Party planning guide for Austin and Central Texas

Party planning starts with four choices: the date, the guest count, the place, and the drinks. Lock those in first and the rest of your plan (food, weather, power, and budget) falls into place.

This hub collects every guide you need to plan a party in Austin or Central Texas, whether you have four weeks or four days.

Decide these four things first

1. The date

Pick a date and a backup date. A backup helps if your first choice is booked, or if your place isn't free that day. Once you have a date, book early: online booking needs at least 2 days' notice, and earlier booking gives you more choices.

2. The guest count

Your headcount drives almost every other number: food, cups, chairs, and how many machines and mixes you need. Count kids separately so you plan enough slushies and kid-friendly food.

3. The place

Home, backyard, apartment clubhouse, office, or park pavilion: each one works if it has the basics for a frozen drink machine.

• A standard 110 volt outlet on its own circuit for each machine
• A sturdy table, or our rolling machine cart (one per machine)
• A flat, solid surface (we can't set up on rock or gravel)
• A garden hose and water source ready when we arrive
• At a public park, a generator of at least 3,500 watts per outlet

4. The drinks

Each machine has two bowls, so you serve two flavors at once (or the same flavor in both bowls). Lime margarita was in about 63% of 2025 orders, and strawberry margarita in about 27%. Every mix is alcohol-free until you add alcohol, so any flavor works as a kids slushie. When one bowl is a margarita and the other a slushie, label each bowl.

Party math

Use these rules of thumb to size your drinks:

• One machine serves up to 100 guests. Bigger parties rent 2 or 3 machines, for up to six flavors.
• One mix serves about 20 guests.
• A margarita mix makes about 75 frozen drinks (8 oz each). Daiquiri, piña colada, and most fruit slushie mixes make about 50.
• A margarita mix takes 1 to 2 bottles (1.75 liter) of tequila.

For four or more machines, contact us. For the full drink math, read how many margaritas a margarita machine makes, or run the numbers with our party tools.

Guides in this section

Four-week timeline

The four-week party timeline breaks your prep into weekly steps, from picking a date to party-day setup, with indoor and outdoor checklists.

Rain and heat plan

The rain and heat plan shows you how to keep the party going if it rains, and how to keep guests cool and hydrated in Central Texas heat.

Small-space party

The small-space party guide covers apartments and tight spaces: where the machine goes, how to find a free circuit, and how to keep guests moving.

Last-minute party

The last-minute party guide helps you plan in a few days, with the decisions to make fast and a short shopping list.

Power for a frozen drink machine

The power guide explains why each machine needs its own circuit, how to use an extension cord safely, and what to know about generators at parks.

Party food menus

The party food menus give you a taco bar for 50, a Texas BBQ spread, a kid menu, desserts, and brunch, each with flavor pairings.

Party budget

The party budget guide gives you a percentage framework for a party of 50, ways to split costs with co-hosts, and places to save.

Party safety

The party safety guide covers keeping guests, kids, and the drink station safe from start to finish.

Start with the date

Pick your date, count your guests, and choose your place. Then build your drink plan and see your estimate in one step.

Ready to plan? Check dates and book online in minutes, or get a quick estimate first.