Bring A Friend Free: Breaking Down A Lesser-Known Pass Perk

Posted

Quick Reference

  • If you are a first-time Passholder, jump to Option 1 Below to learn how to visit on Sundays this season
  • If you have a 2023 Season Pass or Platinum Season Pass and get a 2024 Platinum Pass that’s paid in full, jump to Option 2 to learn how to bring a friend for Free on Sundays this season

 

2024 Season Passes are on sale and our current discount lasts through October 31. 

And we’ll let you in on a little secret about Season Pass prices. 

Season Passes start at the lowest price of the year each fall and gradually work their way up toward full price the closer we get to Opening Day in May. There are no flash sales or holiday discounts that will make you regret buying early. The lowest price is always right now.

And the savings you can get before October 31 can add up. Here’s how:

  • You can get a Season Pass for $155 by Oct. 31, 2023. If you wait until Opening Day, that same Pass will cost you $175.
  • Lock in a Platinum Season Pass by Oct. 31, 2023 for $190. By comparison, if you wait until after Opening Day, a regular Season Pass is $200.

Purchase now and you get more perks and lower prices. What’s not to love?

Our Season Passes unlock tons of great perks to use all season long, like in-park savings, discounted locker rental prices, and, discounted Bring A Friend tickets.

But let’s break down one of our Platinum Season Pass perks that often gets overlooked.

“Buy this Year, Visit this Year. Sundays during HHW (when paid in full)”

It’s only a few words on the benefits chart, but there’s a lot of unpacking needed to make sure you’re able to take full advantage of this perk.

Halloween All Stars at Holiday World's Happy Halloween Weekends

Option 1: Buy This Year, Visit This Year

Unlock By:

  1. Purchasing a 2024 Platinum Season Pass that’s paid in full (but you don’t have a 2023 Season Pass or Platinum Season Pass)

Everything you need to know:

This perk gives you the option to start using your Season Pass early. Instead of waiting for next May and kicking off the season with our Passholder Preview Weekend dates, you can get the fun started this fall and visit on Sundays during Happy Halloween Weekends.

How It Works:

We’ll process your 2024 Platinum Season Pass when you visit any Sunday this fall.

Just bring your printed voucher to Guest Relations and our Pass Photo Processing room to the left of the Front Gate. Then you’re free to visit any Sunday through the rest of the season.

OR

Option 2: Bring A Friend FREE

Unlock By:

  1. Having a 2023 Season Pass or Platinum Season Pass AND
  2. Purchasing a 2024 Platinum Season Pass that’s paid in full

Everything you need to know about this perk: 

If you’re not able to take advantage of our Buy This Year, Visit This Year perk, that means you’re already a Passholder. Since you already have a 2023 Season Pass or Platinum Season Pass, you’re able to visit any day during Happy Halloween Weekends this season, not just Sundays.

If you purchase a 2024 Platinum Season Pass that’s paid in full, you can technically use BOTH of your Season Passes. But you just need one to get yourself into the park.

So you unlock the rarest type of Bring A Friend ticket we have: the FREE Bring A Friend ticket.

How It Works:

On Sundays during Happy Halloween Weekends, you’re able to use your 2023 Season Pass or Platinum Season Pass to visit and let a friend use your 2024 Platinum Season Pass that’s paid in full to get into the park with you.

Double the fun by visiting with a family member or friend any Sunday through the end of the season.

2023 Season Passes Now Available
So what are you waiting for? There’s no better time to get a 2023 Season Pass!

Don’t forget! 

If you’re a 2023 Season Passholder, you can bring a friend for $29.99 on Sundays during Happy Halloween Weekends. If you qualify for option 2, you can bring one friend for free and another for $29.99! 

Sweepstakes: Enter to Win a Family Vacation Package and experience Happy Halloween Weekends!

Posted

Drones spelling out "Halloween in the Sky" with other images of Halloween, including a crescent moon, spider web, falling leaves, and a jack-o-lantern.

Halloween in the Sky is returning during Happy Halloween Weekends!

Holiday World’s family-friendly Halloween event returns with all the rides Guest love, plus Halloween shows and fun!

For a limited time, we’re giving away incredible prizes, including a Holiday World Vacation Package that includes free tickets, a stay at Santa’s Lodge, and more!

Just click “I want In” to sign up!

There are SO many chances to win!

Dozens will win a free pair of tickets and thousands more will receive an exclusive ticket discount.

Only the fastest will win the top prizes, but the catch is you don’t know when these prizes will go up for grabs.

Now is the time to sign up!

Want a better chance at winning the vacation for your family?

Share with your friends, get them to participate, and we’ll give you a heads-up so you’ll know ahead of time when these prizes go live.

Are you ready to enter? You can sign up to get started.

If you have questions about the sweepstakes, keep reading.

How do these sweepstakes work?

Sign up to enter and start sharing the sweepstakes! The more your friends and family enter, the earlier you’ll find out what time our grand prize will be up for grabs!

We’re giving away a Family Vacation Package to celebrate the return of Halloween in the Sky! Plus, thousands of exclusive rewards will be up for grabs soon. Sign up now!

What does a “heads up” mean?

Your “heads up” is how early you’ll be notified that our top prize is about to be available. You can build your “heads up” by getting friends and family to share the sweepstakes.

What time will the top prize be available to win?

That’s the secret. We can’t say.

Build your “heads up” to be one of the first to know when you can claim the Grand Prize. You can choose to be notified by text or email when you sign up.

Be the fastest and win the biggest prize!

Something In the Air

Posted

There are only a handful of days left to visit Splashin’ Safari this season. Kids World winds down soon.

But we’re not ready to close just yet – there’s still time left to visit in 2023.

That’s right. It’s almost time for our family-friendly fall event to boo-gin. We’ve had a few days where there’s a slight chill in the air. And Holiday World is about to be transformed into the perfect place to spend a full day of Halloween fun.

Happy Halloween Weekends are back starting Saturday, September 23

If you’ve never visiting during Happy Halloween Weekends before, you might not know what to expect. Let’s break down what you can only experience during fall, when we have shorter lines, cooler temperatures, and the lowest ticket prices of the season!

Corn Mazes

We have 12 acres of corn mazes located near Thunderbird. You can access them through the German American Bank Party Plaza and have the option to walk to the mazes or take our hayride and see our decorated hay bales on the route along the way.

There are two mazes to choose from once you arrive. An easy maze featuring a pumpkin overflowing with candy that’s perfect for families with young kids. And our regular corn maze that’s much larger and has a design featuring Kitty Claws!

2023 Happy Halloween Weekends Corn Maze graphic. The corn maze features Kitty Claws, a pumpkin, candies, and the words "Trick or Treat".

Our hayride and corn mazes are open from 11am to 4:30pm every Saturday and Sunday during Happy Halloween Weekends.

Funhouses

Another seasonal favorite during Happy Halloween Weekends: our funhouses.

Just like our corn mazes, there are two to choose from. Both located in the Christmas section of the park.

Families will love Holidog’s 3D Halloween Adventure located in the Holiday Theater. Just look for the water fountain with Christmas ornaments in it, and you’ll know you’re in the right place. Step inside with your 3D glasses and go on an adventure helping Holidog track down his Halloween candy.

If you’re brave enough, let our ghostly barker call you into an abandoned carnival. You’ll find it between Santa’s Merry Marketplace and the Star Spangled Scarousel. But watch your step. Carnival Chaos features startles, strobe lights, and occasional loud noises.

Free Trick-or-Treat Trail & Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin

Kids are free to wear their Halloween costumes during Happy Halloween Weekends, provided they follow a few simple rules. We ask that they be family-friendly (no blood, guts, gore, or revealing costumes), no masks that cover the entire face, and no weapons.

Stop by Splashin’ Safari Plaza starting at 4pm for our FREE Trick-or-Treat Trail. You can bring your own bags or buckets for candy. But if you don’t have anything, we’ve got you covered.

Near the end of the Trail, be sure to stop by and chat with Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin. He’s a big fan of naps most of the year, but at Halloween, his favorite thing to do is chat with everyone who comes to see him.

Be sure to stop by the Trick-or-Treat Trail and chat with Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin between 4 and 5pm.

Live Shows

If live entertainment is your favorite part of visiting in the fall, we’ve got you covered again this year.

Hoosier Celebration Theater is home to two shows during Happy Halloween Weekends: Kitty’s Dance Spooktacular and Halloween All-Stars. Visit HolidayWorld.com/Today on the day of your visit for show times.

And you know how we mentioned there’s been a slight chill in the air lately? That’s not the only thing you can expect if you visit on Saturdays this fall.

Think brighter. Do you have it yet? It’s our drones!

You can catch as our swarm of 400 drones return and take flight every Saturday during Happy Halloween Weekends for Halloween in the Sky! This new show is filled with tons of Halloween imagery in what we think is our best show yet.

Halloween in the Sky starts at 7:45pm on Saturdays and the best views are in the German American Bank Party Plaza.

How to Visit During Happy Halloween Weekends

If you’re planning a single-day visit this year, then our Pick Your Date Tickets always have the lowest ticket prices available. Using that calendar, you can get tickets to visit this fall for as low as $39.99.

But if you’re planning to visit next season – especially to take a ride on Good Gravy! Family Coaster – then you might consider one of our Platinum Passes. If you purchase a 2024 Platinum Season Pass that’s paid in full (not on our Easy Pay plan), then you can visit any Sunday during Happy Halloween Weekends this season for free. All our Season Passes are $45 off through October 31!

We hope to see you during Happy Halloween Weekends soon. It’s perfect for every ghoul and goblin in the family!

 

Enter to Win 4 Tickets & 2 Overnights at Lake Rudolph!

We’re giving away four tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari during Happy Halloween Weekends plus two nights in a Holiday Cottage at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph. Overnights at Lake Rudolph MUST be used on September 22 and 23.

There are several ways that you can enter to win our latest giveaway – including some options that you can choose to enter with daily. So be sure to enter through 8pm on Wednesday, September 13!

Reminder: Holiday World will never comment on a social media post telling you that you’ve won our giveaway. When our giveaway is over, the winner’s first name and last initial will be displayed in the giveaway details. Winners will be contacted at the email address they provided while signing in to earn entries.

Halloween Tips & Treats

Posted

Trick or Treat Turtles

In the fall, we answer lots of questions about Happy Halloween Weekends:

Are the water rides open?
We plan to have Frightful Falls open since it’s located in Holiday World, weather permitting (if temps dip below 60 degrees, it will probably be closed, because … brrr!).

Splashin’ Safari closes for the season on September 16.

Family in Corn Maze

Does the corn maze cost extra?

Not a penny! All the mazes, hayrides, Trick or Treating for ages 12 and under, shows, and extra Halloween attractions are included in your admission. By the way, as always: parking, soft drinks, hand “Santa-tizer” and sunscreen are free!

Just how scary is this?
Happy Halloween Weekends provide a family-friendly, not-too-scary experience. In addition to your favorite Holiday World attractions, we open Holidog’s 3D Halloween Adventure and Carnival Chaos (the latter maze does have some “startles,” so if anyone in your party doesn’t like sudden surprises – or friendly clowns – you might want to avoid it). We also have a 12-acre corn maze – but don’t worry, we don’t hide scary creatures in the paths.

Trick or Treat TurtlesAre costumes permitted?
Yes, they are! In keeping with our G-rated park atmosphere, we do have a few rules for costume-wearers:

  • Family-friendly only, please – no blood, guts, gore, or revealing costumes
  • No weapons (real or fake)
  • When riding rides, you will need to remove any capes, hats, scarves, wigs, handheld props/accessories, and anything else that might change the shape of your body or height

How deep are those discounts?
Tickets are only available online:

  • Tickets for Saturdays during Happy Halloween Weekends are $44.99 with Guests-under-3 enter for free!
  • If you visit on a Saturday and want to return the next day, stop by Ghost Relations for Next Day tickets, just $20 each
  • Tickets for Sundays during Happy Halloween Weekends are $39.99 with Guests-under-3 enter for free.

What else do I need to know?
Here are a few more tricks …

  • We open at 11 am CDT during Happy Halloween Weekends and close at 8 pm on Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday
  • We’re part of the Teal Pumpkin Project and provide safe treats for children with food allergies
  • Don’t miss our popular Halloween All-Stars show at Hoosier Celebration Theater and Professor Holiday’s Wacky Workshop of Wonders in the Christmas Plaza
  • Check out the Happy Halloween Weekends webpage for even more, including a link to our park map

Click on the checklist below to make sure your day is a treat!

We hope to see you and your little punkins soon at Happy Halloween Weekends!

6 Ways to Stay Cool at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

Posted

1. Stop by a Restaurant

One way we like to cool off and also take a little break, is to stop into a restaurant for lunch, dinner or even just a snack. Our family’s favorite is Santa’s Merry Marketplace. No matter what you’re craving, this place has it! With such diverse offerings, everyone was able to get exactly what they needed to enjoy while cooling off and fueling up for the rest of the day, on our last visit. We also enjoyed free ice cold unlimited soft drinks.

2. Enjoy Some Dippin’ Dots

A delicious, unique treat and also a great way to beat the heat, is Dippin’ Dots! These can be found all over the park, but the Dippin’ Dots Sundae Shop is a nice, air-conditioned way to enjoy this heavenly treat and is located in the Thankgiving section. They have a wide variety of flavors to try, but favorite this season has been Cookies & Cream!

3. Sip on a Lemon Shake Up

My go to treat every time the Fair comes to town is a Lemon Shake Up and I love that I can get this refreshing drink while exploring Holiday World. If you don’t want any break in the action, a Lemon Shake Up is a great way to cool off on the go! The stand is located in 4th of July, and they squeeze the lemons right in front of you to make sure it’s as fresh as possible.

4. Indulge in Some Ice Cream

I associate 4th of July with the peak of summer, and I think one of everyone’s favorite ways to beat the heat in July, is with a delicious ice cream cone! It’s just so fitting that Udderly Blue Ice Cream is located in the 4th of July area and is my son’s favorite treat to enjoy while cooling off. There are several tables with umbrellas to get out of the sun for a little while. On our last visit, we got the Birthday Party Cone, which is the most photogenic ice cream cone I’ve ever seen. Pair that with the Instagram worthy wall on the side of the stand, and you’ll be using #nofilter when positing the perfect picture.

5. Swing into a Gift Shop

There are shops in every area of Holiday World, and walking in to browse for a couple minutes is an excellent way to enjoy a little air-conditioning and get out of the sun. My husband always wears a hat to keep the sun out of his face, and if he forgets it, the gift shop is one of our first stops of the day.

6. Splashin’ Safari

I can’t talk about ways to cool off at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and not mention the absolute best way to cool off at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari! With your ticket, you get two parks for the price of one, and one of those parks is dedicated to keeping you cool! There is no right way to have the perfect day at the park, but my family likes to spend the first half of the day exploring Holiday World and then spending the afternoon cooling off at Splashin’ Safari.

Safari Sam’s SplashLand is hands down, my son’s favorite area. It has a wonderful splash pad area and a shallow pool with several different water slides. The whole area is perfect for younger children and the slides provide the perfect amount of fun for guests who aren’t quite tall enough or ready for the amazing larger slides and water coasters the park has to offer.

My husband, on the other hand, could float around the Bahari River, all day long. The river even has smaller tubes and life jackets available so our toddler can come along. My husband and son LOVE going under all the waterfalls and fountains. We’ve made great memories floating around the Bahari River and it’s definitely a top way for our family to stay cool.

 

Enter to Win A Pair of Tickets to Holiday World!

Be sure to follow the adventures of the HoliBloggers. Each of their blog posts will have a giveaway where you can enter to win two tickets to visit Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

There are several ways you can be entered to win. Click any option below to get more details to gain those entries. You can enter to win through some options daily!

Entries accepted through Sunday, September 10 at 8pm Central.

 

Reminder: Holiday World will never comment on a social media post telling you that you’ve won our giveaway. When our giveaway is over, the winner’s first name and last initial will be displayed in the giveaway above. Winners will be contacted at the email address they provided while signing in to earn entries.

This blog post was written by HoliBlogger Alli A.

Alli is a mother and a wife, a medical assistant, a traveler, and a lifelong Hoosier. She enjoys seeking out new experiences, spending quality time with her husband and toddler son, and using her platforms to share the adventures had. Her guilty pleasure is watching The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. However, she gets great satisfaction utilizing her Instagram to share tips and tricks of travelling with small children.