Christmas in the Park ... in July

I can't take credit for this idea (it may even have been someone here at GTTP), but I think it's a great one.

Back in December, 1994 Cedar Point held the first and only "Christmas in the Park" It was a great idea where Park Plaza, Sweets 'n Treats, and the Midway Carousel were open to guests. A ride in a carriage with a tour through the park was also available.

The idea would be to bring back Christmas in the Park, but during the month of July. Expanding on that, I think a week-long period with a Christmas theme, say July 19-28 would be a lot of fun and a great marketing ploy.

If that doesn't fly, then bring it back in December! I thought it was a wonderful idea that was never given time to fully mature. I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but if the park were to put the same effort into "Christmas in the Park" as they do HalloWeekends, it would be pretty cool. Please see Exhibit A - Hersheypark's Candylane.

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Virtual Midway
2001 survey now online!
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Those kinds of events are thrown to help a sluggish attendance (ie end of the year).  Cedar Point has no problems drawing a crowd in July.

Though not an actual park event Christmas in July has always been a favorite event among CP employees. We would decorate our dorms, exchange gifts and, of course have yet another excuse for a party. Christmas in July is also very popular (or used to be anyway) in Sandusky. Many stores, restaruants and bars would decorate.

My first year working at Cedar Point was the year Avalanche Run opened. A bunch of us on "Christmas" rode the ride singing "Jingle Bells" and "Over The River and Through the Woods" God, I was a geek back then. Hey, at least it was an attempt, however futile, at giving the ride SOME purpose.

The same week I was at CP this summer, we made a stop at Put-In-Bay. Yes, Christmas in July is very popular. My friend shall return there every year, to get drunk and to show her... *family site*

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Tommy Penner - Future 2002 Season Pass Holder
v2.0 of coolFORCE @ http://coolforce.cjb.net
"It's kinda like selling your season pass for CP admission tickets."

Honestly, I wouldn't mind a winter event.  It would be a great way to maybe get some extra money (as if they really need it).  Since it is usually outrageouosly cold during winter months, I'm sure they could get away with just the main midway.  Open some gift shops, sell some hot drinks maybe, have an ice skating rink or two.  Open up the carousel.  Just a general holiday celebration.  When it gets dark or if it's only in the dark, Have the park decorated in lights.  There could be a tram that runs through the rest of the park for a light display :) or better yet a warm van...:) :)  I'd visit in December.
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Flisk,

The problem is that they tried that once and attendance was miserable.  If you haven't had the pleasure of being on the peninsula during winter...lucky you!  It can be pretty nasty.

Sea World in Aurora tried a Christmas event a couple of different times and it crashed each time. 

I think the people of Ohio are conditioned into staying away from the parks after October.

Then why does it work in Hershey? I don't buy the weather excuse. It's all about how it's presented and advertised.

As for why it didn't work before, I just don't think they put that much effort into it.

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Virtual Midway
2001 survey now online!
http://www.virtualmidway.com

*** This post was edited by Gemini on 11/1/2001. ***

I love the Idea!! Either way but Christmas is more appealing to me with the "real" winter theme

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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
mf laps = 100! No More No Less!!
Wheres the Electricity!

I think Christmas in the Park was a great idea. To make it work, I think they need something really big to draw the crowds. How about tens of thousands of Christmas lights with the worlds tallest (it's CP afterall) Christmas tree. Those of you old enough to remember the old Sterling Linder dept. store tree in Cleveland will get the idea. Combine that with many more lights on the buildings and grounds to create a true Christmas "wonderland". Bring in outside vendors and turn the ballroom above the main arcade into a Christmas crafts show. Retheme the CP&LE RR and turn it into the "North Pole Express" for kids. Install a temp. ice skating rink and have a holiday ice show. Run the sky ride to offer a birds eye view of the spectacular holiday lighting. Open the Midway Market with a holiday menu, especially the deserts, and have visits from Santa Claus. These are just some ideas to make a good event. If they do something, CP needs to really promote it, and make sure enough entertainment and rides are availble to spend four or five hours in the park. If done right, I think it could work and be built up over the years to make it a real Christmas tradition for people.

I wanted to go to the 1994 event, but it was nixed by my family who did NOT want to drive 2 hours to spend in the cold. I think if there were some "warmer" activities involved, they could draw more people in December (providing the roads are clear).

As for Hershey's success...don't they have a candy factory there? I would think that is why it's much more of a success.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

I would also prefer a December event as opposed to a July event, but I'll take what I can get :) Pete has lots of great ideas for the event.

As to why Hershey is a success, I think it has more to do with the tradition and the size of the event more than the factory next door. I think Duane lives in that area. Maybe he has some thoughts ...

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Virtual Midway
2001 survey now online!
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Hear that CP..Listen to Pete..He has some wondeful ideas and opportunities for ya :)

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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
mf laps = 100! No More No Less!!
Wheres the Electricity!

Down here the Columbus Zoo puts up thousands and thousands of lights (don't recall the numbers) and has a 5-6 week long event that every year draws huge crowds. They turn the kiddie train into a 'Santa Train', they build an ice skating rink, there are several small kiddie rides brought into the Zoo, there are pony rides, and they have log fires burning inside drums for folks to stop and warm up. They of course have Santa and craft activities for children to participate in. The petting farm is open and they even have a few reindeer. Most of the buildings are open and there are special events in some of those buildings. From what I have heard their attendance has increased every year for the event (we go several times each year). True the Zoo is not located out into a lake (though it is next to a small lake) but it still gets cold down here in Central Ohio.

Seems that it could work at CP if they would have enough for folks to do once they got there. No coasters (except for DT) but a few small rides could be running. 

I was about to comment on the columbus Zoo myself.  I have never been to the event, but I know many people who have and I hear it is really pretty cool.  I think it would be very possible to get something like this started at CP.  They would just need to do a great job of getting the word out and if they can do as good a job with the event as they do with anything else, I'm sure more people would come after hearing how cool the event actually is. 

Cleveland Zoo does the same thing sort of.  They advertise the heck out of it.  They gets lots of people every year.   I don't remember seeing any advertisements for Christmas in the Park before.  Maybe I didn't look for it.  Maybe that is why they didn't get crowds.  Lack of advertisement. I haven't been on the peninsula, during cold months, but I'm sure being out on the lakeshore in Cleveland which in itself is sort of jutted out into the lake is almost comparable.  I'm sure CP is a bit more brisk though.  I like Pete's ideas.  I don't think the Skyride could open though, Maybe if the Winter winds slowed down a bit, and it wasn't icy out.  If Lack of Ride Ops is a Problem, they could always hire holiday staff. Hire in November, and they are finished January?

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Mill Force - 25 laps (1 lap in a cold light snow 10-27-2001)
Magnum - 15
Gotta love that airtime on Blue Streak...

In Genesee County, Michigan, Crossroads Village has "Christmas a Crossroads" every year.  They decorate the park with a lot of lights, schedule local choirs to sing in the turn of the century chapel, run holiday themed shows, offer sleigh rides (or wagon rides if there isn't enough snow), run the carousel (in a heated pavilion) and open the stores and food locations.  They get great attendance at the park.  In fact their success with Christmas has gotten them to do celebrations for Halloween and Easter also.

What about the Coliseum? Open the arcade, use the ballroom upstairs for foodservice, or special holiday events-- a craft bazaar? storytelling? Santa's Workshop? String lights up to the Space Spiral for an Xmas tree kind of thing. CP & LE RR becoming a North Pole Express is a good idea-- Christmas in Bonesville?

It's a workable idea, it's just a matter of promoting the event properly to residents instead of tourists. Lincoln Park Zoo gets people to come walk around an open air zoo in December and January in Chicago, on the Lake, in part because they do an effective job promoting it. They get a big company, like Marshall Field's to sponsor the event, for instance.

Sounds like fun....

Anyone that likes Christmas needs too make Hersheyparks Candylane a must do (assuming it's feasible). Having gone there (usually on the Sat. right before Christmas, with a Sat. being the best day to go) for several years in a row now, I can honestly say the place is nothing short of spectacular. You can easily spend a full day enjoying all the attractions and it's not all that expensive. There's a good mix of things to do inside and out, including the zoo (North American Wildlife), the free Chocolate World tour ride (simulated), rides, shows, games and plenty more. Dress for the weather and you're good to go, as it just adds to the experience. There's no doubt that if CP decided to do something like this and put a serious effort into it, it would be a smashing hit.

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I was super before Superstew was cool!

Quick correction: The only small lake I can think of anywhere near the Columbus Zoo is "Wyandot Lake," which is not a lake, but a waterpark. The Columbus Zoo is on the East bank of the Scioto River.

I suspect that the primary reason Cedar Point hasn't brought back the "Holiday in the Park" event has a lot to do with the nature of activities that go on in the park in the winter...construction and such...and the desire to keep preparations for Spring on track.
On the other hand, if they had some kind of an event going on and made season pass processing possible at the same time, that might cause a significant attendance boost... :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Actually, in '94 I think you could get your season pass processed during the holiday event.  The major difference between the Columbus Zoo and Cedar Point in terms of a holiday event, in my opinion, is the proximity of the guests.

People in Columbus might drive a half hour or so to get to the park.  Sandusky is a good drive for most people and those folks won't be a big enough draw.  None of the hotels would be open on the Point, though the Radisson would be.  I don't know about Breakers Express.