Margaret Polf Park · Shasta Lake, CA · Sat, Aug 15, 2026 · Battle at noon
balloon goal
warriors
summers
thrown all-time
How a birthday became a war
“Make me the biggest water balloon fight ever.”
Seventeen years ago a little girl asked her dad for exactly that. They share a birthday — Bill and Katana Harris — and he's been delivering on it every summer since.
The neighbors joined. Then the neighborhood. Then the town. Today it's a Shasta Lake institution: face painting, bounce houses, and vendors all morning — then at noon the battle song plays, both lines let fly, and the sky goes dark with balloons.
One rule everybody learns fast — nobody watches from the sidelines.
The war chest
Harrismas is fueled by community support — the war chest is the ammo budget, and every $20 puts another 265 balloons in the air. Here's where 2026 stands.
265+balloons
one party pack — the opening barrage
$20
660+balloons
arms a squad all day
$50
1,325+balloons
a full bucket brigade
$100
$
custom drop
$20 min — every $20 is another party pack
Special thanks to
Harrismas 2026 wouldn't be possible without the donations of these local businesses.
Want your business on the wall? A $200 slot puts your logo on Shasta Lake's legendary water balloon war — bill@harrismas.com
Every dollar becomes balloons. Harrismas is a community event, not a registered nonprofit — donations are not tax-deductible.
Know before you soak
