Union Family Picnic Planning at Whittier Narrows in South El Monte for the 2026 Family Fun Day with SEIU Local 721

A Park-Wide Health Fair and Carnival Festival for 1,000 Attendees

We had the pleasure of planning a union family picnic and health fair event at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte for 1,000 union members and their families. The SEIU Local 721 Family Fun Day is an annual tradition for us, and we look forward to handling the full production every year. The day ran from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a full catering package of picnic favorites—including vegan options—a cold beverage bar, and fun foods.
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Right from the start, guests walked through a giant inflatable arch at registration into a space that felt just like an amusement park. We packed the park with nostalgic carnival booths, inflatables for the kids, sports, obstacle courses, and laid-back yard games. Our all-inclusive setup covered it all: vendor booths, sound, navigational signage, the main stage, and a first aid station.

Member Registration and Check-In at the Whittier Narrows Welcome Gate for SEIU Local 721

​Registration was the most important part of the day for SEIU Local 721, so we planned the entrance around getting a crowd this size checked in fast. Members and their families walked under a custom inflatable arch at the gate and followed a line of Special Event A-frame signs straight to 14 registration tables. Six of our staff members worked alongside the union team from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and a Wi-Fi booster running off the arch's generator gave the check-in tables a reliable connection all day. Just past registration, custom 8x8 site maps laid out every zone in the park, so attendees could plan their route to vendor row, the stage, the sports zone, and both attraction areas before heading in.

Union Family Picnic Catering With High-Throughput Double-Sided Buffet Lines

​Our union family picnic catering fed 1,000 people during a tight two-hour lunch window, which required flawless logistics. We set up double-sided buffet lines under matching BBQ food service canopies to cut wait times in half. Pennant rope lines and clear signage guided families seamlessly into each entrance. We positioned flat-top grills directly behind the serving tables so food went straight from the grill to the plates. Gloved servers staffed every station, so the lines moved quickly through the main menu and topping bars. A separate vegan options station served members with dietary needs.

Main BBQ Picnic Buffet Menu for 1,000

• 1/3lb Lean Angus Hamburger with Deluxe Condiment Bar
• All Beef Hot Dogs (Chili and Cheese Offered as Side Option)
• Vegan Hot Dogs
• BBQ Chicken Slaw Sliders
• 4-Cheese Loaded Mac and Cheese with Bacon
• Fresh Cut Fruit Salad (Vegan)
• Mixed Green Garden Salad with Deluxe Condiment and Topping Bar
• French Fries
• Chip Bags
• Gourmet Cookies

Cold Beverage Bar Open All Afternoon

​Our beverage bar ran the full length of the event from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. so members could grab a drink before lunch even started. We used insulated stainless dispensers under a canopy to keep the sweet tea, lemonade, and filtered water cold. This self-serve setup let families refill between activities without creating lines. On a sunny September afternoon in the park, the drink station was one of the busiest spots of the day, but we kept it fully stocked and cold the entire time.

Union Health Fair and Sponsor Tents at Whittier Narrows

​The union health fair gave members a chance to meet the providers behind their benefits, and many of those vendors also help sponsor the event. We set up 23 vendor tents with side walls, covered tables, chairs, and custom printed banners, so every sponsor and member group had a matching booth that was easy to spot. We placed vendor row right alongside the picnic grounds, and families visited the booths between meals just steps from their picnic blankets.

Union Family Picnic Entertainment

We designed the picnic area layout for 1,000 attendees in separate entertainment zones. Toddlers and young kids had their own area of playcenters and bouncers, while the obstacle courses, scavenger hunt, and sports challenges gave tweens, teens, and adults room to compete. We placed each zone within easy reach of the buffet and vendor row, so parents could watch the little ones play, grab a plate, and stop by a sponsor booth.

Kids Inflatables

• Toddler Jungle Playcenter
• Princess Playcenter
• Inflatable Ferris Wheel Playcenter
• Carousel Bouncer
• Rocky Island Combo

Obstacle Course and Challenges

• Ultimate Speedway Challenge
• Harvest Fun Fact Scavenger Hunt

Sports Zone

• Sports Trio
• Hoop Shot Duo
• Connect 3
• Skee Ball (Dual)

Union Family Picnic Fun Zone with Interactive Artists

​We grouped the Fun Zone together as its own carnival corner of the picnic. Two caricature artists and two airbrush tattoo artists worked under the Fun Shack tents, and right next door, the Fun Food Shack served fresh-spun cotton candy and shaved ice. The Photo Booth Shack sat alongside them with a standard photo booth and a 360 video booth, plus a one-minute recap video of the day. Our classic carnival booths and the inflatable 3-in-1 carnival booth lined up just past the treats, with prizes hanging overhead. 

Laid-Back Table Games in the Game On Zone

Right next to the main seating area, we set up a shaded "Game On" zone featuring a mix of table and arcade-style games. It was perfectly positioned near the main stage and beverage bar, giving families a quick way to play between activities without wandering too far from their tables.

The zone featured:

• Picnic Ping Pong
• Foosball
• Air Hockey
• Whip-N-Skip
• Flap Attack
• Snake Pit

Main Stage and Sound for Union Speeches and Announcements at Whittier Narrows

SEIU Local 721 utilized the main stage throughout the day for announcements, leadership speeches, and crowd rallies. We built an 8x20 stage complete with a carpet kit and black bally wrap, staging it directly facing the main picnic seating area. The SEIU Local 721 step-and-repeat backdrop was mounted on a heavy-duty pipe and drape system. For clear audio coverage across the park, our deluxe sound package featured dual tower speakers flanking the stage and professional wireless microphones. We also provided dedicated on-stage seating for union leadership between presentations.

Why SEIU Local 721 Trusts Us Year After Year

SEIU Local 721 brings us back every single year because we handle all the event planning from start to finish—right down to the walkie-talkies for their on-site team. For this year’s picnic at Whittier Narrows, our crew managed the entire heavy lifting, setup, and strike so their leadership could actually focus on their members.
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• Guest Comfort & Safety: We set up a fully equipped first aid station inside a dedicated 10x10 tent—complete with tables, chairs, and an EMT on call. For facilities, we brought in a premium 7-stall restroom trailer alongside a fully accessible, ADA-compliant portable restroom.

• Seating & Vibe: To give the main seating area that classic, welcoming picnic feel, we built out 30 complete table kits decked out in traditional red gingham covers.

• Power & Production: Large-scale events need serious power, but without the noise. We ran the catering, sound systems, and attractions using a fleet of whisper generators, deploying six 9,500-watt and four 3,500-watt units to keep everything running smoothly in the background.

• Navigation & Signage: To keep thousands of guests moving effortlessly around Whittier Narrows, we designed a comprehensive wayfinding system. This included a massive gate map, three custom 8x8 site maps, 20 custom A-frame signs for general directions, and four specialized A-frames to clearly mark out the entertainment zones.

• Team Communication & Operations: Clear communication is everything. We provided the SEIU Local 721 event staff with dedicated walkie-talkies so their team could stay in lockstep all day. Behind the scenes, our specialized setup, service, and strike crews managed the transport, load-in, and final pickup of every single piece of equipment.

​By managing the heavy lifting, we let the SEIU leadership focus on what matters most: celebrating with their members.

All-Inclusive Union Family Picnic Planning at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area

When it comes to union family picnic planning, we handle it all in one package: the food, the fun, and all the logistics that come with planning an event of this size. Everything you saw above is ours. We own it all, and with multiple departments under our roof, we have more control over the outcome and the pricing of every event we plan. 

We know the parks, the permits, and the requirements that come with them, so you don't have to.
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We are employee-owned and operated, so every one of us is invested in the success of each event. That's why no detail goes left undone. What you get from us is a professional, attractive, interactive, and socially-dynamic picnic that leaves a lasting impression on the union members and their families.