Covering 24,000 square feet, it's been named by Guinness World Records as the "largest inflatable bouncy castle," but it’s still no match for a windy day in Florida.
About 10 minutes into the opening at Nathan Benderson Park on Jan. 12, The Big Bounce America had to stop the bouncing due to 20 mph gusts of wind.
“Our No. 1 problem is wind,” Logistics Coordinator Billy Jamison said. “We get to a certain mile per hour and we shut it down or the wind will take them (the bounce houses) with it.”
By Saturday, the wind had died down and the fun was in full swing. Foam blasted from the mouth of a puffer fish, future ninjas bounced a 900-foot course, and the DJ incited a kids versus parent dodgeball war.
With bounce houses that looked like an astronaut, a giant boom box and a sneaker, among countless others, there was plenty to see and eat, even on Friday when the castle had to be deflated.
Vendors were lined up selling cotton candy, kettle corn and every other treat a carnival could offer.
The 3-day event, which ran through Sunday, is not just for kids. The evening sessions were for adults only.
The bounce houses shut down due to high winds, but Bradenton resident Brody Pawelkoski, 3, got a quick bounce in beforehand.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lucca Domingues, 3, attends The Big Bounce America dressed as a "monster."
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Carter Schwartz is understandably upset that the bounce houses have closed down due to high winds. The 18-month-old is with his dad Chris, mom Megan and brother Cooper.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Nathan Benderson Park is taken over by the "biggest touring inflatable event in the world."
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Big Bounce America stops bouncing about 10 minutes in on opening day because of 20 mph gusts of wind.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Friday is the only day toddlers can bounce, so 2-year-old Nela Gvozdenovic and her mom Nicole are waiting out the wind.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The OctoBlast is not just a bounce house. Inside, there's a foam party and a live DJ.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
A row of tents offers every kind of circus or carnival treat guests could want.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Angela Davis is the "Snow Angel." She travels with The Big Bounce America serving shaved ice.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Kristina Waskom is with her 2-year-old granddaughter Gia Talkie. The pair traveled from Tampa to bounce.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
According to Guinness World Records, this is the largest bounce house in the world.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Foam cannons go off in the OctoBlast.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Passes include a 45-minute party inside the 24,000-square-foot bounce house.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Kids are throwing beach balls in the air and at their parents. The DJ incited a kids versus parents dodge ball war.
Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.
