO NOT include supervision, as most customers choose to self-supervise. Instructions on how to operate the foam machine are usually given and are quite straightforward. Some hire companies do not have the insurance necessary to allow for self supervision so they will supervise and the fees on this vary.