FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Zoo is proud to host Military Appreciation Day this Saturday, June 14, offering free admission to all active duty and retired military personnel in honor of their service and sacrifice. Guests accompanying military members will receive a special admission rate of $10. All visitors to the Zoo will be given the opportunity to plant a provided small flag outside of the Zoo’s Wild Things Gift Shop in our “Field of Honor” to help commemorate our service men and women.
The Zoo will open early at 8:45 a.m. with a Military Appreciation Ceremony taking place at 8:55 a.m. just outside the main entrance. The event will begin with a warm welcome from Zoo Director and CEO Rick Schuiteman, followed by a flag presentation by the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) and a heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem performed by Emilee Walker.
“This day is our opportunity to recognize and show deep appreciation for the dedication and bravery of our military service members,” said Rick Schuiteman. “We’re honored to welcome them and their families for a day of connection, celebration, and fun at the Zoo.” Rick Schuiteman will be available for interview and further comments after the conclusion of the welcome ceremony. The Fort Wayne Zoo invites the community and members of the media to join in celebrating our service members for this special day.
PortAventura World celebrated its 30th anniversary with an institutional event that brought together prominent representatives from both the public and private sectors for an evening full of emotion, tributes, and future vision. The gathering honoured a project that, since 1995, has transformed the tourism and leisure landscape in Spain and Europe, with over 100 million visits and a steadfast commitment to innovation, sustainability, and positive impact.
The celebration provided an opportunity to highlight PortAventura World’s trajectory and its influence on the leisure and tourism sectors. During the event, its role as an economic driver in the region was underscored, with an estimated contribution of 12% to Tarragona’s GDP and 0.5% to Catalonia’s GDP. Its impact on employment was also highlighted, generating more than 24,000 direct and indirect jobs annually.
Among the attending dignitaries were the Hon. Mr. Salvador Illa i Roca, President of the Government of Catalonia; the Hon. Ms. Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism; the Hon. Mr. Miquel Sàmper Rodríguez, Minister for Business and Labour; Mr. Pol Gibert, Secretary General for Business and Labour; the Hon. Mr. Pere Granados, Mayor of Salou; and the Hon. Mr. Pere Segura, Mayor of Vila-seca.
In his speech, the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, stated, “I would like to congratulate the entire PortAventura World family on its 30 years of history, a trajectory marked by ambition and perseverance that has driven a project that generates prosperity, not only in the Camp de Tarragona and Catalonia, but also in Spain. Today we commemorate a success story that can only continue to improve so that it continues for at least another 30 years”.
Mr. Arturo Mas-Sardà, Chairman of the Board of PortAventura World, remarked: “PortAventura World is today much more than a resort: it is a tourism engine, an international benchmark and a collective success story built over 30 years through effort, enthusiasm and commitment. We renew our purpose with the same passion as on day one: to create unforgettable experiences while caring for people and the environment.”
The event concluded with the long-awaited premiere of FiestAventura 2.0, the new and updated version of the resort’s iconic nighttime show. The performance captivated the audience with a unique staging that brought together water, fire, music, pyrotechnics, and drones for the first time to light up the skies of PortAventura World. This show, which pays tribute to world cultures, stands out as one of the most spectacular and innovative in the park’s history.
The excitement continued with musical performances by Miki Núñez and Elena Gadel, who provided the soundtrack for an unforgettable evening. Guests also enjoyed exclusive access to the iconic Furius Baco attraction and tasted a special cake from Pastisseria Escribà.
Since its opening in 1995, PortAventura World has established itself as one of Europe’s most comprehensive leisure destinations, with three theme parks, ten hotels, and PortAventura Business & Events, its division specialised in corporate events and tourism, featuring one of the most prestigious convention centres in Europe. Recognised as a B Corp company, the resort combines growth and innovation with a strong social commitment.
The iconic Dragon Khan roller coaster, groundbreaking at its debut, marked the beginning of a legacy that continues with attractions such as Red Force, the tallest in Europe. Additionally, the PortAventura Foundation, active since 2011, promotes inclusion and child well-being projects. Its flagship project, PortAventura Dreams Village, welcomes 400 children each year in the final phase of their illness recovery, along with their families.
With this legacy, PortAventura World reaffirms its leadership as a sustainable tourist destination and a benchmark for delivering unforgettable experiences with a real impact on people and the region.
SANTA CLAUS, IND. — One of the most daring and legendary stunt families in the world has arrived at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. The Nerveless Nocks, an internationally renowned stunt team, is now performing daily at the Aqua Action Arena in the Halloween section of the park — delivering heart-stopping excitement and entertainment.
Featured acts include:
- Wheel of Steel – A jaw-dropping balance and acrobatic act high above the ground
- Jetpack Flyboard – Watch as stunt performers take flight over water
- Globe of Thunder – High-speed motorcycle action inside a steel globe
- Aerial Trapeze – Classic circus artistry with a thrilling twist
- And more!
“This is a high-thrill show! The Nerveless Nocks are bringing so much excitement and fun to Santa Claus,” said Lauren Crosby, Director of Entertainment & Events and Fourth-Generation Owner. “They’re a multi-generational circus family, which makes a perfect match for our own multi-generational business.”
With a legacy dating back to 1840 as Switzerland’s original circus, the Nerveless Nocks are true pioneers of extreme stunts and aerial thrill shows. This high-energy stunt show combines powerful jet skis, precision motorcycles, and gravity-defying human feats in a one-of-a-kind experience perfect for the whole family.
Don’t miss the Nerveless Nocks Stunt Show, now appearing daily through September 1. Find the Aqua Action Arena on the Holiday World map and prepare for an unforgettable spectacle.
Holidays in the Sky drone show returns June 21 and runs through August 3. Friday Night Live! will return August 22 and run through October 24, and Happy Halloween Weekends will run September 20 – October 26. Full calendar online at HolidayWorld.com/Hours.
Sacoa, the global leader in cashless management solutions for the entertainment and leisure industries, is proud to announce its participation in two major upcoming events: INTERAZAR 2025, taking place from June 16 to 18 at IFEMA Madrid, Spain (Booth #E21), and the International Bowl Expo 2025, happening from June 29 to July 3 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington D.C. (Booth #817).
At both shows, visitors are invited to meet with Sacoa’s expert team and experience live demonstrations of the latest advancements in redemption technology. Highlights include the new Redemption Kiosk and the upgraded Redemption 2 software. These innovations are designed to streamline prize redemption, reduce counter queues, and enhance the customer experience, allowing players to redeem prizes and return to the game floor faster than ever before.
In addition to these innovations in redemption, Sacoa will present its range of self-service solutions, including the K4 and K5 kiosks and KwikPay, a mobile payment tool ideal for operators with smaller or route-based locations. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the future of cashless systems with Sacoa!
CALRSBAD, Calif., WINTER HAVEN, Fla. and GOSHEN, N.Y. — The LEGO Group and LEGOLAND Resorts are teaming up with Merlin’s Magic Wand to gift thousands of LEGOLAND tickets to children and their families facing serious illness, disability, or adversity.
This donation follows the huge success of the first-ever global LEGO Festival, the world’s biggest celebration of play, where thousands of families have united across seven LEGOLAND Resorts over six epic weekends to make a Play Pact – a promise to build more, laugh louder, explore endlessly and play always. This global effort has resulted in a commitment of 72,928 Play Pacts which are being turned into 100,000 hours of play for children who need it most.
The LEGO Group and Merlin Entertainments’ LEGOLAND Resorts joined forces to launch the LEGO Festival, the first ever celebration of its kind! It was created to encourage families to play more as research shows 76% of parents1 believe that children have less time and space to play, which is crucial for creativity and learning, developing social skills and building confidence.
Senior VP LEGOLAND Brand Rebecca Snell said: “Thanks to the thousands of families worldwide making a Play Pact at the LEGO Festival, we are able to create magical moments for children in need, providing precious family time, inspiring creativity, and fuelling fun for everyone.”
“The Play Pact has shown us the incredible power of families coming together through play,” said Head of Merlin’s Magic Wand Alyson Barber. “As a result of the Play Pacts made by families globally during the LEGO Festival, together with the LEGO Group, we’ll gift 100,000 hours of creative play, joy, and unforgettable memories to thousands of children facing serious illness, disability, or adversity through our Magical Days Out program. It’s more than just fun, it’s hours of connection for families who need it most. Together with our partners, we’re turning play into a powerful force for good.”
Children’s organizations will now be able to apply for complimentary tickets to seven LEGOLAND Resorts, as well as food and travel grants through Merlin’s Magic Wand on behalf of individual families, classes, schools, or groups.
While the mic has dropped on LEGO Festival 2025, the celebration doesn’t stop there. Guests can now head to their nearest LEGOLAND Discovery Center where play will continue to take center stage at the Summer of Play event, plus, LEGOLAND Resorts continue to be the ultimate place to play all year round as families keep building, imagining, and laughing together with an unmissable line-up of seasonal events.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — PEPPA PIG fans have a new reason to celebrate as Baby Evie makes her official debut at PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida, PEPPA PIG Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth, and PEPPA PIG World of Play locations in Michigan, Chicago and Dallas.
Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, George, Evie and Peppa posed for a new family photo to mark the special moment and welcome the newest arrival. Baby Evie will accompany her family during meet-and-greets throughout the day inviting young fans to wave, giggle, and capture a sweet photo together.
PEPPA PIG Theme Parks are immersive destinations designed especially for kids six and under. Families can step into the playful world of PEPPA PIG and spend the entire day exploring gentle rides, themed play areas, live shows and character meet-and-greets. Each Park is a Certified Autism Center, offering inclusive and accessible experiences for all guests. PEPPA PIG World of Play features themed play zones, hands-on activities and character interactions, perfect for a few hours of indoor fun.
Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based entertainment, and Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, continue to grow the PEPPA PIG brand around the world. The arrival of Baby Evie follows the recent opening of the LEGO® DUPLO® Peppa Pig Playground at LEGOLAND® New York Resort. The new playground merges the popular world of PEPPA PIG with the LEGO DUPLO universe in a play area spanning more than 13,000 square feet. Fans can also find PEPPA PIG branded experiences at PEPPA PIG Lands in Gardaland and Heide Park, PEPPA PIG Theme Park in Gunzberg, Germany and PEPPA PIG World of Play in Shanghai and Leidschendam.
Dark rides have become an increasingly popular way to engage a wider audience. These indoor attractions offer experiences for all ages and operate reliably regardless of weather and with high uptime. A trackless ride system expands creative potential even more and brings extra tangible benefits in cost, flexibility, maintenance and safety.
Creative freedom and storytelling flexibility
Trackless systems unlock a new level of creative and narrative flexibility. Because the vehicles are not confined to fixed rails, designers can incorporate complex layouts: branching paths, intersections, and even overlapping or criss-crossing routes. This freedom enables more dynamic, non-linear storytelling, where each ride-through can be slightly different. The variability encourages repeat visits and lets designers control pacing: since vehicles move independently, each one can slow down for dramatic scenes or speed up to maintain guest flow. This combination of physical and narrative flexibility adds a powerful new tool set for immersive ride experiences.
Lower installation costs than expected
There’s a common perception that trackless systems must be expensive to program and operate, especially when it comes to coordinating vehicle movements or designing advanced routes. In practice, these costs are in most cases even lower than the extensive infrastructure required for traditional tracked systems. For example, building and installing steel track with automated switching mechanisms involves major engineering, programming and construction. In contrast, trackless systems typically rely on its flat surface preparation with guide wires or optical navigation, which reduces both installation time and labour costs.
Speed through proven platforms
Companies with deep experience, like ETF Ride Systems, often work with proven software and existing ride layouts, which improves reliability, speeds up development and helps keeping costs down. Their ability to deliver complex ride behaviour without reinventing the wheel is a key factor in making these systems more accessible.
Simplified maintenance and higher uptime
Once operational, trackless systems are relatively easy to maintain. Each ETF vehicle contains its own drive and control system, meaning there are fewer external mechanical parts to manage. Without rails and its ride control system, there’s less wear and tear and fewer components prone to failure.
Power is handled simply: the vehicles run on rechargeable batteries and typically operate for 12 to 14 hours on a full charge, covering a full day of use with minimal daily upkeep. Battery charging will be done overnight.
Maintenance tasks are usually quicker and more contained, resulting in less downtime and more consistent ride availability.
Built-in safety advantages
Trackless rides also offer practical benefits in terms of safety. In the event of a technical issue, vehicles can be programmed to return to a station or safe zone automatically, even during power failures.
Lower long-term costs
Although trackless systems are often assumed to require a higher initial investment due to their advanced technology, they are in fact typically more affordable from the start. And when considering the full life cycle costs – including infrastructure, installation, maintenance, and staffing – they mostly prove to be the more economical choice. Their higher uptime and flexibility to adapt or reconfigure layouts over time further strengthen their value as a smart long-term investment.
CALVERTON, N.Y. — Seas the day, this Saturday, June 14 as the brand-new Stingray Bay officially opens to guests at Splish Splash Water Park. The thrilling water play area will offer families with smaller children a new way to beat the heat just in time for the temperatures on Long Island to rise for the summer 2025 season.
It is all about the rays as Splish Splash hosts an official ribbon cutting ceremony outside of Stingray Bay at 10 a.m. The ceremony will feature remarks from the park’s General Manager Mike Bengtson, special ribbon cutting, giveaways, and guests from the Family & Children’s Association.
The all-new splash-tastic water playground, Stingray Bay, offers visitors more than 15 fun and silly ways to stay cool during their visit to Splish Splash. The all-new water playground is finally complete and decked out with three-pint sized water slides, six interactive spray features, five water play features, a dump bucket and fun for all to soak and spray.
“We are thrilled to partner with Family & Children’s Association as we open the all-new Stingray Bay this weekend,” said General Manager Mike Bengtson. “This interactive water play area is the perfect addition to the park, offering something our smallest guests can enjoy while teens and above tackle our thrilling park favorites like Bootlegger’s Run, Alien Invasion, and Hyperlight. “
Families will be hooked all weekend long at New York’s Largest Water Park, as the third annual Kids Fest event continues. Running every weekend through Sunday, June 29, Kids Fest offers thrills the whole family can enjoy. Each weekend will feature an interactive DJ, performers, meet and greets, giveaways, bubble parties, exclusive food and retail items, and more. On June 14, 15, 28 and 29, visitors will enjoy circus themed weekends featuring strolling entertainment and balloon artists. June 21 and 22 will feature meet and greets with pirates and mermaids, plus exclusive photo opportunities. Plus, the park will host local mascot celebrities QuackerJack of the Long Island Ducks, Wolfie from Stony Brook University, and Finn from Suffolk County Community College on Sunday, June 22.
In addition to Kids Fest, Splish Splash will introduce its first-ever nighttime event, Neon Nights. Everyone is invited to experience the park in a whole new light as they follow the lights and sounds through the bubble tunnel to Kahuna Bay wave pool where the action pulses in full vivid color. A live DJ will dial up the energy while guests zip down some of their favorite slides in the dark. Neon Nights will run each Friday and Saturday from July 11 through August 16 from 7 p.m. through 10 p.m.
ST. LOUIS — Intercard’s latest cashless technology plays a crucial role at Playdium, the newest and biggest indoor FEC in Sri Lanka. Recently opened in the capital city of Colombo, the 16,000 square foot center features Brunswick bowling, a 34-game arcade, VR attractions, bumper cars, soft play and a full service restaurant.
Playdium is revolutionizing out-of-home entertainment in Sri Lanka with cutting-edge technology and high-energy sports and leisure experiences. Located at the prestigious One Galle Face Mall, the first-of-its-kind FEC in the country offers a wide range of thrilling activities for guests of all ages.
Rohit Mathur and CSML, Intercard’s distributor in India, handled the arcade installation. The games are connected to a system of more than 40 card readers and self-service kiosks. CSML also installed Playdium’s Brunswick bowling equipment.
“We are honored to partner with CSML to serve Playdium and the growing amusement scene in Sri Lanka,” says Alberto Borrero, Intercard’s senior vice-president of international sales. “Some of the leading domestic and international operators in South Asia use Intercard cashless technology and we look forward to working with more of them in the future.”
Asian operators can experience all that Intercard has to offer at the IAAPA Asia Expo booth #1211 in Shanghai from July 1-3, 2025.
Moment Factory is stepping into the world of scare attractions with an innovative collaboration on Ghost Boat in Wisconsin. The after-dark experience undergoes a major multimedia transformation, intensifying the journey for both new and returning guests.
Drawing on its expertise in creating outdoor multimedia environments, the studio joined forces with Dells Boat Tours to reinvent the almost 20-year-old fright attraction, featuring an upriver boat cruise followed by an immersive walk through Cold Water Canyon.
Leveraging the imposing and unsettling natural setting, immersive storytelling, and live actors, the experience takes visitors on a terrifying journey along a 1.5 km path through a haunted canyon filled with evil forces. An impressive blend of physical and digital elements — including dynamic lighting, chilling video projections, programmed “scare moments,” and spine-tingling spatialized audio — captivates visitors with heightened emotions, fueled by unpredictable moments at every turn.
“At its core, Ghost Boat pairs powerful scares with the dramatic atmosphere of a prehistoric canyon — it’s an inspired combination. And the same could be said for our collaboration with Moment Factory. Two teams, pooling their creative vision, applying their technical and practical know-how, bringing a positive ‘can do’ attitude to every challenge we faced. Together, we didn’t just enhance Ghost Boat — we completely reinvented and intensified it, creating an experience that just doesn’t exist anywhere else.” – Emil Bertalot, Communications Director, Dells Boat Tours
“Collaborating on the Ghost Boat Tour was an absolute thrill for Moment Factory. When the Dells team introduced us to the Canyon and their original experience, we couldn’t wait to see how we could amplify it. The Dells’ dramatic natural setting combined with immersive storytelling made the perfect playground for us. Multimedia and horror are a natural match — they heighten sensations, build tension, and turn spaces into living nightmares.” – Virginie Valastro, Producer, Moment Factory
