Painting Faces at St. Paul Festivals & Events for More Than 30 Years
HappyFaces Entertainment books face painters, balloon twisters, and caricature artists across St. Paul, from downtown corporate offices to Grand Old Day, Winter Carnival, and South St. Paul’s On the Road Again to backyard block parties in St. Paul neighborhoods. We've served the Twin Cities Metro for over 40 years, sizing our crew to a single artist at a birthday party or a full team at a citywide festival.
Happy Faces has been serving the Twin Cities Metro for more than 40 years!
Corporate Events in Minneapolis
Downtown St. Paul is home to major employers like Ecolab and Securian Financial, alongside a dense mix of law firms, insurance companies, and state government offices. We staff office parties, client appreciation days, and holiday events for downtown St. Paul businesses, with crews sized from a single artist for a small team gathering to a full crew for an all-company picnic.
Minneapolis Festivals & Community Events
St. Paul hosts two of the biggest annual events in Minnesota: the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the oldest winter festival in the country, running since 1886 around Rice Park, Landmark Center, and the State Fairgrounds, and Grand Old Day, the largest free street festival in the Midwest, held each summer along Grand Avenue with six music stages and a parade. We're also a longtime part of On the Road Again, the annual fall street festival on Southview Boulevard in South St. Paul, where HappyFaces face painting and balloon art has been a fixture for more than 30 years. Booking a permit for a block party, festival, parade, or public assembly on St. Paul park land or streets goes through St. Paul Parks and Recreation. Recurring events need an application at least 90 days out, and new events need at least 60 days, with separate small-event and large-event (1,000+ attendees per day) processes. Call the St. Paul Permit Office at 651-266-6400 for specifics, and we can build our booking timeline around your permit schedule. We regularly staff school carnivals, church festivals, and neighborhood association events with 2 to 10+ artists at once.
Neighborhood Parties & Backyard Events
Not every St. Paul event is festival-sized. For birthday parties, backyard get-togethers, and small block parties in any St. Paul neighborhood, we book a single face painter or a face painter and balloon twister pair, sized to a smaller guest list and a shorter booking window.
Full Entertainment Lineup
Beyond face painting, we offer balloon twisters, caricature artists, costume characters, organized carnival games, fortune tellers, magicians, henna artists, photo booths, and inflatables, all bookable through one call. See our full list of entertainment services.
Face Painting
Professional artists using safe, non-toxic, hypoallergenic paints. Full-face, half-face, and cheek designs for all ages. Scalable from 1 to 20+ painters for large events.
Balloon Twisters
Custom balloon creations for kids and adults alike. Our artists can make almost anything, animals, swords, hats, flowers, and more, on the spot at your Minneapolis event.
Caricature Artists
We work with some of the top caricature artists in Minnesota. A fast, fun keepsake guests will actually keep. Perfect for corporate events and graduation parties.
Costume Characters
Over 20 costume character options including seasonal characters, holiday favorites, and custom options. Year-round availability throughout Minneapolis and Hennepin County.
Organized Games
20+ carnival-style games including Duck Pond, Basketball Toss, Ring Toss, and more. Minimum 2-hour booking. Ideal for picnics, school events, and corporate gatherings.
Fortune Tellers
Tarot, palm reading, numerology, handwriting analysis, and more. Always fun, positive, and uplifting. A crowd-pleaser at bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate events, and seasonal parties.
Also available: magicians, photo booths, henna artists, inflatables, spin art, mimes, jugglers, hypnotists, and stage shows. See the full service list →
Common Questions
Face Painting in St. Paul — FAQ
Do you provide face painters for corporate events in St. Paul?
Yes. We staff office parties, client events, and holiday gatherings for downtown St. Paul businesses, including companies like Ecolab and Securian Financial. Call (952) 476-7676 to check availability and staffing for your event size.
Can you staff a large event like Grand Old Day or the Winter Carnival?
Yes. We regularly send multi-artist teams to high-volume festivals and community events. If you're organizing a booth or activity area at a St. Paul festival, call ahead so we can plan crew size around expected turnout.
Have you worked St. Paul-area festivals before?
Yes. HappyFaces face painting and balloon art has been part of On the Road Again, the annual fall festival on Southview Boulevard in South St. Paul, for more than 30 years. We're familiar with the setup, the crowds, and what it takes to keep a line moving at a long-running community event.
Do St. Paul park events need a permit?
Yes. Any block party, festival, parade, race, or public assembly on St. Paul park land or streets needs a permit through St. Paul Parks and Recreation. Recurring events need at least 90 days' notice; new events need at least 60. See the city's permits and rentals page for full requirements.
How much does a face painter cost for a St. Paul event?
Pricing depends on the number of artists, event length, and services selected. Corporate and festival bookings are quoted differently than a single-artist backyard party. Contact us or call (952) 476-7676 for a custom quote.
How far in advance should I book?
For neighborhood parties and small gatherings, 3-4 weeks out is usually enough. For festivals, corporate events, and holiday-season bookings, we recommend 6-8 weeks, and earlier if your event also needs a city permit.
Do you serve areas near St. Paul too?
Yes. HappyFaces serves 20+ communities across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro. We're based in Long Lake, MN, west of St. Paul. See our full service area →
All of our face paint meets cosmetic safety standards outlined by the FDA for products used on skin. Learn more about FDA guidance on novelty makeup and face paint safety.
Ready to book your next event?
Whether it's a downtown office party, Grand Old Day, or a backyard birthday, HappyFaces has the entertainment lineup for it. Let's Party!