A Disorganized Disappointment....
I rarely leave reviews, but after attending the recent Bubble Run event in Las Vegas, I feel like people need to be aware of how poorly this was handled.
Packet Pickup Chaos
We were informed via email that packet pickup was only available the day before the event, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. No flexibility. No other pickup dates. And the pickup location was all the way in North Las Vegas, which is extremely inconvenient for anyone living in the south. It would make a huge difference if they allowed earlier pickups throughout the week or had multiple pickup locations around the city.
To make it worse, if you couldn't make that tight window the day before, they charged $5 for same-day pickup. Honestly, it felt like a money grab, like they were intentionally making it difficult so people would have no choice but to pay extra.
Unprepared and Understaffed
When we got to the packet pickup line at 4 p.m., it was clear they weren't ready. Only one or two staff members were handling the line. We stood in 115°F heat for nearly an hour, surrounded by parents and kids who were clearly overheating and uncomfortable.
After finally checking in at one tent, they sent us to a separate tent to collect the rest of our items. It made no sense, why not consolidate the process and keep people out of the sun?
Event Day = Even More Chaos
The day of the event was no better. Long lines formed again mostly because so many people missed the short packet pickup window. The lines barely moved, and they clearly weren't staffed to handle the crowd.
Where Are the Bubbles?
The biggest disappointment: the lack of colored bubbles. This was supposed to be a fun 5K with colorful foam at each kilometer. Here's how it went:
* Start line: Just white foam - no color.
* Blue section: The only one that worked.
* Yellow, green, and other colors: No foam, no color, or the machines weren't working.
Most of the bubble machines were either malfunctioning or just not producing foam, and it completely ruined the main attraction.
Lots of Hidden Costs
They originally said parking would be $20, which was excessive (thankfully, they removed that charge). But with all the extra fees, $5 for same-day pickup, vague registration pricing, constant upsells it felt like they were nickel-and-diming attendees at every step.
People are more than willing to pay for a well-run event. But when everything feels like a trick or extra charge, it starts to feel shady. Just be transparent and treat your attendees with respect.
The Good Parts
That said, there were a few things I really liked:
* The medal: Super cute and surprisingly good quality. It was definitely a nice touch.
* VIP goodies: I loved the bottle of bubbles included in the VIP bag, fun and useful. The sunglasses were cool too and really helped under the sun.
* The shirt: Be warned - it runs really small. It's not made of cotton anymore, so the material fits tighter. Even if you normally wear a large, you might need to size up. I'm not overweight, and it was snug on me, and I saw other people struggling with sizing too. I just wish they had noted that clearly online so people could prepare.
Final Thoughts
This event had potential, but the lack of organization, heat mismanagement, broken machines, and hidden charges made it feel like a missed opportunity. If they can get organized, be transparent with costs, and take better care of their participants, this could be a great event. But as it stands, it felt more frustrating than fun.
I'm not sure I'll return next year, it just wasn't worth the hassle. read more