The HoliDrone’s night flight

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Drone Selfie with Josh, Hannah, and Stephen

Last night was our final Friday Night Fireworks show of the season. Park guests watching the show may have noticed an additional flashing light in the sky. That was our HoliDrone!

Stephen, our Digital Media Developer (and drone pilot), lined everything up. He got a waiver from the FAA to allow the HoliDrone to fly after sunset, held a study session with Hannah the Intern and I, tested us on our new knowledge, and held a safety meeting with the fireworks team.

Drone Selfie with Josh, Hannah, and StephenWith all the hard work behind us, it was time to get ready for the show.

To make sure Hannah and I had enough time for our eyes to fully adjust to the darkness, we had to be in place half an hour before the fireworks started. Any exposure to bright lights like a back-lit phone was off-limits in that 30 minutes.

While waiting for the fireworks, we monitored the sky. Our chatter noting any air traffic we saw overhead. We needed to make sure there was nothing that would interfere with drone operations.

About 10 minutes before the show started, Stephen’s voice comes over my two-way. He lets me know a skunk just passed by him and was heading my direction! I inched closer to the corn field and away from the brush behind me.

My eyes scan the grass looking for any dark spots or a white stripe before returning to the sky.

I hear the first firework shoot into the sky to my left.

They’re surprisingly bright, so I shield my eyes. I have to keep the HoliDrone in sight and make sure nothing else enters the same air space.

It’s hard to be this close to fireworks and not be able to watch them, but we’re recording the show and will be able to watch everything shortly after we’re back in the Communications Office.

The big finale gets underway and the fireworks finish. The HoliDrone lands safely back on the ground.

Here’s the HoliDrone footage from the Friday Night Fireworks Show:

We got some great footage of the fireworks. And that skunk that Stephen saw never found me!

Podcast: Weather Warrior

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Ron Rhodes holding a photo of Marcia Yockey

We had an early morning, with Eyewitness News Meteorologist Ron Rhodes alternately presenting a fantastic forecast and challenging Matt to silly competitions.

You know, like this:

Afterwards, we asked Ron to join us on our podcast:

Ron’s a local guy and grew up watching the late Marcia Yockey forecast the weather.

We had a surprise for him.Ron Rhodes holding a photo of Marcia Yockey

Marcia visited us when we were known as Santa Claus Land.

She used to fly up here in that tiny helicopter.

… so we had some fun photos to share with him.

Marcia was quite a character (and that’s putting it mildly!).

She was on the air on TV stations in Evansville from 1953 until she retired in 1988.

According to an online write-up about her, Marcia once quit working for a TV station because they canceled her annual July 4 televised swim after the forecast.

And so this morning’s swim was dedicated to her!

Matt & Ron at Bahari Wave

Here’s another great photo of Marcia:

Marcia Yockey & Santa Louie

Here’s the link to our Rock the World Sweepstakes.

We were delighted to see WGN-TV’s Marcus Leshock’s feature stories about his visit!

First, his encounter with the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain:

… and then his story about his first visit to Holiday World:

Here’s the link to that CollegeCandy.com roundup.

Do you remember the lighthouse at our now-retired Thunder Bumpers on Chesapeake Bay ride?

Thunder Bumpers ion Chesapeake Bay

To give you your bearings: this spot is now occupied by our Firecracker ride and the Three-Point Challenge game.

Jon Green is one heck of a photographer:

 

And Coaster Crew once again takes it over the top:

And finally, here are the sisters with their sound makers:

Leah's oboe and Lauren's squeaky toy

Here’s another reminder that we’re open daily through August 8. We hope to see you soon – come on in, the weather’s fine!

Sweepstakes: Rock the World with For King & Country!

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Rock the World Logo

Congratulations to our winner: Erin O. from Indianapolis!
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Rock the World, our Christian Music Fest, is just a month away.

For King & Country headlines the all-day fest on August 25, and we’re giving away a great prize package to celebrate!

For King & Country Headlines Rock the World 2018!

Here’s our full list of main-stage artists:

  • For King & Country
  • We Are Messengers
  • 7eventh Time Down
  • Ginny Owens

Enter this sweepstakes daily from now through August 16 and you could win four Rock the World tickets (which include admission to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari) plus overnights on August 24 and 25 in a Rudolph’s Christmas Cabin at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort.

Rudolph's Christmas Cabin

Rudolph’s Christmas Cabin at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort

Before you enter, please read through these instructions and rules:

  • You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Also, you must not have won tickets from Holiday World in the past 12 months.
  • Employees of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Koch Development Corporation, Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Sun Communities, and Sun RV Resort (and the immediate family members of employees) are not eligible to enter.
  • By entering, you agree to be added to our Rock the World e-newsletter list. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the directions in your email.
  • Use the widget, below, to enter daily. There are lots of options, so you can earn extra entries by posting here on our HoliBlog and tweeting about this sweepstakes. Earn even more entries by following us on Pinterest, and visiting our Facebook pages (we’d love it if you’d leave us a Facebook Review while you’re there!).
  • If you win, please note you must be at least 21 to phone in your two-night Christmas Cabin reservation for August 24 and 25, 2018 at Lake Rudolph.
  • All prizes are non-transferable and not for re-sale. Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s). Each sponsor will distribute respective prizes.
  • For the “post a comment on the blog” entry option, simply tell us which Rock the World artist you’re most excited to see perform. (Our comments are moderated, so as long as the content is HoliFriendly, it will appear soon.)
  • Did you know you can subscribe to our HoliBlog so that you receive all of our posts (including contests) by email? If you’re using a desktop computer or tablet, look for the “Subscribe to Blog” sidebar at the top-right corner of this page. On a smartphone? Just scroll down a tiny bit more to find it.

Ready to enter?

Simply enter our sweepstakes here from a mobile device; or if you’re on a desktop, enter by using the widget, below. And not just today – enter daily through Thursday, August 16, 2018, at 2:30pm CDT, when we’ll email our winner, chosen at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Although we’ll only have one winner, everyone can take advantage of this lodging deal from Lake Rudolph: Save $20 per night on vacation rentals at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort on August 24 and 25. Call 1-888-929-7010 or book online and mention promo code LARRTW.

Premium Tickets for Rock the World are just about to sell out – if you like the thought of a Meet & Greet with our artists, a reserved seating area right up by the stage, plus an event shirt, be sure to check them out today!

Good luck to all! We hope to see you on August 25, as together we Rock the World!

Sweepstakes: Cool treats

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Udderly Blue Ice Cream

Congratulations to our winners, chosen at random: Heather R. from Lindenhurst, New York; Sean B. from New Albany, Indiana; and Tarina L. from Indianapolis. Thanks to all who entered!
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What are your favorite treats when you want to cool off on a July day?

This cute little girl has the right idea:

Udderly Blue ice cream

As summer starts winding down, let’s give away a pair of 2018 one-day tickets to three lucky winners – how does that sound?

And as a bonus, each of the winners will also pick up an ICEE Swag Bag when they visit:

ICEE swag

Ready?

First, please read through these instructions and rules:

  • You must be at least 18 years old to enter and you must not have won tickets from Holiday World in the past 12 months. Employees of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and Koch Development Corporation  (and the immediate family members of employees) are not eligible to enter.
  • By entering, you agree to be added to our e-newsletter list (you may unsubscribe at any time by following the directions in your email).
  • Use the widget, below, to enter daily. There are lots of options, so you can earn extra entries by posting here on our HoliBlog, tweeting about this contest, choosing a poll response, and visiting us on our Facebook page.
  • For the “post a comment on the blog” entry option, simply tell us which keep-cool treat is your favorite. (Our comments are moderated, so as long as the content is HoliFriendly, it will appear soon.)
  • Tickets are non-transferable and not for re-sale. Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s). ICEE Swag Bags will be available for pick up when winners use their one-day tickets during the 2018 season.
  • Did you know you can subscribe to our HoliBlog so that you receive all of our posts (including contests) by email? If you’re using a desktop computer or tablet, look for the “Subscribe to Blog” sidebar at the top-right corner of this page. On a smartphone? Just scroll down a tiny bit more to find it.

Ready to enter? Simply enter by using the widget, below. And not just today – enter daily through Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at 2:30pm CDT, when we’ll choose three winners at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all! (And remember, our best discounts are available online, with our Pick Your Price deals.)

360 degrees of fun

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Thunderbird 360° Front-Thumbnail

We’ve been having a ball with our new video camera, which provides a view of 360 degrees around your virtual seat.

If you’ve just discovered how fun it is to play around with these videos, here they are all together:

First, our Halloween coasters

And then into Thanksgiving for The Voyage and Thunderbird.

All 360 degrees

Thunderbird’s left seat, up front:

And right side, from the back seat:

Now that you’ve ridden all of our coasters virtually, don’t you think it’s time to ride them in person? (Our best discounts are available online, with Pick Your Price discounts available daily.)

Podcast: The One with the Sharkey

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Roy G. Biv

Robert SharkeyJust when you thought it was safe to go back in the theater …

… it’s Sharkey Week here at Holiday World!

Robert Sharkey, that is.

He’s been in our musical shows on and off since 2010 and has a lot of stories to share.

 

Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s told Sharkey he has a Mickey Rooney vibe.

Mickey who?

This guy:

Judy & Mickey

Yes, that’s Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, above.

And here’s Sharkey with Leah, below.

Sharkey & Leah

Speaking of “over the rainbow”

… Sharkey is Roy G. Biv in our new band:

Roy G. Biv

… and here he is in our new Mysterio show (use this Facebook frame effect to surround your photos with Mysterio):

Mysterio: Magic Rocks the Night

Have you entered our ICEE Mix It Up Sweepstakes yet? Enter daily through Monday, July 16.

Three cheers for our Rides Crew on their perfect score!

Attractions Team

Which parks are most essential? Here’s UpRoxx’s list for the Midwestern states.

A visit from the NBA’s D’Angelo Russell:

Family @holidayworld

A post shared by D’Angelo Russell (@dloading) on


“Hey, Dog!”

 

Here’s that “ice sculpture” photo:

Too much Star Trek?

Never!


And Coaster Crew is back with more Big Green Footery:

 

Remember, just three more Fridays left in this season’s Friday Night Fireworks – hope to see you there!

Enter our ICEE Mix It Up Sweepstakes!

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ICEE flavors

ICEE Bubble YardsCongratulations to our winner: Gabrielle H., from Farmland, Indiana. Thanks to all who entered!
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Are you an ICEE fan?

Or maybe even an ICEE Mix It Up fan?

We offer 12 ICEE flavors at our ICEE Mix It Up stand in Splashin’ Safari Plaza:

  • Blue Raspberry
  • Red Cherry
  • Grape
  • Big Red
  • Lemonade
  • Banana
  • Green Apple
  • Pepsi Cola
  • Blue Cotton Candy
  • Orange
  • Mountain Dew
  • Watermelon

This is ICEE’s 50th year in business … or 50th ICEEversary, as they say.

So let’s have a sweepstakes to celebrate!

What’s the prize?

You could win a family getaway! The prize includes four one-day tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. The winner, chosen at random, will also receive two overnights in a Holiday Cottage at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort!

And look – there’s more! Our friends at ICEE want the winner to also receive this:

ICEE swag

We start off with an ICEE duffel bag. It’s stuffed with:

  • Colorful ICEE beach towel
  • ICEE “Old School Cool” sign
  • ICEE Popsocket
  • Small plush bear drinking ICEE
  • ICEE Frisbee, Stickers, Pen, and Keychain

Before you enter, please read through these instructions and rules:

  • You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Also, you must not have won tickets from Holiday World in the past 12 months.
  • Employees of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Koch Development Corporation, Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Sun Communities, and Sun RV Resort (and the immediate family members of employees) are not eligible to enter.
  • By entering, you agree to be added to our e-newsletter list. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the directions in your email.
  • Use the widget, below, to enter daily. There are lots of options, so you can earn extra entries by posting here on our HoliBlog and tweeting about this sweepstakes. Earn even more entries by following us on Pinterest, voting in our poll, and visiting our Facebook pages (we’d love it if you’d leave us a Facebook Review while you’re there!).
  • If you win, please note you must be at least 21 to phone in your two-night Holiday Cottage reservation at Lake Rudolph. The cottage will be reservable for dates between now and August 9, 2018.
  • All prizes are non-transferable and not for re-sale. Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s). Each sponsor will distribute respective prizes.
  • For the “post a comment on the blog” entry option, simply tell us which ICEE flavor you want to try. (Our comments are moderated, so as long as the content is HoliFriendly, it will appear soon.)
  • Did you know you can subscribe to our HoliBlog so that you receive all of our posts (including contests) by email? If you’re using a desktop computer or tablet, look for the “Subscribe to Blog” sidebar at the top-right corner of this page. On a smartphone? Just scroll down a tiny bit more to find it.

Ready to enter?

Simply enter our ICEE Mix It Up  sweepstakes here from a mobile device; or if you’re on a desktop, enter by using the widget, below. And not just today – enter daily through Monday, July 16, 2018, at 2:30pm CDT, when we’ll email our winner, chosen at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all!