December school holidays — kids\' entertainment guide.
December is the single busiest entertainment-booking window of the SA year. Schools close, families travel, holiday clubs run, malls activate, corporate Christmas events happen. If you\'re planning any of these and want face painting, balloons, or a magic show — book by mid-October at the latest. Saturdays from early December are almost always fully booked by then.
What\'s happening in December
- School closes 5-10 December for public, slightly earlier for private
- School-leaving family parties peak first two weeks
- Christmas community events at churches and residential estates run mid-month
- Corporate Christmas family days peak between 6-22 December
- Shopping centre activations run from late November through Boxing Day
- Holiday-club programmes at schools / sports clubs / residential estates run throughout
- Coastal travel means most Gauteng families away from 18 December
Booking lead times for December
| Event type | Book by |
|---|---|
| Saturday from 6 Dec onward | Early October |
| Mid-week 6-22 Dec | Mid-October |
| Holiday-club programme (3-5 days) | Mid-October |
| Corporate Christmas family day | End September |
| Mall activation | Mid-September |
December-friendly entertainment options
Christmas-themed face painting
Reindeer with red noses, snowflake clusters, snowman faces, Christmas-tree cheek motifs, elf forehead designs. See the Christmas designs catalogue.
Christmas-themed glitter tattoos
Stencils for snowflakes, Christmas trees, reindeer, Santa hats, candy canes. Lasts about 3 days — perfect for kids who travel for Christmas family gatherings.
Christmas balloon sculpts
Reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, candy canes. Red, green, white, gold colour packs.
Magic shows
30-45 minute kids' magic shows fit Christmas family events well. Some listed painters offer magic shows alongside face painting — check individual profiles in the directory.
Themed party / corporate event ideas
- Christmas market style event — multiple entertainment stations across an open space
- "Christmas in July"-style mid-year event — same theming, different date for variation
- Year-end school function — face painting + balloons combo with Christmas colour palette
- Estate holiday-programme day — multi-artist setup across paint, glitter, balloons, magic
- Office Christmas family Saturday — staff + kids day, full entertainment line-up
Pricing for December bookings
December weekends often carry a small premium (10-15%) versus standard rates. Mid-week and post-Christmas Day bookings sometimes have discount availability as painters fill the gap. Typical:
- Private home party (15 kids, 2 hours): from about R1 700 in Gauteng
- Mid-sized estate family day (50 kids): R2 800-R4 500
- Corporate Christmas family day (100 kids): R5 500-R10 000
- Holiday-club week (5 days × morning sessions): R5 000-R8 500
Booking
Browse the painter directory early — December weekends fill up by early November.