By Leah Koch
Published

Kitty PumpkinDear Guests,

As we finish up with daily operations for the 2020 season, I just want to stop and say thank you to everyone who has supported us this season. Thank you to everyone who was patient and understanding, and thanks to everyone who followed our rules and guidelines–even when they were imperfect. 

No one was prepared for a summer like this, but I’m proud of our Holiday World team and how we came together to give families a much-needed break from reality. 

We’re coming into our weekends-only operations, and some of you may just now be noticing that Happy Halloween Weekends was removed from the calendar this summer, and I want to address that directly. 

To put it simply, our event just wasn’t going to be Happy Halloween Weekends. We weren’t going to be able to open our signature walk-through attractions like Holidog’s 3D Halloween Adventure or ScareBNB. We weren’t going to be able to operate our hayride or any of our other special activities. Our traditional Halloween song-and-dance show wasn’t going to happen, and our decorations were even going to be reduced dramatically. 

We decided that all of these elements together were too important to our Happy Halloween Weekends, and decided not to move forward with the event. 

It broke our hearts. We dreaded making any announcements because if we didn’t announce it, maybe it wouldn’t be real. But it was real, so we did announce the shortened hours and the shortened season. If you’re a Season Passholder, you probably already saw our update in the middle of the summer with your updated perks. 

To be frank, this might have been the worst of all of the difficult choices we’ve had to make this season. And there have been a lot. 

But we’re hopeful that this fall and off-season are going to bring the world a little closer to right-side-up and we’re hopeful that our 2021 season can feel like any other season here at Holiday World. We hope that next year brings the return of Happy Halloween Weekends along with our other exciting events. 

The only thing I can say for certain is that our team will be ready to adapt to anything once again next year, and we’re excited to continue being a place where you can leave the outside world behind.

It’s what my family has been doing for 74 years, and we’re gearing up for year 75.

Sincerely, 

Leah Koch

Director of Communications and Fourth-Generation Owner, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

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19 Responses to “Happy Halloween Weekends Update”

  1. Daniel Leffert

    Very good leah. You are so good at what you do. S as y hi to all the family. We miss you all. See ya next year. Dan l.

    Reply
  2. Joyce a Wilson

    Great letter with much sincerity ! People and places like this is what makes the world a better place. One person and one step at a time brings together a lot of people who are making a difference a step at a time. Sincerely Joyce

    Reply
  3. Marian S Dunn

    You’ve done a great job in the face of all this tumult. Thanks for being one of my family’s favorite places and we wish all of you at Holiday World the best. We WILL see you again next year!

    Reply
    • Nancy

      We LOVE Holiday World and we thank you for ALL the hard work you’ve done this season!! We are thankful that we could enjoy the park this summer with our family. Looking forward to next season.

      Reply
  4. Lori Pierce

    It’s so sad. We were looking forward to Happy Halloween Weekends. The first time we were there for it was 3 years ago & enjoyed it so much that we said we were going every year. My daughter is 19 & her boyfriend and a friend came with us, they are 19 also, and had a great time. You all will be missed. Hopefully we will see you next year! Thank you for all the hard work the staff does for kids & adults to have such an amazing time.

    Reply
  5. Lavone Mangin

    Thank you for your heartfelt letter. You should be proud of your work in providing such a special place for many!! So looking forward to your 75th year!!

    Reply
  6. Steve Russell

    I just want to send a big Thank-you to everyone of you at Holiday World. You all adjusted and still brought to us a little break from the covid craziness and the shelter in place. I know it wasn’t easy but just know it was appreciated. Because to my family Holiday World is Family! We have been coming for over 15 consecutive years. Being platinum pass holders the last 5.

    Reply
  7. Peggy Summe

    Our family LOVES Holiday World and will continue to make the 2 plus hour drive to visit every year! Family tradition!!! Thank YOU for giving us and our kids some normality in a bizarre time.

    Reply
  8. Dan

    Too bad. My family enjoyed southern Indiana in the fall. You have a first class operation there. Hopefully see you next year.

    Reply
  9. Gwen Hamer

    I’m so sorry to hear this. Our family looks forward to the Halloween Weekends. I do understand though. Maybe you can pick it up next year.

    Reply
  10. Donna

    I really do want to thank you for being open this summer I work in the retail world which from the time that COVID-19 I have been in the middle of all the mess in the world I was very pleased with the holiday world opened me and my family visit each year and it was very nice to get away and just enjoy a day Thank you for being open in my time of need and we understand about the Halloween holiday world is a special place for me and my family and you all have made it special and we know next Halloween will be twice is glorious thank you

    Reply
  11. Jessica hazelwood

    Myself and my family heard about this event from friends and would like to check it out for some spooky family fun.

    Reply