Event Rentals in Boulder, CO

• Park Shelter Parties

  A reserved shelter works for private, invitation-only birthdays, reunions and showers within the shelter's listed capacity. Table and chair counts should stay under that limit, and the City says electricity is not guaranteed with a shelter reservation.

  Explore Table & Chair Rentals→

• Weddings & Receptions

  Boulder weddings mix park ceremonies, private venues and backyard receptions, and each carries different rules. At Chautauqua Park, groups of 51 to 100 on the manicured lawn need a large group permit and wedding or memorial events must wrap up by 5:00 p.m., so many couples plan the reception at a separate site with a full wedding rental setup.

  Explore Wedding Rentals→

• Tents With and Without Walls

  The City exempts tents with walls up to 400 square feet and open-sided tents up to 700 square feet from a permit. A sidewalled tent crosses the line far sooner than an open canopy, so tell your provider if you want walls before settling on a size.

  Explore Tent Rentals→

• Tents on Park Turf

  On park turf the City requires weights for vendor booths and tents unless it approves stakes in writing, and it recommends at least 40 pounds on each corner of a 10-by-10 tent and double that for a 10-by-20. Ask your provider how they ballast a tent on grass.

  Explore Tent Rentals→

• Community Events & Festivals

  Open-to-the-public events on City property, including food or alcohol service, usually need a Special Event Permit, and the handbook's timeline starts as early as a year out. Staging, sound and lighting orders should wait until the permit path is confirmed.

  Explore Stage Rentals→

• Kids' Parties & Bounce Houses

  At neighborhood and community parks, the City does not allow third-party structures that need stakes or a generator, such as a bounce castle, unless the event has a Special Event Permit. On private property the park rules do not apply, though tents and generators can still need temporary event approval under the thresholds above. Ask your inflatable provider how they anchor and power a unit.

  Explore Inflatable Rentals→

• Special Event Permits for public events on City property with 50 or more people, tents, structures, amplified sound, food or alcohol
• The City's application timeline, which starts 364 to 120 days ahead for the initial application and 30 days ahead for tents
• Tent permit thresholds: tents with walls over 400 square feet and open-sided tents over 700 square feet, including side-by-side tents
• Flame certification for tents, and a generator specification sheet for generators
• Park shelter rules: private, invitation-only events from the first weekend in May through Labor Day, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Shelter capacities, such as 50 per shelter at Foothills, 100 at Martin Park and 250 at Harlow Platts and North Boulder Park
• Weights instead of stakes on park turf unless the City approves stakes in writing
• Park hours: Boulder city parks are closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and special event equipment left overnight needs a security plan
• Glass and smoking, which are prohibited in Boulder parks, and alcohol, which needs a permit on public land
• Each provider's delivery area, setup windows, pricing and weather policy, which vary from company to company

Details here summarize the City of Boulder's Special Events pages and handbook, Park Shelter Reservations page, Temporary Event Application guide and park special event guidelines. The City's pages give different lead times for large event approvals, so confirm timing with the Office of Special Events, Boulder Parks and Recreation and your rental provider.

Choosing between a walled and an open tent? See what size tent you need and how tent rental pricing works. For weather, wind and altitude, see our Colorado outdoor event tent planning guide, and for weddings, the Colorado wedding rental checklist.