Holiday events at theme parks drawing families all over the US

I still think that it is too bad that Cedar Fair gave up on the idea of having a Christmas celebration at Kings Island so quickly. I know that it is winter time and it gets cold, but these events are fun for the family and could help Cedar Fair bring in a little extra profit during the off season. A small county run park called Crossroads Village near Flint, MI has had a Christmas Celebration for many years now. It is very popular and profitable for them.

Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane has turned into a tradition for our family. Yes it's my home park, but it's a good way for our family to get into the holiday spirit. It's even better now that it's included in the season pass price. They have a decent amount of rides operating, but no coasters. It's really good for the little ones. I'd suggest it too anyone.

Judging by the crowds there I am sure that they make a tidy profit off their Christmas Candylane.

I agree that Cedar Fair should consider some Christmas celebrations around the chain. Kings Dominion, and Carowinds should be a shoe in for something like that considering the weather in those regions this time of the year. What about Knott's? I am sure they could make a killin there! Even Dorney considering their weather is pretty much the same at Hershey's.

The Kings Island event was losing money from what I hear. I mean, how many years do you lose money before you give up? What assurance did they have that it would ever make money?

Coasterfantom2 said:
I am sure they could make a killin there! Even Dorney considering their weather is pretty much the same at Hershey's.

I remember reading a scan of some Q&A with someone from Dorney and they were asked if Dorney could have a holiday event. They said at the current time it isn't going to happen because Hershey has more indoor attractions.

Maybe now that they have the indoor theater at Dorney they would re-consider? I'd like to see Great Adventure try it as well since they have an indoor theater, and they could run Skull Mountain and The Dark Knight.

It would be nice to see 1 park in the area have coasters open. If it is warmer next week I am planning to go to Hershey but I hate seeing all the closed coasters and wish they would at the minimum open up Comet, Trailblazer and SDL.

Coasterfantom2 said:
I agree that Cedar Fair should consider some Christmas celebrations around the chain. Kings Dominion, and Carowinds should be a shoe in for something like that considering the weather in those regions this time of the year. What about Knott's? I am sure they could make a killin there! Even Dorney considering their weather is pretty much the same at Hershey's.

Knotts's already does "Knott's Merry Farm" from approx. Thanksgiving to Christmas every year. They have Christmas shows on ice, parades, a holiday crafts fair and offer free admission on select days if you donate a toy worth at least $10. Every time I have been there at that time of year the park has been packed so it seems to be pretty successful.

Coasterfantom2 said:

Kings Dominion, and Carowinds should be a shoe in for something like that considering the weather in those regions this time of the year.

Give it time for KD. BGE started their Halloween production 10 years ago and it didnt take long for KD to follow suit. Im sure Christmas may do the same..

Only major issue with KD is its not in a very high visited area (other than being off a major thoroughfare of I95), so people will have to make a point to visit for only a few hour event rather than bundle it with other activities. Since its typically in the 50s (and less in evenings) during this time, most rides wont be open so they cant leverage that as an added draw..

It will work for BGE because Williamsburg is a VERY popular spot during the holidays. So people have many activities to bundle in one for the holidays.

If Cedar Fair ever begins a Christmas event at the Point, Ontarians can snowmobile across Lake Erie . . .

Six Flags could profit on some Christmas events too. Do any of their parks have any? I know Great Adventure had one a few years back, and I am pretty sure it just lasted for one season.

SFFT, SFOT and SFDK have "Holiday in the Park" from 11/28-1/4.

I'm new to post but have been a reader for a while now. Hi to all and Happy Holidays!

I never understood why CF didn't try to get in on the Xmas season more, especially parks in the same climate region as Dollywood. There are lots of other holiday events outdoors that are really popular, many local zoos for instance. Kings Island should be as popular as Hershey Park I would think, but I don't have all the information that CF has.

I could see Cedar Point with Frontier Trail decorated as well as Frontier Town, train rides, kiddy rides, and Xmas shows very similar to Dollywood's Xmas event.

I know it's cold in Sandusky, but no colder or windier that Toledo or Cleveland and they both have outdoor events (lights) that are very popular. Skiing, tubing, tobogganing, and sledding are very popular and it is cold and windy on the slopes and that doesn't stop people from coming. Most December weather in northern Ohio is pretty tame except for the unusual arctic blasts.

I went to Dollywood this past March and on the Monday of the 1st operating week it was in the 30's and snowing big fluffy flakes while we rode Thunderhead for the 1st time. It was a blast! The ride operator said that it wasn't usually that cold in December, very unusual, but still not too cold to operate TH. The other two coasters were closed at that time though.

Jeff,

If I remember right, King's Island only had the holiday event open for one year. It was canceled before it ever opened the second year. I know that Cedar Fair was trying to save some money and there obviously is no guarantee that it ever would have made money (I don't think there's ever a guarantee in business), but I just thought that maybe they would have benefited from giving it more than one year to catch on.