Guest Article
www.parkworld-online.com
Christmas is not cancelled Debbie Evans has the story
While COVID-19 has dampened amusement park cheer throughout the year, many parks are proceeding with holiday programming, taking steps to brighten the holiday with even more lights, moving live entertainment outdoors and offering limited ride packages where possible. And, while restaurant seating may be limited, there is plenty to celebrate on the culinary front.
During the holidays, the entire town of Branson, Missouri, is practically one giant holiday-themed amusement park. The self-proclaimed “America’s Christmas Tree City” is home to the nation’s largest collection of Christmas trees with an astounding 1,700 installations. A new “United We Stand” community Christmas tree adjacent to the Branson Ferris Wheel at The Track Family Fun Parks represents all 50 states in a gesture to unite the community and the country in a year marked by many challenges. The Track Family Fun Parks is also home to a new 7,200 square foot outdoor ice rink – the same size as the famous Rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Branson’s Silver Dollar City reigns as the four- time winner of “Best Theme Park Holiday Event” (as selected by the readers of USA Today in a national poll) in America. An elaborate eight-story animated Christmas Tree, over 6.5 million lights, a nightly light parade, and 30 daily shows on outdoor stages are joined by 1,000 decorated Christmas trees and of course, rides. Silver Dollar City is delighting guests with a complete holiday dinner and homemade desserts including holiday Red Velvet funnel cakes. Moving around the country, eight Six Flags parks including Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, will bring back Holiday in the Park. Visitors to Six Flags Great Adventure will be treated to an expanded holiday event with two new themed sections including Illuminated Animals, a light display paying homage to the amazing animals of the park’s Wild Safari. The parks’ new Jersey Devil roller coaster featuring RMC’s single-rail IBox track system will also be ready to thrill.
The sweetest place on earth gets even sweeter as Hersheypark celebrates Christmas Candyland. Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hersheypark dazzles with five million lights – the most in park history – in an event that wraps both family- friendly and high thrill rides, including the new Candymonium hyper coaster, live reindeer, and unlimited sweet treats to eat and drink. New themed lighting designs, more live lighted Christmas trees than ever before, and the addition of Merry & Bright - a nightly Christmas fireworks display - are all part of the 2020 edition
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of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Perhaps best known for award-winning live entertainment, Dollywood will continue with holiday shows and music taking the stage at both indoor and outdoor venues. The culinary team at Dollywood has whipped up an astounding holiday menu including seared trout, roasted pork tenderloin and too many treats to mention. Walt Disney World’s three Florida parks,
Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will celebrate the holidays with new activities including a Frozen themed scavenger hunt and sing-a-long, while California amusement parks remain closed due to local restrictions. SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration in Orlando will go on this year with three million lights, new shows, and physically distant seating for the show-stopping Winter Wonderland on Ice. SeaWorld parks in San Antonio, Texas, and San Diego, California, will also offer holiday programming though, due to local restrictions, rides will not be running at the California location.
Santa may be two meters (six feet) away, and wearing a mask, but he will still be bringing plenty of delights to amusement park goers in the U.S.
The Track Family Fun Parks, Branson, Missouri
An Old Time Christmas, Silver Dollar City
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Hersheypark celebrates Christmas Candyland
Hospitality industry veteran Debbie Evans has more than 25 years of training, marketing, public relations, and crisis communications experience. Her career has taken her from the floor of Germany’s largest travel trade fair to the top of Spain’s tallest roller coaster. She is the Principal, Evans Marketing Partners at website:
evansmarketingpartners.com.
DECEMBER 2020
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