NEWPORT, Ky. — The official ribbon cutting for Newport Aquarium’s new exhibit, Jellies: Go with the Flow was held today in partnership with local and state elected officials. The new $1.5 million, 1,700 square foot exhibit represents the first physical expansion of the aquarium in more than 15 years. The space, designed to be a tranquil, relaxing escape, will feature more than 100 jellyfish from six unique species, floating in over 1,500 gallons of water.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the exhibit with “behind the glass” tours designed to show how the Newport Aquarium animal care team propagates these amazing creatures. The new space is particularly unique because it looks different from the rest of the aquarium in look, color and overall tone. The vibrant colors throughout the space make it a highly “instagrammable” opportunity for guests. The exhibit lends itself to a truly educational experience for kids of all ages as well as adults curious to learn more about the important roles jellies play in oceanic ecosystems.

“’Jellies: Go with the Flow’ is a direct response to visitors who provided feedback and requested this very type of exhibit,” said Rebecca Foster, Executive Director, “This will be a truly immersive experience that will amaze, entertain and most of all, educate our visitors. This exhibit demonstrates our commitment to bringing new and innovative opportunities for guests to have a truly transformative educational experience with every visit.”

The exhibit will include seven habitats filled with more than 1,500 gallons of salt water. In the water lives nearly 100 jellyfish in total with six different species represented, including:

• The South American sea nettle (Chrysaora plocamia): This species can grow up to 10 ft. flowing tentacles.
• Upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea spp.): This unique species lives upside-down to help photosynthesize the algae in its tissues.
• The dwarf lion’s mane (Cyanea versicolor): Never-before-seen in the Cincy region, these jellies are sometimes called “ghost jellyfish” due to their translucent appearance.
• Blue blubber jellyfish (Catostylus mosaicus): A brightly colored species that pulses and undulates in a distinctive staccato pattern.
• White spotted jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata): This species, named for their signature white spots on their bells, adds extra color and pizzazz to the exhibit.
• Moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita): A guest favorite for its hypnotic rhythmic motion. This translucent species is relocating to the new exhibit, where three of its life stages will be on display.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Get ready for an exhilarating experience like no other! Five Star Parks, the largest owner and operator of family entertainment centers in America, is excited to announce the opening of its new Malibu Jack’s location. The world-class indoor theme park, located in the heart of North Richland Hills, TX will span an impressive 137,000 square feet – the largest indoor theme park in the state.

“The opening of Malibu Jack’s in North Richland Hills is a big moment for Five Star Parks, and we’re beyond excited to welcome the community to our newest location this summer,” said John Dunlap, CEO of Five Star Parks. “With so many incredible attractions to enjoy, we’re certain that it will quickly become the go-to spot for families seeking fun and adventure.”

Malibu Jack’s North Richland Hills will offer something for everyone! For groups, the venue will feature 12 family-friendly lanes of Duckpin Bowling, an innovative twist on traditional bowling that is fun for all ages. For thrill-seekers, the park will include an enormous 30,000 square-foot indoor go-kart track, the Cowabunga spinning roller coaster, the Jumpin’ Jacks Drop Tower, and the zero gravity Whirlpool ride with a dramatic floor drop. For kids, there will be an exciting Pedal Kart Track that allows them to channel their inner race car driver. In addition, the park will feature a Dark Ride Theater, a Texas-themed laser tag arena, and two mini-golf courses themed Under the Sea glow-in-the-dark, as well as a tropical Bogey Beach course.

In the arcade section, guests can enjoy over 130 video games, virtual reality experiences, and the Valo Arena mixed-reality playground. Younger visitors will love the pirate ship-themed Bounce Beach play area. After all that excitement, guests can refuel at the Jacks Social bar, offering a variety of delicious food. Adults can relax on the Hang Ten Patio and enjoy the innovative self-pour “Pour My Beer” beverage wall, which will feature 24 beers on tap, along with fun social games like giant beer pong, Jenga and cornhole. The venue is also perfect for team-building outings and will offer a “Corporate Cabana” for company events.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — FACE Amusement Group today announced that it has received the Great Place to Work recognition for its company for 2025 for the third year in a row.  The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at FACE Amusement Group.

“We’re proud to announce that FACE Amusement has earned the Great Place to Work Certification for the third consecutive year! Thank you to every team member for your hard work, leadership, and dedication,” states Bucky Mabe, CEO, of FACE Amusement Group.

He adds “Your passion and commitment make our company not just a workplace, but a thriving community! This achievement speaks volumes about the incredible culture we’ve built together—one where our employees genuinely feel valued, engaged, and excited to come to work each day.”

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation.  The certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience. Certification is a two-step process that includes surveying associates and submitting a questionnaire about our workforce.

CARVER, Mass. — Edaville Family Theme Park today announced it will be hosting a ride auction on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, as it prepares for a new exciting era in late 2025.

The popular family amusement park is going to be reimagined with many wonderful things to come toward the end of the year. As a result of this transformation, amusement rides will be available for auction on site at 10:30am on April 30^th. 

Contact Dan Satow of Norton of Michigan Auctioneers, Based in Coldwater Michigan, PO Box 279, Coldwater, MI  49036 or e-mail [email protected] or log onto www.spiethandsatow.com or call 517-617-1104.

Below is a list of iconic rides from Edaville that will be on sale during the April 30^th auction:

• Zamperla Rides Including:
  • Flying Turtles
  • Crazy Bus
  • Barnyard
  • Willy The Whale
  • Sky Tower
  • Fire Brigade
  • Mini Jet
  • Aerial Ride
  • Kiddie Ferris Wheel
  • Rockin Tub
  • Convoy
• Visa Spinning Lady Bug Coaster
• Allen Herschell Astronaut
• Clown Train
• SBF Balloon Drop
• AH Jolly Caterpillar
• 1986 Chance Carousel
• Eli Ferris Wheel (Dismantled)
• Eli Scrambler
• ARM Bone Shaker (T.M.)
• S & W Jet A Bout
• Sally, Den of Lost Thieves Dark Ride
• (2) Pirate Ship Rides (Dismantled)
• Tri Level Soft Play
• Shooting Gallery
• (20+/-) Animated Dinosaur Figures by World Fun Attractions

DALLAS, Texas — Embed, the world’s FEC tech partner of choice for the amusement, entertainment, and leisure industries, is set to introduce breakthrough innovation updates to its integrated hardware and software solutions at Amusement Expo International in Las Vegas, NV from 19 to 20 March.

Like Embed’s award-winning Mobile Wallet virtual game card innovation — still the only Apple and Google-certified FEC solution since its launch in 2019 — this is another inspiring example of how a single product can change an entire industry and pave the way for the future.

“Guests, experiences, staff, operations, bookings, payments, sales, reports—the integration of these tech components is critical to the success of an FEC. The EMBED ECOSYSTEM is designed to redefine and elevate the way these interact and integrate with each other, enabling and empowering operators to create the ultimate cashless, cloud-based system that exceeds their business needs for a seamless guest experience,” shares Renee Welsh, CEO at Embed. True to its commitment of pioneering innovation with visionary product development, Embed marks the beginning of a revolutionary breakthrough in integrated cashless payment systems. “It’s the new era of the Embed Ecosystem,” says Sara Paz (CMO and Chief Growth Officer). “We’re setting a new standard in the industry with fresh and meaningful updates to our system, modified for hyper-customization and deeper integrations. With the rise of the API, the Embed Ecosystem is the paradigm shift that begins the consumer experience revolution, where we enable operators to create experiences they want with greater customization and flexibility.”

With customer-centric design and functionality in mind, the Embed Ecosystem highlights the company’s innovative product development and design, and dominance in the FEC tech category.

“This undoubtedly marks a shift in the industry, highlighting the results of strategic relationships with global tech giants. Our partnership with Apple, Google, and Amazon Web Services for our solutions, along with FEC leaders like Dave & Buster’s, Timezone, and Fun Station puts us in a position to disrupt the disparate digital systems plugging into hardware, which is the current industry norm,” explains Andy Welsh (CTO). “Now, operators can have it all without needing to plug it all. They can connect it all to sync it all—and with today’s consumer demands and global business trends, that’s more like it.”

This reshapes the consumer journey: instead of sending customers back to a sales counter or kiosk to transact, operators can now have roving FEC staff with Surface Pro tablets that run Embed’s payment processing mechanism SALES; the POS can now be anywhere the guest is. Such tech is already battle- tested outside the FEC industry and will soon be available to members of the Embed family.

Embed conducted a pilot test of the latest innovation updates with some customers, starting with updates to TOOLKIT’s POS component SALES. Guy Mack, Director of Technology at Alley Cats Entertainment comments on the new benefits of the Embed Ecosystem: “I was both excited and honoured to be selected for the test group. I believe it strengthens the positive relationship between our businesses and, as a technology enthusiast, I appreciate being involved in the development of new innovations. The impact of the [Embed Ecosystem] really changes our day-to-day operations in interacting with our guests.”

BOOKINGS, the end-to-end online reservation platform for FEC events, is now powered up with an in- venue booking capability. Operators can now bring in the bookings and start accepting in-venue reservations for experiences and attractions with the latest BOOKING and KIOSK+ integration. “This will get guests to enjoy other FEC offerings like arcades or F&B while they wait for their slot instead of queueing at activities like bumper cars, darts, escape rooms, and bowling,” says Michael Lopez (CXO and NASA region General Manager).

Aside from this integration, the KIOSK+ update includes:

• A full screen, FULLER experience. Operators can showcase experiences and offers on full display in its 27-inch LCD touchscreen—the sleekest layout yet. Easy on the eyes, easier to show price and prize.
• UI you’ll love. Embed customers can show their true colours with every touchpoint by taking
• the customisable API to re-theme their KIOSK+ and match their FEC brand vibes.
• Play your cards right. KIOSK+ can now be used to offer multiple game cards purchased with different reload values in a single transaction.
• Unified POS. KIOSK+ and SALES POS give operators real-time, cloud-based sync of transactions for real-time business visibility.

“The aim is to empower FECs to create new ways to connect with customers by creating the experiences they want. The Embed Ecosystem is pioneering the smart cashless payments category. Your UI, your way. This is the smart FEC ecosystem with user-centric design and functionality,” explains Andy Welsh (CTO).

“This is another example of The Embed Difference: an ongoing commitment and promise of visionary product development and continuous innovation, focused on performance and design. This innovation solidifies Embed’s dominance in the category,” adds Renee Welsh (CEO).

“This is truly a testament to the power of Embed’s tech leadership, innovative product development, and a deep understanding of global market dynamics and consumer desires,” concludes Sara Paz (CMO & Growth Officer).

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dollywood Parks & Resorts has added another employment-related award to its list of recent honors by being named a 2025 USA Today Top Workplaces award winner. Dollywood made the list of organizations with more than 2,500 employees.

Millions of employees were surveyed to recognize the top organizations across 65 markets for regional Top Workplaces awards. This award celebrates organizations that have built great workplace cultures with more than 150 employees. The winners of the Top Workplaces USA list were chosen based on employee feedback gathered through a 25-question survey.

Dollywood Parks & Resorts properties are nationally recognized and growing at a tremendous pace. Awards like the Top Workplaces recognition reinforce the brand’s strong reputation for top-notch customer service, an attribute that attracts top talent and further contributes to the company’s thriving culture.

“The awards we’ve received during the last several years really are humbling,” said Susan Loveday, Dollywood Vice President of Human Resources. “We take pride in our host culture, and we seek to provide our team with great benefits that show our appreciation for the work they do to make Dollywood the most unique and welcoming theme park experience in the entire world. When you consider that the results of this recognition are derived from the survey results of our own hosts, it illustrates their belief in our host culture and their pride in the place they work.” 

Energage, an organization dedicated to building top workplaces, administers the survey.

Earlier this year, Dollywood was the second-highest ranked travel company on the Forbes’ list of America’s Best Midsize Employers. Dollywood was the only theme park company on the Forbes list as well.  Earlier this month, Dollywood also received a spot on Newsweek’s Best Workplaces for Women award, one of only three theme park companies on the list. 

Dollywood’s award-winning host experience translates directly to the guest experience. Forbes ranked Dollywood Parks & Resorts in the top 1% (No. 27) of more than 3,000 US brands rated for exemplary customer service for 2024, and late last year, Dollywood was named by Newsweek as America’s Best Customer Service for theme parks in 2025.  

Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees receive a variety of unique benefits including 100% free tuition through Herschend’s GROW U. program, access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, and complimentaryDollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided a free lunch every working shift and also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at an Upwards-affiliated provider. Numerous opportunities also are available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.  

The Swedish Accident Investigation Board has concluded the investigation of the fire at Oceana on February 12, 2024 and has today presented its final report. It is a thorough and well-founded report with important lessons for all parties involved.

The Accident Investigation Board states in its report that the fire probably started in connection with electric sleeve welding of a diverter pipe in one of the water slides on the outside of Oceana. The Commission makes safety recommendations to four parties, including Liseberg, which is recommended to continue to develop systematic work environment management as a developer in order to strengthen the safety culture.

“Liseberg has great confidence in the work of the Accident Investigation Board and their expertise, and we have done our utmost to assist them during the course of the investigation. Liseberg takes the safety recommendations very seriously and we are grateful for all the observations that not only make us but the entire industry better,” says Andreas Andersen, CEO of the Liseberg Group.

As a municipal company, Liseberg places high demands on our suppliers and, in its role as developer, has a responsibility when it comes to setting requirements and following up. In the light of the Accident Investigation Board’s investigation, it can be stated that the systematic follow-up work that was in place at the time can and should be strengthened to ensure that the requirements set are complied with.

“We must all learn from the fire. Otherwise, it will be extra meaningless. That is the purpose of the report, to make us all – developers, contractors and suppliers – better and ensure that something like this does not happen again,” says Andreas Andersen.

According to Liseberg, the safety recommendations proposed by the Accident Investigation Board in its final report have largely already been incorporated into the organisation, and Liseberg, in its role as developer, will continuously continue to work to further strengthen internal processes and procedures for systematic work environment management. Implemented measures include:

• Updating internal governing documents and manuals.
• Strengthened control of Liseberg’s procured suppliers.
• Continued active participation in all construction site safety rounds, construction meetings, production meetings and planning meetings.
• Extra third-party control of existing approved fire protection in order to identify reinforcing measures.

The purpose of the Accident Investigation Board’s investigation is to clarify what happened, why it happened and how a similar incident can be avoided in the future. The issue of responsibility is handled by prosecutors whose investigation is not yet complete.

ORLANDO — Grammy-winning icon Beyoncé is set to make her mark in Orlando with a stunning new wax figure at Merlin Entertainments’ Madame Tussauds Orlando, debuting on March 29 – exactly one year after her groundbreaking album Cowboy Carter. For one evening only, fans will have an exclusive opportunity to celebrate the arrival of the new figure at a special event hosted at Ole Red Orlando. The free event, taking place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., will offer fans an exclusive first look at Beyoncé’s new wax figure, styled in a brand-new iconic Cowboy Carter inspired look. The celebration will feature exciting giveaways, themed drinks, special menu items for purchase, and plenty of surprises. This fan event marks the official launch of the figure before it takes its permanent place at Madame Tussauds Orlando on March 30. 

“Beyoncé stands among the biggest superstars of our time, and we’re honored to add her new Cowboy Carter-inspired wax figure to our Music Stars collection,” said General Manager of Madame Tussauds Orlando Paul Gould. “The figure celebrates Beyoncé’s extraordinary influence on music and culture, paying tribute to her lasting impact on the world.” 

The latest figure channels the American flag-inspired style central to Beyoncé’s bold Cowboy Carter era. Inspired by the record-breaking album, which earned Beyoncé a Grammy for Album of the Year, the figure is dressed in a striking red, white, and blue suede jacket adorned with fringe, layered over a vintage Willie Nelson T-shirt. The look is completed with crystallized blue denim shorts, a silver cowboy belt buckle, American flag platform heels, and a matching floor-length durag under a cowboy hat, perfectly capturing the larger-than-life presence of the singer. 

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Allevity Entertainment is excited to announce a major expansion of its offerings, introducing a new sports bar, an upgraded restaurant and menu, and additional arcade games. Since opening in 2020, Allevity has remained committed to delivering a unique “eatertainment” experience in the Aberdeen area. As guest expectations evolve and industry trends shift, these enhancements will provide an even more engaging and dynamic atmosphere for visitors of all ages.

Why These Changes Are Happening

• Expanding the Audience – The goal is to attract a broader demographic, particularly those in the 21-40 age range, while maintaining Allevity’s signature family-friendly environment.
• Enhancing the Dining Experience – With an upgraded restaurant and refreshed menu, Allevity aims to create a dining destination that encourages more frequent visits, even for guests stopping by solely for a meal.
• Responding to Community Feedback – Based on insights from last year’s community survey, there is a clear demand for additional dining and entertainment options. These changes are designed to meet that demand.
• Staying Ahead of Industry Trends – As the entertainment landscape evolves, Allevity remains committed to innovation and continuous improvement.

What’s Changing?

• ✔️ The Ballocity play area will be removed on March 24 to make room for these current upgrades and future plans. The interactive climbing wall be removed as well but a removal date hasn’t been determined yet.
• ✔️ A brand-new sports bar will be introduced, featuring 21 TVs, an expanded drink menu, and a real-time sports ticker, creating the ultimate destination for sports enthusiasts.
• ✔️ A revamped menu will offer a wider selection of exciting dining options.
• ✔️ Five new arcade games will be added to enhance the gaming experience.

Additional improvements are also being explored, with details to be shared once finalized.

Allevity Entertainment looks forward to unveiling these exciting updates and welcoming guests to experience the enhanced offerings.

JACKSON, N.J. — Six Flags Great Adventure is proud to introduce Jeremy Hacker as the park’s first Executive Chef. Chef Hacker’s leadership and culinary expertise marks a new chapter in Six Flags Great Adventure’s commitment to elevating the park’s dining experience.

Chef Hacker’s career has been defined by a passion for creating innovative, high-quality dishes at popular establishments including PJ Whelihan’s and Xfinity Live. Known for his skill in seafood and Italian cuisine, he will lead the park’s culinary team to offer a variety of exciting dining options that complement the park’s world-class attractions.

“I’m excited to bring a fresh, dynamic approach to dining at Six Flags,” Chef Hacker said. “Whether it’s introducing new offerings or elevating classic dishes, my goal is to offer guests a memorable dining experience that matches the thrill of the park.”

Chef Hacker, a resident of Elk Township, NJ, is a devoted husband and father of three.