Holiday World Unveils 2025 Operating Calendar with Longer Season and Returning Events

[DonHelbig]

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari has announced its 2025 Operating Calendar. 

https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-unveils-2025-operating-calendar-with-longer-season-and-returning-events/

[beastfan11]

Looking forward to checking out HW this summer for the first time. 

[Aaron88stang]

I have always wondered why HW does not do a Christmas event. 

[brenthodge]

On 12/17/2024 at 12:47 PM, Aaron88stang said:

I have always wondered why HW does not do a Christmas event. 

In a town called Saya Clause you’d think it a no-brainer?!

[WoodVengeance]

I brought this up in a previous online discussion, and something I've been told was that most holiday events at amusement parks need to draw more attention from their local passholders since not as many people are willing to travel out-of-state for holiday events. Of course there are exceptions to this like Dollywood and Silver Dollar City, but that's mainly because those parks have the budget to go all-out for their holiday events that no other park in the region can compete with.

Because of Holiday World's location being quite out-of-the-way for a lot of people, they wouldn't be able to draw in as much of a local crowd compared to parks like Kentucky Kingdom and Kings Island that reside in larger metro areas. Personally I don't agree with this, as I think it's close enough to Louisville that people would still drive an hour to go to Holiday World regardless, but that depends on how a HW holiday event would compare to Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom. Not saying they would need to go all-out like Dollywood, but just enough to grab attention outside of Indiana.

[BeeastFarmer]

7 hours ago, WoodVengeance said:

I brought this up in a previous online discussion, and something I've been told was that most holiday events at amusement parks need to draw more attention from their local passholders since not as many people are willing to travel out-of-state for holiday events.

 

I agree with this.  I live about 2.5 hours from both KI and HW.  I will drive to Louisville, but I wouldn't drive to HW...I don't think there is a large enough market for an event there.  They could do a small event for locals, but nothing extravagent.

I have not even been to WinterFest this year.  Tuesday would have been a perfect night to go, but I just didnt feel like driving 5 hours round trip for a five hour event, and I am a passholder for a couple more weeks.

[disco2000]

3 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said:

I agree with this.  I live about 2.5 hours from both KI and HW.  I will drive to Louisville, but I wouldn't drive to HW...I don't think there is a large enough market for an event there.  They could do a small event for locals, but nothing extravagent.

I have not even been to WinterFest this year.  Tuesday would have been a perfect night to go, but I just didnt feel like driving 5 hours round trip for a five hour event, and I am a passholder for a couple more weeks.

And yet people say KK having a Winterfest event competes with the greater Cincinnati local passholders of KI's Winterfest.....

[BeeastFarmer]

40 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

And yet people say KK having a Winterfest event competes with the greater Cincinnati local passholders of KI's Winterfest.....

I haven't heard much chatter about that. It's more about markets like Louisville, Lexington, Evansville and maybe Indianapolis that have been suggested.

[Buckeye Brad]

Regarding no Christmas event Holiday World, I wonder if the fact that it’s a smaller family owned business is an additional factor.

Meaning, the opportunity for the family to rest and focus on the upcoming summer might outweigh the potential income.  

In my experience family owned businesses often make different decisions than a larger corporation would make.