Kids & Family Events

Kids & Family Event Ticketing: Create Magical Experiences

Compare platforms for birthday parties, family festivals, and children's activities. Manage age groups, parent contacts, and kid-friendly experiences.

Top Ticketing Platforms for Kids & Family Events

Compare the best platforms designed specifically for your event type.

⭐ Featured Platform
TixFox
TixFox
5
(16 reviews)
Starting at
Free for free events, $0.39/ticket for paid events

TixFox is an intuitive event ticketing platform designed for organizers of events of all sizes, from small community gatherings to large festivals, concerts, and workshops. With low per-ticket fees, customizable event pages, and secure payment processing via Stripe, TixFox simplifies event creation and management. The platform offers essential features like real-time analytics, mobile check-in, and multiple ticket types, making it ideal for budget-conscious organizers seeking a straightforward solution.

Community events and fundraisers
Festivals of all sizes
Workshops and classes
Budget-conscious organizers
Events with simple ticketing needs
Cvent
Cvent
4.5
(512 reviews)
Starting at
$3,500/year (approx.)

Cvent is a comprehensive event management platform designed for enterprise-level organizations. It offers end-to-end solutions for both in-person and virtual events, including registration, venue selection, attendee engagement, and robust reporting. With advanced features like custom event websites, mobile apps, and sophisticated marketing tools, Cvent is particularly well-suited for large-scale corporate events, conferences, and associations.

Large corporations with complex event programs
Associations managing member events
Organizations running large conferences
Events requiring sophisticated registration logic
Companies needing strong integration with business systems
TicketSource
TicketSource
4.6
(245 reviews)
Starting at
Free + 3.5% + $0.99/ticket

TicketSource is a completely free-to-use online ticketing platform designed for arts organizations, community events, and small-to-medium venues. With no contracts, hidden fees, or complicated access tiers, TicketSource offers full access to all system features through a single, transparent booking fee structure. The platform is known for its friendly human support team and straightforward approach, making it ideal for venues and event organizers who want a hassle-free ticketing solution.

Arts organizations and theaters
Community events and local festivals
Small to medium venues
Events requiring reserved seating
Organizations wanting personal support
Budget-conscious organizers
Eventzilla
Eventzilla
4.3
(215 reviews)
Starting at
Free + 1.9% + $0.99/ticket

Eventzilla provides a versatile event management platform suitable for various event types, from conferences and workshops to fundraisers and social gatherings. With competitive pricing, customizable registration forms, and flexible ticket types, Eventzilla offers a balance of features and affordability. The platform includes tools for promotion, attendee management, and on-site check-in, making it a well-rounded Eventbrite alternative.

Budget-conscious event organizers
Organizations running regular events
Events with complex registration needs
Conferences and professional events
Fundraisers and non-profit events
Whova
Whova
4.6
(289 reviews)
Starting at
$999/event

Whova is a comprehensive event management platform known for its award-winning mobile app and attendee engagement features. The platform combines registration, agenda management, networking tools, and engagement features in one integrated solution. Whova excels at creating interactive experiences for both in-person and virtual events, with particular strength in academic conferences, professional associations, and corporate events where attendee engagement is crucial.

Academic conferences
Professional associations
Corporate events
Events prioritizing attendee engagement
Organizations needing robust mobile experience
Splash
Splash
4.3
(178 reviews)
Starting at
$7,500/year

Splash is an event marketing platform that emphasizes beautiful design and brand consistency across event programs. With powerful design tools, customizable templates, and enterprise-grade features, Splash helps organizations create cohesive event experiences from invitation to check-in. The platform excels at helping brands maintain consistent messaging and aesthetics across all touchpoints while providing robust registration and attendee management capabilities.

Brand-conscious organizations
Corporate event programs
Marketing teams
Organizations running multiple events
Companies needing consistent brand experiences
Eventbee
Eventbee
4.4
(176 reviews)
Starting at
Free for organizers, $1-$2.50/ticket

Eventbee is a web-based online ticketing platform offering completely free event registration and ticketing for organizers. With over 20 years of industry experience, Eventbee provides a flat-fee pricing model ($1-$2.50 per ticket) that can be passed to attendees, making it truly free for event organizers. The platform supports multiple payment processors including PayPal, Stripe, Braintree, and Authorize.net, and offers features like reserved seating, custom registration forms, and virtual event integration with Zoom, Google, YouTube, and Facebook.

Budget-conscious event organizers
Events with high-priced tickets (flat fee is better)
Nonprofit organizations
Virtual and hybrid events
Conferences and seminars
Organizations wanting payment processor flexibility
Tito
Tito
4.8
(142 reviews)
Starting at
2% + $0.99/ticket

Tito is a modern ticketing platform known for its clean, minimalist design and developer-friendly approach. With a focus on creating seamless checkout experiences, powerful APIs, and flexible customization options, Tito appeals to tech-savvy event organizers who value both aesthetics and functionality. The platform offers robust features for managing complex ticketing scenarios while maintaining a straightforward user experience for both organizers and attendees.

Tech conferences and meetups
Design-conscious organizers
Organizations needing API access
Events with complex ticketing needs
Organizations valuing customization

Essential Features for Kids & Family Events Ticketing

Critical features you should look for when choosing a ticketing platform.

Parent Contact Management

Collect parent/guardian emergency contacts, cell phones, and backup contacts for every child.

  • Primary parent contact
  • Emergency backup contact
  • Work and cell numbers
Age Grouping

Automatically place children into age-appropriate activity groups for safety and engagement.

  • Toddler activities (2-4)
  • Elementary groups (5-10)
  • Pre-teen programs (11-13)
Allergy Tracking

Collect detailed allergy information, dietary restrictions, and medical needs for child safety.

  • Food allergies (nuts, dairy, etc.)
  • Activity restrictions
  • Medication requirements
Photo Permissions

Collect photo/video consent from parents for social media, promotional materials, and event photography.

  • Social media posting consent
  • Professional photography permission
  • Video recording approval
Family Packages

Offer family admission packages and sibling discounts to make events affordable for large families.

  • Family of 4 package discount
  • Sibling pricing (2nd child 50% off)
  • Grandparent + grandkids deals
Activity Registration

Let parents select specific activities or time slots for their children with capacity management.

  • Craft workshop time slots
  • Bounce house sessions
  • Face painting appointments
Safety Waivers

Collect digital waivers and consent forms from parents for activity participation.

  • General liability waiver
  • Photo/video release
  • Medical emergency authorization
Party Favor Sales

Sell party favor bags, event merchandise, and souvenir packages during registration.

  • Party favor bag add-ons
  • Event t-shirts in kids sizes
  • Souvenir photo packages

Real-World Kids & Family Events Success Stories

See how organizers of different event sizes have successfully used ticketing platforms.

SMALL
15-30 kids per party
Birthday Party Venue
An indoor play venue hosting multiple birthday parties per weekend with activities and food.

Challenges:

  • Managing multiple parties simultaneously
  • Collecting allergy information
  • Parent contact for emergencies
  • Party package add-ons

Solution:

Created party packages with different activity options, collected detailed allergy and contact info, managed time slots, and sold party favor add-ons.

Results:

  • 8-10 parties per weekend smoothly run
  • Zero allergy incidents
  • Parents easily reached for pickups
  • Party favor sales added 20% revenue

Kids & Family Events Ticketing Costs: What to Expect

Kids event platforms range from $0.39/ticket for simple parties to $50-200/month for venues with recurring events or camp management needs.

Factors Affecting Cost
  • One-time vs recurring events
  • Age group complexity
  • Medical and allergy tracking depth
  • Activity capacity management
  • Family package structures
  • Merchandise and add-on sales
Budget-Saving Tips
  • Per-ticket pricing works for occasional events
  • Monthly subscriptions better for venues with weekly parties
  • Family packages encourage larger groups
  • Merchandise and party favors add significant revenue
  • Early bird pricing helps parents budget
  • Pass fees to parents (standard for kids events)
💡 Cost Comparison

A 25-kid birthday party costs $9.75 with TixFox vs $75+ with percentage platforms.

Why Family Events Need Kid-Focused Tools

Kids and family events require registration that prioritizes child safety, parent communication, age-appropriate activities, and seamless coordination. Whether you're organizing birthday parties, family festivals, summer camps, or children's theater, your platform needs to collect parent contact information, manage age groups, and handle last-minute changes common with families.

Most family events involve collecting emergency contacts for all children, dietary restrictions and allergies, age-appropriate activity placement, and often sibling discounts. You need tools for parent waivers, photo permissions, medical information, and clear communication about drop-off/pick-up procedures.

The right platform provides kid-friendly interfaces (when appropriate), robust parent contact management, age verification for activity placement, and communication tools that reach busy parents. You'll want flexible cancellation policies (kids get sick!), sibling pricing, and merchandise sales for party favors or event souvenirs.

This guide compares the best platforms for children's events, family festivals, birthday party venues, and kid-focused activities.

Common Challenges

  • Parent emergency contact collection
  • Age verification and grouping
  • Dietary restrictions and allergies
  • Photo and video permission management
  • Sibling and family package pricing
  • Last-minute cancellations (sick kids)
  • Drop-off and pick-up coordination
  • Activity safety waivers
  • Parent communication and updates

What to Look For

  • Emergency contact fields
  • Age group management
  • Allergy and dietary tracking
  • Photo consent collection
  • Family and sibling pricing
  • Flexible cancellation policies
  • Parent communication tools
  • Safety waiver management
  • Activity capacity limits
  • Merchandise and party favor sales

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from kids & family events organizers.

What information should I collect about children?

Collect child's full name, age/birthdate, parent/guardian names and contacts (cell, work, email), emergency backup contact, allergies and dietary restrictions, medical conditions, current medications, and special needs/accommodations. For overnight events or camps, also collect physician info and insurance details. Store this data securely.

How do I handle photo permissions for kids?

Include photo/video consent checkboxes during registration asking parents if they allow: social media posting, professional event photography, promotional materials usage, and news media coverage. Make it opt-in, not opt-out. Track which kids have/haven't given permission. Photographers must check lists before posting photos of minors.

Should I offer sibling discounts?

Yes, sibling pricing encourages larger family participation. Common structure: first child full price ($25), second child 50% off ($12.50), third+ child 75% off ($6.25) or free. Or offer family packages: 2 adults + 2 kids for $60 vs $80 individual. Makes events more accessible for families with multiple children.

How do I manage age-appropriate activities?

Collect birthdates during registration and auto-assign age groups. Create separate activities for toddlers (2-4), young kids (5-7), older kids (8-10), and tweens (11-13). Clearly mark age restrictions for safety (bounce houses, crafts with small parts, etc.). Have backup activities if kids don't fit typical age abilities.

What if a child has severe allergies?

Collect detailed allergy information during registration including severity and EpiPen requirements. Flag severe allergies prominently. Communicate with parents about ingredients in food/snacks. Have dedicated allergen-free snack options. Train staff on EpiPen use. Keep allergy info easily accessible for medical emergencies. Some venues ban common allergens (nuts) entirely.

How do I handle last-minute cancellations?

Kids get sick frequently, so have flexible policies. Common: full refund until 48 hours before, 50% refund 24-48 hours, no refund <24 hours. Or offer credit toward future events instead of cash refunds. For recurring programs, allow reasonable makeup sessions for illnesses. Balance flexibility with planning needs.

What safety waivers do I need for kids events?

Include assumption of risk, liability release, photo consent, emergency medical treatment authorization, and supervision acknowledgment. For activities with injury risk (sports, climbing, etc.), add specific disclaimers. Parents must digitally sign as legal guardians. Keep waivers on file per your state's requirements (often 2-7 years). Consult a lawyer.

How do I coordinate drop-off and pick-up?

Clearly communicate times and procedures during registration. Collect authorized pickup persons list. Require ID check for pickup. Use check-in/check-out systems tracking arrival and departure times. For large events, use parent number tags matching child wristbands. Never release children to unauthorized persons, even if parent calls.

Can I sell party favors and merchandise?

Yes, offer add-ons during registration: party favor bags ($10-15/child), event t-shirts in kids sizes, souvenir photo packages, character merchandise, or craft kit take-homes. This increases per-child revenue significantly and ensures you have right quantities. Parents appreciate one-stop shopping vs bringing their own.

How do I make events accessible for kids with special needs?

Collect accommodation requests during registration (sensory sensitivities, mobility needs, behavioral support). Provide quiet spaces for sensory breaks. Ensure wheelchair accessibility. Train staff on inclusivity. Communicate clearly about event environment (loud music, flashing lights, etc.). Offer adapted activity versions. Many venues have specialized 'sensory-friendly' event times.

What's the best pricing for family events?

Offer both individual tickets ($20/person) and family packages ($60 for 2 adults + 2 kids, $10 each additional child). This works out cheaper for families of 3+ while capturing full value from couples/singles. Kids under 2 are typically free. Consider senior/grandparent discounts to encourage multi-generational attendance.

How do I prevent kids from getting lost at large events?

Collect parent cell numbers for all children. Use wristbands with parent contact info (name tags get removed). Designate clear lost child meeting points. Staff should be trained to keep found children at specific location and call parent. Consider number-matching system: parent gets #42, child wears #42 wristband. Never announce child's name over PA (safety concern).

⚠️ Child Safety & Legal Requirements
  • Background checks required for all staff working with children
  • Child-to-staff ratios must meet state requirements
  • Parental waivers and emergency medical authorization required
  • Allergy awareness and EpiPen training for staff
  • Mandated reporter training for suspected abuse
  • Photography consent and child protection policies
  • Secure check-in/check-out procedures to prevent unauthorized pickup

Related Industries

Community & Neighborhood Events
Educational & Academic Events

Ready to Find Your Perfect Kids & Family Events Ticketing Platform?

Compare all platforms side-by-side or explore other industries to find your ideal solution.

Last updated: March 3, 2026