When a New York-based production company reached out about cold plunges for a three-day outdoor event in Hollister, California, the first question was simple: could we keep cold water available for more than 400 people, for three straight days, in the middle of a dry, open field?
We could. Here's how it came together.
The event
The site was out in the golden hills near Hollister, with rows of canvas bell tents for guests and not much else around. It was a multi-day experience, so the plunges couldn't be a one-hour novelty. They needed to be cold and clean from the first morning through the last afternoon.
The setup
We brought five of our Freeze XL tubs, each paired with its own 1HP chiller. I drove everything in myself on our truck and set up the station on the wood platform and outdoor rugs the production team provided, which kept the tubs level and gave guests a clean place to stand.
- 5 Freeze XL tubs with insulated lids
- 5 chillers with UV sanitation, one per tub
- Level platform and flooring so nobody was stepping out of cold water into dirt
Running a dedicated chiller on every tub matters at an event this size. If one tub gets heavy traffic, it recovers on its own instead of pulling the whole station warmer, and nobody has to haul ice across a field.
Three days, 400+ guests
The lids went back on between rushes to hold temperature, and the chillers kept the water cold through the heat of the day. When the event wrapped, I drove back out, drained everything, and packed up the whole station.
What event producers should know
If you're planning cold plunges for a large event, here's what I'd recommend:
- Plan about one tub per 50 guests for a multi-day event. This event ran five tubs for 400+ people to fit the budget, and more tubs would have meant shorter waits.
- Use chillers, not ice, for anything longer than a few hours.
- Confirm power and water early. Each chiller needs its own power source, and tubs need a water source nearby.
- Build a real platform. Level, clean flooring makes the station safer and look far better in photos.
Planning an event?
We deliver and set up on-site anywhere in California and ship rentals nationwide. See our event cold plunge rentals or request a quote with your dates, location, and guest count.