🎟️ Cultural FESTIVALS in AMUSEMENT PARKS: A Global Perspective

🎠 IAAPA’s Involvement with Culture and Society through Amusement Parks & Attractions

IAAPA stands out as a preeminent organization dedicated to the general public’s leisure experiences at various places of interest since 1918. As the largest global organization in this domain, IAAPA plays a pivotal role in collaborating with manufacturers and suppliers to ensure an exceptional guest experience at venues such as amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, cruise lines, and beyond.

Through its conferences, IAAPA actively contributes to enhancing these places of interest, focusing on creating delightful guest experiences and fostering the growth and knowledge expansion of the associated companies. Check out highlights from the IAAPA Expo along with the winners of the Brass Ring Awards!

👘 The Cultural IMPORTANCE & SIGNIFICANCE of Festivals

Festivals serve as a vibrant expression of our rich heritage, culture, and traditions. They provide a joyful platform to celebrate significant moments and emotions with our cherished ones. These celebrations play a pivotal role in shaping our social bonds, connecting us with our families and our roots. They offer a welcome escape from the monotony of daily life, reminding us of life’s precious moments and values. Festivals, from their inception, have been a means to pass down legends, knowledge, and traditions to the next generation.

Every festival holds cultural significance in its own unique way. Cultural festivals encompass a variety of types, including national, religious, and seasonal celebrations. Regardless of their nature, these festivals share a common goal: to infuse joy into our lives and reinforce our sense of community.

NATIONAL Festivals

These occasions unite the people of a nation, creating a collective bond. National festivals link citizens to pivotal moments in their nation’s history, such as its founding day, or independence celebration. Like in Europe, the commemoration of VE Day (Victory in Europe during WWII), is marked by numerous nations with public holidays. These celebrations fortify patriotic sentiments within society.

RELIGIOUS Festivals

These festivals hold a special place in family traditions. In essence, they serve to impart fundamental principles and ethics to future generations. Regardless of the specific faith, religious festivals convey a shared message of love, tolerance, and understanding. During these moments, we express our gratitude to God for the unique aspects or events associated with each festival.

SEASONAL Festivals

These celebrations mirror our relationship with nature and the changing seasons. They hold significance as they’re closely tied to our food supply and remind us to honor and appreciate the generosity of nature before enjoying its bountiful gifts.

THE GRAND CARNIVALE AT CAROWINDS THEME PARK

👨‍👩‍👧 BUILDING lasting MEMORIES with Family, Friends & Loved Ones

In the post-COVID era, an increasing number of people seek meaningful connections with their loved ones. Festivals have emerged as a powerful means to unite people, fostering a deeper appreciation for everyday life. Theme parks, catering to both children and adults, offer enjoyable experiences with additional points of attraction. Through diversity crafting a guest experience that promotes community unity through entertainment becomes crucial. Theme parks like Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and Tampa, Sesame Place, Disney, Cedar Fair, SeaWorld, Six Flags, Dollywood, Carowinds, Hershey, and smaller parks host festivals to connect people through cultural appreciation, celebrations, and observances.

Theme parks often exchange ideas with fellow parks at IAAPA Expo events like education sessions or right there on the IAAPA show floor! Collaborating with suppliers and manufacturers to enhance their theming concepts is a must. Creating a festival-like atmosphere within theme parks can be both innovative and enjoyable, and it doesn’t always require inventing entirely new ideas. Parks can draw inspiration from others who’ve successfully crafted engaging experiences that capture the essence of holidays and celebrations. In essence, it’s about adopting proven strategies rather than reinventing the wheel.

Guests are drawn to theme parks for the novelty of a fresh festival venue experience. This revitalization is crucial for parks facing declining attendance, as it keeps the overall experience vibrant and enticing. It attracts individuals seeking fun and excitement, breaking away from the same routine, and in turn, fosters connections between friends and families within the community through an ongoing festival-like experience.

🎉 Spread the Joy of Festivals across the UNITED STATES

Here’s a list of major theme and amusement parks to visit that have excellent cultural events and celebrations throughout the year:

💙 SOUTHEAST

• Six Flags over Georgia: Endless Summer Festival Series, Grad Night, Southern Star Music Festival, Oktoberfest, and Holiday in the Park.
• SeaWorld Orlando: Oceans of Flavor offers a fun event at SeaWorld. Everyone will be delighted with tasty cuisine from more than 200 distinct worldwide offerings.
• Carowinds: Grand Carnivale creates an international experience that has day and night events, a parade, food, and novelties.
• Kings Dominion: Music festivals.
• Dollywood: The queen of grassroots Christian & country music spreads kindness and love with ongoing festivals throughout the year. Festival of Flowers, Christmas in the Smokies, and “I Will Always Love You” are just a few of Dollywood’s amazing events.
• Busch Gardens Tampa: Kids can appreciate the events with Sesame Place and Christmas Town.
• Universal Orlando Resort: Universal Studios has a music festival series that helps spread education to students through music and performances performed by school bands, choirs, and orchestras.
• Walt Disney World: EPCOT is known for its festivals: Festival of Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food & Wine, and Festival of Holidays. Walt Disney World is filled with annual events. Jeff Galloway, a former Olympian who’s a pioneer with his well-known run-walk-run method is a huge participant in runDisney races for health and fitness. Between the running and the cultural festivals, Disney has so much to offer throughout the year to enhance your Disney World experience.

💙 MID-ATLANTIC

• Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Busch Gardens offers multiple holiday events, Bier Festival, and a Food & Wine, and Concert Series.
• Six Flags Great Adventure: Enjoy summer events, delicious bites, festivals, and fireworks.
• Six Flags America: Enjoy Oktoberfest events.
• Hersheypark: Offers concerts and shows to dining events, festivals, and seasonal activities. You’ll never run out of exciting and new things to do!
• Sesame Place: Sesame Place offers many fun and exciting events and activities for children throughout the year.

💙 NORTHEAST

• Lake Compounce: They have seasonal events throughout the year
• Dorney Park: Take in the sights, sounds, food, and cultural events at the International Grand Carnivale.
• Six Flags New England: Seasonal events much like the Six Flags family.
• Rye Playland: Take in a bit of fun at the summertime Renaissance Festival.

💙 TEXAS & The MIDWEST

• Six Flags Fiesta Texas: Spend time taking in seasonal events throughout the year including Grad Night. See what local culinary delights are cooked up to help support local vendors.
• Six Flags over Texas: Spend time taking the children to see lights during the holidays. Many other seasonal events are planned throughout the year.
• Galveston Island Pleasure Pier: Hosts many events throughout the year. If you plan on visiting Galveston take a look at exciting events and activities that are happening.
• Silver Dollar City: In spring take in Street Fest or Bluegrass & BBQ, and later summertime celebrations. During the fall enjoy country and gospel music as well as a harvest festival and in the winter an Old Time Christmas event.
• Kings Island: Seasonal events scheduled throughout the year.
• Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America: Seasonal events for families, kids, and adults.
• Six Flags St Louis: From holiday festivals and engaging educational events to live performances, SFStl always has the best opportunities to embrace local society and diverse cultural events.
• Cedar Point: Check out the spirit of the old Wild West at CP. Their street festival features live bands, entertaining characters, games & crafts, and festival foods.
• Holiday World: As the name implies Holiday World lets you celebrate the holidays that are near and dear to us all year long.

💙 WEST Coast

• Disneyland: You’ll want to stay on top of the many festivals and events Disneyland has planned throughout the year.
• Silverwood: Discover the various events that this beloved park in Idaho hosts to bring joy and excitement throughout the year.
• Six Flags Magic Mountain: There’s always fun things to do at Magic Mountain. They host wonderful holiday festivals and engagingly entertaining educational events in LA. Stay on top of the action to see what’s happening throughout the year.
• Oaks Amusement Park: Oaks holds various events throughout the year including a fun Ice Skating Pajama Party. Take free dance lessons and have a dance social. Practicing the two-step, cha-cha, waltz, and swing will get some exercise and make new friends at the park.
• Universal Studios Hollywood: Throughout the year Universal hosts many holiday events. Call ahead to see what’s going on when you plan to visit.
• Washington State Fair: The Washington State Fair in Puyallup hosts events and festivals all year long.

Hope this festival event list helps you to plan your next iHEARTdays celebration.