Digital Opening Day

Welcome to our 2020 Digital Opening Day

On Saturday, May 2, 2020, we brought our Front Gate to your front door with our Digital Opening Day. We posted new content each hour throughout the day to celebrate the day we would normally welcome Guests back to our part.

That day is presented below for you to enjoy in its entirety now.

You can still share any pictures or videos with us using #MerryMemories.

9pm – Thank You For Joining Us Today

We’re so happy you took part in our Digital Opening Day and can’t wait to welcome you back into our parks again.

At Holiday World, we have a proud tradition of thanking our Guests for visiting and wishing them a goodnight as they leave the park each and every day of the season. We didn’t want that tradition to go unfulfilled today, so some of our full-time staff put together these goodbye messages.

As we say goodnight on our Digital Opening Day, we want to thank all of our fans that have tuned in throughout the day. Though this year looks different, our excitement for the season remains the same.

We know we’ll see you again when the time is right.

Message on the fountain in Christmas Plaza:

Since 1946, four generations of our family have celebrated the magic of Christmas with our Guests. We’re grateful to be part of every child’s smile and every wonderful memory made here. This fountain is dedicated to all who have visited this park in the past, on this day, and for generations to come.

-The Koch Family

8pm – It’s Time for A Fireworks Show!

As Digital Opening Day draws to a close, we wanted to light your spirit with one of our previous Firework shows.

You don’t even have to head to the Thanksgiving section for the best views of this show. The video is available on Facebook and Youtube if you have a smart TV you’d like to enjoy it on!

Enjoy the show!

7pm – Appreciation Hour

Spend this hour of our Digital Opening Day saying “Thanks” to those who have kept us going during this time.

This is your chance to write letters to healthcare, supermarket, and retail workers to show them your appreciation. We’re so grateful for all of “Santa’s Helpers” and the work they’re doing.

Express your gratitude using stationery that we put together. There’s a template to help you write your letter – and for our younger fans – plus, a blank letter that you can customize.

6pm – Jumbo Sugar Cookies, An Evening Snack

It’s time for a sweet treat and our Marketing Director Ashley and her daughter Wren (Director of Cookies) are here to show you how to make our Jumbo Sugar Cookies. Scroll down for the ingredients, recipe, and a video you won’t want to miss!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of butter, softened to a cool room temperature
• 1 and 1/3 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup or pure vanilla extract
• 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Sprinkles for rolling

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. If the cookies spread and flatten too much while baking, try increasing the temperature to 375 degrees. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with handheld electric mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Add the egg and light corn syrup and mix again for 1 to 2 minutes until the batter lightens in color. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
6. Scoop the cookie dough into rounded balls. For jumbo cookies, make them slightly smaller than a tennis ball. For smaller cookies, about 2 tablespoons in size. I use my #40 cookie scoop. If you make the cookies smaller, heat the oven to 375 degrees F. This recipe works better for larger cookies like you find at Holiday World. Roll in granulated sugar or sprinkles and place on the prepared baking sheets. Be sure to spread the cookies out on the sheet.
7. Bake for 11 to 15 minutes until slightly crackly on top, but not too much color around the edges or bottom to keep them soft and chewy.
8. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
9. The most important step. Enjoy those cookies!

Now that you’ve seen the sweetest treat we have to offer, how about conquering our Foodie Word Search. It’s the toughest Word Search in Holidog’s Digital FunTown and features treats from both parks. Click below to download the puzzle and get started now.

Want to check your work or find a word that you can’t locate? Here is the solution.

If you missed it earlier, be sure to check out our #HomemadeHoWo video to learn how to make your favorite Holiday World treats.

Share pictures of any treats you make today on social media using #MerryMemories

5pm – It’s Time for More Rides

It’s time to take another lap around Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

Your favorite rides and slides are calling!

Use this interactive park map to head to your first ride now.

Just click on any numbered bubble or attraction name in the map legend to board your first ride!

Plus, don’t forget to print out your own Flat Santa to take a picture with!

For a more in-depth experience, we also have 360 videos. When you watch these videos on your phone, feel free to look around and watch as the video view responds! You can ride The Raven, The Legend, Wildebeest, The Voyage, Thunderbird (Left Side), Thunderbird (Right Side), and Cheetah Chase! Or just hit play below and ride them all.

These virtual rides may be great, but nothing is as good as actually being here.

We’ll see you again soon!

4pm – Enter to Win Holiday World Tickets

We picked a winner for our Merry Memories Sweepstakes at 9pm on Digital Opening Day.

Be sure to visit the HoliBlog to see any current sweepstakes we’re currently running!

Plus, you can color your own Holiday World skyline now with this coloring sheet. You can share your finished picture with us on social media using #MerryMemories

3pm – Explore Holidog’s Digital FunTown!

Holidog has put together tons of great activities for kids and kids at heart in his Digital FunTown. That includes puzzles, magic tricks, coloring sheets, virtual ride videos, and so much more.

His favorites are the Get Up & Move videos! Check out this super-cut of the exercises.

Holidog can’t wait to see all of his friends back in the park again, especially in FunTown and Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch!

Speaking of the Ranch, can you help Holidog find all of Santa’s Reindeer in the word search below? Click the puzzle to download the full-sized version to print.

If you get stuck and need some help, click here to see the solutions to the puzzle!

Share your favorite pictures with Holidog on social media using #MerryMemories

2pm – Magic with Comedy Illusionist Brandon Baggett

Are you ready for some magic? Then sit back, relax, and enjoy the LOL Comedy Magic Show!

You can also find Brandon in our new Magic@Home video series with Professor D.R. Holiday and learn tons of great magic tricks to perform right at home with items from around your house.

Amaze your friends and family when you:

• Make An Apple Change Colors
• Make Ice Instantly
• Make Popcorn Instantly
• Make A Quarter Disappear
• Make A Quarter Multiply

Click below to see each of those tricks now!

Now that you’ve seen the magic in action, click here to head over to Holidog’s Digital FunTown to learn the secrets behind the tricks.

1pm – Try Your Hand At A Game

Step right up!

This hour calls for a challenge.

Recreate your favorite Holiday World game and share with us with #HomemadeHoWo.

Here’s our Games Director, Michael, recreating a game right at home.

Sawyer looks like he’s ready to challenge the Three Point Challenge once we reopen!

Now pick up your Turkey Caller as we head over to Gobbler Getaway for a turkey chase. It’s your turn to save Thanksgiving!

Are you a Master Turkey Caller?

12pm – Grab Some Lunch

It’s time to whip up some of your favorite treats from Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari!

Our full-time staff is here to guide you through the process with our #HomemadeHoWo video series. Learn how to make Soft Pretzels, Funnel Cake, Caramel Apples, Fried Avocado, and Frozen Hot Cocoa.

Select one of your favorite recipes above, or hit play now to see them all.

Or head on over to the HoliBlog to learn how to make our famous green beans from Plymouth Rock Cafe.

Stay tuned. At 6pm, we’ll share a video to show you how to make our famous Jumbo Sugar Cookies! Here are the ingredients you’ll need when we get started:

• 2 sticks of butter, softened to a cool room temperature
• 1 and 1/3 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup or pure vanilla extract
• 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Sprinkles for rolling

Share photos of your HomemadeHoWo treats with us on social media using #MerryMemories

11am – Zoom Podcast

Join us for a special, socially-distanced episode of the Holiday World Podcast!

We discuss Digital Opening Day, our new Digital FunTown, and cooking Holiday World treats at home.

The PodSquad also shares their favorite Opening Day traditions and what they’re most looking forward to when we return.

Plus, baby Blake makes her first appearance!

10am – Our Digital Front Gates are Now Open!

The virtual ropes have dropped and Holiday World is open for the 2020 season.

You can head on into Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch, make your way toward 4th of July, or head back to Thunderbird for the first flight of the day. Click on any numbered circle on the park map or choose an attraction’s name from the map legend to take your virtual rides now.

You can also choose any of our Spotify playlists to hear music from around the park, download your own virtual Santa Statue for pictures, and enter our Merry Memories giveaway.

There are no lines for any attraction, so you can begin your Holiday now!

9:30am – Employee Appreciation Moment

At 9:30 on Opening Day, many of our employees are finishing up morning cleaning, our maintenance team is inspecting, and many other employees are just getting ready to clock in to run rides, restaurants, games, and more.

To our seasonal Team Members specifically, thank you for your patience during this time.

We know you’re missing our scheduled Opening Day as deeply as we are, but we can’t wait to see you soon.

We dedicate this day to you.

9am – Welcome to Digital Opening Day

Thank you for joining us as we kick off our 2020 season online!

While we’re waiting for the rides to start, you can click on the picture below to download your very own Flat Santa. You can color and take a picture with him as you’re celebrating our Digital Opening Day today. And then share your pictures with us on social media using the hashtag #MerryMemories

It’s almost time for our Digital Front Gates to open. Your Holiday World Digital Opening Day adventure is about to begin!

Check back each hour for more activities and videos as we celebrate the start of our 2020 season. Plus, don’t miss our fireworks show tonight at 8pm – it’s set to the sounds of Christmas music!

Thank you for visiting!

We’re counting down the days until we open our Gates again. Stay up to date on park announcements and updates by subscribing to our e-newsletter!

Our Guests, team, and community have always been among our biggest cheerleaders. If you’re looking for ways to support our family-owned and locally-operated parks, consider buying HoliCash. It’s a great option and can be used throughout both parks to purchase admission tickets, food, and merchandise. It’s valid for 36 months after purchase.

To purchase HoliCash before your visit, you can order HoliCash Gift Cards online or by calling 1-800-467-2682.

Visit HolidayWorld.com/COVID-19 for the most updated information on our 2020 season.