San Diego Party Rental FAQs

You can book Tents and Things party rentals online 24 hours a day or by phone. Online, choose your rentals, add them to your cart, enter your event address and details, and pay a deposit to reserve your date. A confirmation email arrives right after you book.

Browse all rentals, request a quote or call (619) 289-8618.

Book as soon as you know your event date, since rentals are reserved first come, first served. For popular items like giant lawn games, Tents and Things recommends booking at least one month before your event. Linen rentals must be booked at least two weeks before your event.

Yes. A deposit reserves your rentals and your event date. You pay it when you book online or over the phone, and you receive a confirmation email once it is paid.

Tents and Things accepts all major credit and debit cards. Schools and churches can also pay by check or purchase order.

Yes. Tents and Things recommends adding the Rental Protection Plan at checkout so you are covered if a rental item is accidentally damaged during your event.

Every Tents and Things rental includes up to 24 hours of use at the quoted price. That covers tents, canopies, tables, chairs, linens, concession machines and games, so you can set up early and clean up without rushing. Multi-day, weekly and monthly rentals are also available.

The rental price covers the item for up to 24 hours. Delivery fees are calculated at checkout based on your event address, and sales tax applies. Some add-ons are priced separately:

• Table and chair setup service (add at checkout)
• Linen setup and takedown, $3 per linen
• Concrete blocks for tents on hard surfaces, $50 per block
• Extra concession servings, in batches of 50
• The optional Rental Protection Plan

For some items, such as concession machines, customer pickup can be arranged. Let the office know and Tents and Things will send a quote without the delivery fee. Before pickup you will need to send a photo of your ID or driver's license, pay in full and sign the rental agreement.

Yes. Tents and Things delivers and picks up every order. The crew sets up and takes down tents, canopies, lawn games and carnival games. For tables and chairs, add the Table and Chair Set Up Service at checkout or tell the office, and the crew will place them for you. Linen setup and takedown is available for $3 per linen.

For residential events, Tents and Things typically delivers starting at 8 a.m. and picks up after your event ends. For parks, schools, venues and other public or non-residential sites, the team coordinates times with you so someone is there for drop-off and pickup.

• A clear, flat setup area big enough for your rentals
• A flat path from the street to the setup area for tents on concrete, so the crew can move concrete blocks
• A standard 110V outlet near concession machines, or an extension cord or generator rental
• Someone on site at drop-off and pickup for public or non-residential locations

No. Tents and Things cleans every item after each rental. For linens, just shake off food and debris and put them back in the duffle bags they came in. Concession machines don't need to be cleaned either.

Yes. Tents and Things has a dedicated full-time cleaning crew that cleans and sanitizes every tent, table, chair, linen and machine with commercial-grade products after each rental.

Tents and Things rents high peak frame tents in 20x20, 20x30 and 20x40 sizes, and pop-up canopies in 10x10, 10x20, 10x30 and 10x40 sizes. Tents can be connected for larger events, and panorama sidewalls are available.

Tent size depends on guest count and how guests are set up. As a guide:

Buffets, dance floors and bars need extra space. Use the tent size calculator for a recommendation based on your guest count and layout.

Planning a reception? See wedding tent rentals or corporate event rentals for sizing by guest count.

Each tent needs extra room around it for stakes and ropes:

• 20x20 tent: a 25x25 ft space
• 20x30 tent: a 30x40 ft space
• 20x40 tent: a 30x45 ft space

Yes. On grass, Tents and Things anchors tents with 36-inch stakes and calls 811 beforehand to have underground utilities marked. On concrete, tents are anchored with 500-pound concrete blocks, which cost an extra $50 per block and need a flat path from the delivery truck. If blocks can't be used, the crew can drill into concrete or asphalt and fill the holes with asphalt plugs after takedown.

Canopies can be set up on grass, concrete, asphalt or gravel. A flat surface works best.

Canopies are made for shade, not rain. If rain is in the forecast, Tents and Things recommends a high peak tent, with sidewalls for extra protection.

Yes. Tents and Things regularly connects tents for larger events. You can add rain gutters between connected tents to catch water if it rains.

A canopy, also called a pop-up tent, is a lighter shade structure for backyard parties, park days, booths and food stations. A high peak tent is a commercial frame tent with a peaked top that covers more guests, handles weather better and works with sidewalls, making it the better choice for weddings and larger events.

Yes. Tents and Things follows the manufacturer's instructions on every tent, uses 36-inch stakes on grass and concrete blocks on hard surfaces, and follows tent and special event guidelines under the International Fire Code as amended by the State of California and the City of San Diego.

In the City of San Diego, tents larger than 20x20 (over 400 sq ft) require a permit from the San Diego Fire Department. Tents and Things provides the dimensioned site plan for your application. You complete the application, email it with the site plan to the fire department's special events office, pay the permit fee and send Tents and Things a copy. As of 2026, expect to pay about $292. Permit fees are paid by the customer. See the tent rentals page for the application.

Permit and park rules vary by city. Our city guides list the rules we found for Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Vista.

Usually not. It depends on the rules of the park or public space. Permits are usually only needed when one canopy, or several canopies at the same location, add up to more than 400 sq ft.

Yes. Tents and Things delivers to San Diego parks, beaches and public spaces. Many public spaces require a permit for tents, lawn games, public events or generators, so check with the park or venue first. Tents and Things is park approved and can help with the permit process.

Planning a park or neighborhood event? See community event rentals and the park rules on our city guides.

Yes. Tents and Things is fully insured, with liability coverage that exceeds California requirements, and carries the endorsements parks and venues ask for. Ask the office for a certificate of insurance (COI) for your venue or permit.

Divide your guest count by how many people each table seats. A 60-inch round table seats 8, an 8ft banquet table seats 8 and a 6ft banquet table seats 6. For example, 100 guests at 6ft tables need 17 tables. Call (619) 289-8618 if you'd like help planning.

Tents and Things rents 6ft and 8ft banquet tables, 60-inch round tables, 33-inch cocktail tables and kids tables, plus white folding chairs, white and black Lifetime chairs, resin ceremony chairs and kids chairs. Table and chair packages are also available.

All Tents and Things tablecloths are floor length and fit 6ft tables, 8ft tables, 60-inch round tables and 33-inch cocktail tables. Spandex cocktail table linens are also available. When ordering more than one color, set the total quantity and choose your colors in the options.

Yes. Let the office know when you book, and the crew will set up and take down your linens for $3 per linen.

Every Tents and Things concession machine includes supplies for 50 servings. You can add more servings in batches of 50 at checkout. The crew shows you how to use the machine at delivery, and you also get a how-to video.

Each popcorn, cotton candy or snow cone machine needs one standard 110V outlet. If there is no outlet nearby, add an extension cord or a generator rental.

The Tents and Things generator puts out 5,000 starting watts and 3,900 running watts on gasoline (4,500 and 3,500 on propane) and runs up to 18 hours depending on the load. Most San Diego parks and public spaces require a permit for generators.

Tents and Things rents giant lawn games including giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, giant ring toss, giant cornhole and giant yard pong, and carnival games including ring toss, milk bottle bash and fish bowl toss, plus carnival booths and canopies.

Popular for school carnivals, fall festivals and birthday parties.

Yes. Tell the delivery crew where you want the games and they handle the rest.

A flat surface works best. Grass, concrete, asphalt and turf all work.

You can reschedule your rental because of rain at no extra cost as long as you give at least 24 hours' notice. If weather is unsafe for setup, Tents and Things may cancel the rental and will either refund you in full or let you choose a new date.

• You can reschedule to a new date with no change fees.
• Deposits are non-refundable, but if you cancel before delivery you get a raincheck for your deposit that is good for one year.
• If you paid more than the deposit, you can take a refund of the amount above the deposit minus a 5% restocking fee, or a raincheck for 100% of what you paid.
• Items canceled on the day of delivery are charged at 100%.

Tents and Things is based in San Diego and delivers throughout San Diego County, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, San Marcos, Vista, Poway, Santee, National City, La Jolla, Del Mar, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Lakeside, Ramona, Fallbrook, Alpine, Bonita, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, 4S Ranch and Julian.

City guides: Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Vista. See our full service area.

Tents and Things serves San Diego County and can also deliver to nearby counties. Call (619) 289-8618 with your event address to confirm delivery and pricing.

Tents and Things was founded in San Diego in 2025 by Selvin Reyes. Before starting the company, Selvin spent more than four years as a tent and party rental installer for large party rental companies, learning the business first hand. Meet the Tents and Things team.

Tents and Things supplies weddings, birthday parties, quinceañeras, graduation parties, corporate events and picnics, school carnivals, church festivals, fundraisers, community events and backyard parties across San Diego County. Read customer reviews.

See rentals by event type: weddings, birthday and backyard parties, corporate events, community events, HOA events, church events, fall festivals and school carnivals and fundraisers, or browse all events we serve.