PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro, a leading toy and game company, in collaboration with Amazon, today announced Peppa’s Dance Party, a global campaign to celebrate PEPPA PIG’s 20th anniversary and the Queen of Preschool’s new hit single – the Piggle Wiggle!

Encouraging confidence and igniting playfulness, Peppa’s Dance Party will deliver engaging in-person and virtual play experiences for preschoolers and their families across the globe. For a limited time starting this August, consumers can join live events hosted at Merlin Entertainments’ attractions PEPPA PIG World of Plays in Chicago, Dallas and Michigan and PEPPA PIG Parks in Florida, U.S. and Günzburg, Germany, along with PEPPA PIG attractions at Butlin’s Resorts in the U.K. Visit local websites for dates and times.

Peppa’s Dance Party in-person events will feature a live show encouraging kids and families to get up and get dancing to Peppa’s latest single – the Piggle Wiggle – available to listen on Amazon Music, as well as party games, interactive dress up activities and exclusive products. Fans can also expect appearances from their favourite PEPPA PIG characters!

“For 20 years, PEPPA PIG has been a staple in children’s entertainment across the globe. As we honor the legacy of Peppa on this milestone anniversary, we are proud to team up with Amazon to continue fostering love for learning and play through our iconic character,” said Matt Proulx, Senior Vice President of Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro. “Through Hasbro’s engaging live events and Amazon’s powerful reach in delivering entertaining, educational and wildly fun branded

experiences for children and families everywhere, Peppa’s Dance Party is sure to be one to remember.”

To extend the excitement to audiences worldwide and build upon PEPPA PIG content available digitally on Amazon Kids+, a brand-new Alexa Skill for Peppa’s Dance Party will launch this August to teach children how to do the Piggle Wiggle dance and more. Customers can access this exclusive content directly through the brand-new Alexa skill or by saying, “Alexa, open Peppa’s Dance Party.” A premium version of the new Peppa’s Dance Party Alexa Skill is available with the Amazon Kids+ subscription unlocking fun musical party games with Peppa.

Special products are also available, including the Amazon-exclusive Peppa’s Dance Party Playset, plus brand-new Dancing Muddy Puddles Peppa, Sing With Me Peppa, Peppa Baking range, an array of themed books and partywear for the whole family.

Additionally, fans can continue to enjoy existing PEPPA PIG content, including episodes from the show and free versions of the World of PEPPA PIG and LEGO DUPLO PEPPA PIG apps which will be added later this August, all available on Amazon Kids+.

“We’re excited to partner with Hasbro to celebrate PEPPA PIG’s 20th anniversary,” said Monte Babington, Global Head of Content Amazon Kids+, “Kids love Peppa, and we’re thrilled to bring more of her trademark sense of humor to Amazon Kids+, where they can enjoy thousands of age-appropriate videos, books, and games. We can’t wait for families to join in the dance party celebration, creating special memories with Peppa and Amazon Kids+.”

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Castle Park in Riverside is revealing an all-new haunt fest experience as it sets to transform into Castle Dark this fall. Starting September 20, visitors who dare to test their bravery by traversing through the Castle Dark gates will be met with four all-new maze experiences, three new theatrical shows and two new scare zones. So, beware and enter at your own risk.

The annual Halloween event is celebrating 16 years of screams as the family-friendly amusement park is transformed and taken over by ghosts, goblins, monsters and more– with one goal – to scare the living daylights out of each and every visitor.  

This year’s event, which takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October 27, features the following new experiences:  

Four All-new Mazes:

• Funhouse of the Demented – A prison overrun by clowns – yikes – chaos is unleashed from the moment dare devils enter and try to escape the funhouse.
• Seance – Entering a séance at a local historic museum that transports visitors to another worldly experience deep in the woods of a forest, tread carefully because the forest hides some deep secrets that only emerge once park-goers are on their journey.

• Labyrinth – The haunting depths of the Labyrinth of Lost Souls await. The dearly departed are waiting in the wings as guests venture through the maze’s winding corridors and endless pathways, as each twist and turn is shrouded in mystery.
• Sinister Inn – Traverse to a new realm as you take on this new 5-D virtual reality maze experience that will leave your heart-pounding as you walk through the haunted hallways of the Inn of your nightmares. You will surely regret not packing your bags and leaving the Inn when you had the chance.  

Three All-new Theatrical Shows:

• Countess Elura – Prepare for the triumphant return of Countess Elura with an all-new spectacle! After all, she is the new Queen and must be celebrated as such.
• Sliders of the Kingdom – Gather round, one and all and behold the mesmerizing sliders of the kingdom. See their scary-good tricks and skills near Saw Mill Plunge.
• Lady Lou Teatime – Drop by for a tete-a-tete with Lady Lou, where the tea is simply to die for!

Two All-new Scare Zones:

• Midway Breakout – As darkness descends, prepare to meet with the delightfully twisted clowns of Castle Dark. Step right up and brace yourself for an unforgettable showdown as you laugh your way from the Park Entrance all the way through Midway.
• Dark Lands – Explore the Castle secrets that lurk within the fog and prepare to meet Lord Amethyst and Sir Sardonyx as they roam the area alongside their loyal knights. Creep through the darkness starting at Plaza Cafe all the way through to the Castle.

For the guests seeking more treats than tricks, Castle Park’s family-friendly, daytime Dia de Los Muertos event invites families to join in the fun every Saturday and Sunday, from 12 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. beginning September 21 through November 2 to celebrate Mexican and Latin American fall traditions. The lively event celebration boasts beautiful decorations and themed traditional entertainment, plus activities for kids including pumpkin painting and trick-or-treating.

ST. LOUIS — Intercard’s latest cashless technology is featured at the newest Game Palacio luxury FEC in the DLF Mall of India in the city of Noida. The 30,000 square foot center features boutique bowling, an 80-game arcade and fine dining. It is the eighth Game Palacio venue to use Intercard technology.

The installation was handled by Rohit Mathur and CSML, Intercard’s distributor in India. CSML also installed the FEC’s Brunswick bowling equipment including custom-crafted black and gold lanes. The company is in the process of building an additional five locations for Game Palacio. The upscale chain is the creation of brother and sister team Prasuk and Priyanka Jain’s Snow World Entertainment.

“We are honored to partner with CSML to serve the growing Indian amusement market,” says Alberto Borrero, Intercard’s senior vice-president of international sales. “Some of the leading domestic and international operators in India use Intercard cashless technology and we look forward to working with more of them in the future.”

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. and ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights debuts the all-original haunted house, “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” headlined by an all-female assemblage of classic Universal Monsters – The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf of London and the undead, mummified Egyptian princess Anck-Su-Namun–beginning Friday, August 30 at Universal Orlando Resort and on Thursday, September 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” haunted houses will introduce guests to an all-new terrifying storyline, as they find themselves in the center of the ultimate battle between two unexpected alliances of classic female Universal Monsters. Fans will encounter Saskia Van Helsing, a new fearless huntress and daughter of revered Abraham Van Helsing – who killed Count Dracula by driving a stake through his heart and destroying his reign of terror. Saskia now faces Dracula’s daughter, Countess Marya, who arose from the dead to seek revenge for her father and destroy the Van Helsing bloodline. With a mission to kill, Dracula’s daughter, from 1936’s Dracula’s Daughter, forms a deadly alliance with the She-Wolf, inspired by the 1946 film She-Wolf of London, and Anck-Su-Namun, from the 1932 film The Mummy – only to be intercepted by Saskia and an unlikely ally, The Bride of Frankenstein. The terrifying adventure will take guests on a journey between the hunted and the hunters in a life and death battle with only one bloodline left to survive. 

As the movie studio that invented the horror film genre, this haunted house at Universal Studios Hollywood will have even more relevance as it will reside within legendary Sound Stage 12 on the studio back lot, the original filming location for such Universal horror movies as Dracula  (1931), Frankenstein (1931) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), among others revered classic and contemporary films.

The return of the Universal Classic Monsters haunted house also reunites GRAMMY® Award-winning musician SLASH with Universal Studios Hollywood in a collaboration that spans six seasons of Halloween Horror Nights. Once again, SLASH will compose an original score for this all-new haunted house, and the score will be featured along with his past original compositions on a limited-edition vinyl album that will be sold at Universal Studios Hollywood throughout the run of the event.

At Universal Orlando Resort, Emmy®-nominated composer Sara Barone will create an original score for this all-new haunted house to elevate the experience for guests. She recently served as composer for BBC’s “Planet Earth III,” along with Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea, and Amazon’s “Silver and the Book of Dreams.” Barone currently participates in the Universal Composers Initiative. Led by the Studio’s Film Music team and Universal Talent Development & Inclusion, this two-year program provides composers with unparalleled access to the studio process, in addition to exclusive scoring opportunities such as this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.

A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options for Universal Studios Hollywood are now available, including General Admission with savings up to $40 on select nights when purchased online, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket,which provides access to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), in advance of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. event opening time, the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again.

Performance Review Institute (PRI) Registrar recognizes Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. for having met the stringent requirements of ISO 9001:2015 international standards, their ongoing commitment to satisfying stakeholders, and their dedication to continual improvement of their management system.

Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. announces that it has received certification to ISO 9001:2015 Standards.

“As a company, we value Excellence, Innovation, and Integrity as a means of delivering the best products to our customers in the best time. Becoming certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standards is a result of the commitment of our entire team to these values,” said Seth Alberts, President and CEO – Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. “We are proud to receive this certification and will continue to exceed quality standards for our customers.“

“Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. has demonstrated its commitment to world class quality management by implementing and becoming certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. They have joined an elite number of organizations worldwide who have achieved certification to this globally recognized quality  standard,” said Randy Daugharthy, Vice President – Registrar at the Performance Review Institute Registrar. “PRI Registrar is proud to partner with Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. in this accomplishment and look forward to continued support of their objective of quality excellence.”

The Ralph S. Alberts Co., located in Montoursville, PA, is registered as a Single Site management system, demonstrated in conformance with ISO 9001:2015 international standards. Their Scope of Registration includes: Manufacturer of custom products that specializes in tooling fabrication and various production methods including injection molding, hand casting, polyurethane foam molding, EVA injection molding, and fiberglass reinforced plastics.

Things get spooky once more! The ‘Ghost Castle’ in Germany’s largest theme park, a true classic in the Italian themed area, is finally opening its doors again! The popular family attraction, which first opened in 1982, has not lost its charm, but has been completely redesigned.

Ann-Kathrin Mack, Partner at Europa-Park and responsible for MACK Solutions: ‘Many of us, including myself, loved the Ghost Castle when we were young and we want future generations to be able to experience this joy too. The new theming ensures that the ride is exciting but not too scary, but it can still be a little test of courage – just like it have been in the past.’’

Visitors are transported through the palace in small gondolas as ghostly voices can be heard and eerie figures can be seen everywhere. They can look forward to familiar scenes as well as new spooky fun. In addition, Lorenzo is now up to mischief, his story based on the historical figure of the early Italian Renaissance ‘Lorenzo de’ Medici’.

The attraction tells the story of the rise of Lorenzo, which comes to an abruptly stop thanks to the treacherous Pazzi family. Lorenzo is after revenge and comes into possession of an old stone tablet with strange symbols and meaningful writings. The text, written in an unknown Latin language, promises eternal life to anyone who follows its instructions. Lorenzo dedicates his entire life to pursuing this plan. During the four-minute dark ride, guests find out what he experiences and whether he will ultimately manage to escape death. MACK Solutions is responsible for the storytelling, which features impressive special effects, projections and illustrations.

OKLAHOMA CITY — OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark (OKANA) announces the hiring of nine new leadership team members for the $400 million project along the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City. These new leadership team hires will join OKANA’s Managing Director, Ken Leone, on the resort’s newly created executive committee.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to growth and excellence, we have strategically expanded our team with individuals who possess diverse skill sets and share a passion for our values,” said Ken Leone, OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark managing director. “There are a significant number of pre-opening and operational milestones to hit when opening a resort property of the scale and size of OKANA. This executive committee will be laser focused on those milestones for each of their departments to ensure we deliver unmatched experiences for our guests.”

The ten-person executive committee brings more than 124 years of hospitality industry experience and will be headed by Leone.

Ken Leone, Managing Director:
Leone most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for SafeHarbor Development Group, developing and operating several Margaritaville resorts in Tennessee. Previously, he held executive roles with Delaware North and Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants, earning numerous awards including General Manager of the Year.

Erling Acosta, Resort General Manager:
Acosta has more than two decades of hospitality experience with a proven track record in driving guest satisfaction, enhancing operational efficiencies, and fostering team development.  His previous role was as Resort Assistant General Manager for Kalahari Resorts and Conventions where he oversaw all operation and administrative functions of the resort.

Genaro Blanco, Director of Revenue Management:
Blanco brings more than a decade of hospitality experience, previously serving as the Regional Director of Revenue Management at Karisma Hotels and Resorts. He has led successful initiatives on execution, and measurement of strategies and tactics designed to maximize revenue, market share, and profitability at notable brands throughout the U.S. and Caribbean such as Nickelodeon, El Dorado, Melia, and Iberostar.

Michael Drayton, Director of Strategy & Analytics:
Drayton previously served as the Director of Customer Experience for Parks Mfg. LLC. Prior to that, he served as manager for the Financial & Operational Analytics teams at Sonic Corp. and the Chickasaw Nation’s Department of Commerce. He has more than a decade of experience in financial planning, data analytics, strategic planning, revenue optimization, and market research, and has implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and departmental collaboration in his previous roles.

Scott Goldberg, Director of Food & Beverage:
Goldberg is a forward-thinking executive leader with a comprehensive background in all aspects of food and beverage operations. He is skilled in planning, coordinating, and executing initiatives in high volume environments. Goldberg joins OKANA from Boyd Gaming in Missouri where he led the team responsible for all food and beverage operations for a large casino resort and spa.

Sabra Millage, Director of Finance:
Millage has extensive experience in financial management, reporting, and team leadership, with a proven track record of improving profitability and ensuring compliance in the hospitality industry. Recognized for her ability to enhance productivity and streamline processes, Millage has received multiple awards for profit and revenue growth.

Talya Regan, Senior Director of Marketing:
Regan has more than a decade of strategic planning, marketing, and public relations experience in the hospitality industry. She joins OKANA from Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark and will be focused on implementing innovative strategies to drive resort growth through a fully integrated marketing strategy and public relations efforts.

Juan Ruiz, Director of Engineering:

Ruiz has more than two decades, with 23 years with Marriot International, of experience in facilities maintenance and operations, and has led engineering teams at Swexan Hotel, JW Marriott Houston, and Hyatt Richardson North Dallas. He excels in managing maintenance operations, complex equipment repairs, budgeting, and energy conservation.

Sonia Saenz, Director of Human Resources:
Saenz brings extensive national and international recruitment, employer branding, and community relations experience. Bilingual in Spanish, she has held key HR leadership roles in prestigious organizations, fostering positive organizational cultures, and driving growth. She has participated in other openings including Bellagio Spa Tower in 2004.

Brian Szydloski, Waterpark General Manager:
Szydloski is an expert in waterpark operations with more than a decade of experience, having contributed to prominent waterparks across the United States. As the former Waterpark Director at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock, Texas, he managed America’s largest indoor waterpark resort, overseeing a staff of 450 and an annual attendance of 500,000+ guests.

OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark is on track to open in Spring 2025.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — As a thank you to our military, first responders, teachers and more who work tirelessly every day to serve our country and communities, Dollywood’s Public Employees Appreciation Days returns in 2024 and provides qualifying guests the opportunity to buy a one-day Dollywood admission ticket online for just $45 plus tax.

The exclusive offer can be purchased online at Dollywood.com/PublicEmployee for a limited time and is valid for use July 29- Sept. 15. Members of the military, first responders, school system employees, government employees and medical employees who have verified their employment status through ID.me are eligible for the offer. Verified public employees may purchase up to six $45 one-day admission tickets to Dollywood Theme Park as part of the program. Additionally, they can receive rates starting at $119 per night at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa or at Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort on select nights. The resort discount is available July 29-Sept. 15, subject to availability.

Any of the admission tickets that are part of the Public Employees Appreciation Days may be upgraded to season passes, allowing guests to continue the fun of Dollywood’s 2024 season. Guests currently can enjoy Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City through Aug. 11. Extended park operating hours, a nightly drone show and family-fun entertainment make Dollywood a must-visit destination for families this summer.

Later this year, guests can enjoy one of the nation’s top fall events, the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 9- Oct. 28). The event has quickly become a guest-favorite thanks to thousands of glowing pumpkins that make up Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Dollywood guests also can enjoy the spectacular artistry of visiting crafters from across the country or sample the special harvest-themed food items from Dollywood’s award-winning culinary team. Each day is a picture-perfect opportunity for families to enjoy the experiences of a Smoky Mountain harvest.

With festive fun and more than six million lights, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 5, 2024) has earned its recognition as America’s favorite theme park Christmas event. Smoky Mountain Christmas helps families create memories to share for a lifetime. Guests also can enjoy Dollywood’s signature rides and attractions that operate in this merry environment. With award-winning shows and elaborate holiday decorations to twinkling lights and Christmas-themed menus, Dollywood truly captures the essence of Christmas. 

Guests also can enjoy The Dolly Parton Experience which features a number of interactive elements to make guests feel as if they were alongside Dolly as she journeyed from Locust Ridge to stages around the world. The entire Adventures in Imagination area was completely transformed to create The Dolly Parton Experience. Guests can peruse exhibits which span her unparalleled career and include a look at the inspiration behind and the results of her biggest dreams, detail the importance of her family, and highlight many of Dolly’s signature styles through the years. 

The AUGUST 2024 issue includes:

• Bobcat coaster roars in Six Flags Great Escape
• SeaWorld’s new Penguin Trek thrills, educates
• Thorpe Park, Mack Rides debut Hyperia
• Six Flags Great America opens Zamperla’s Discovery Giga 40
• Dinosaurs headline Six Flags Over Texas’ new, returning attractions
• Landry’s Kemah Boardwalk maintains, upgrades Boardwalk Bullet
• Properly trained FEC staff making all the difference
• Strates Shows is brings back rail travel for 2024 season
• Iowa State Fair’s Sky Glider celebrates half-century 
• Silverwood’s Boulder Beach debuts Emerald Forest
• Disney, Florida Governor reach agreement
• Snackville at Pacific Park providing guests with new, exciting foods
• Cedar Fair, Six Flags merger completed
• East Coast parks light up season with rides, events, promotions
• Focus on the Horizon: Haley Knoebel of Premier Rides
• Sandcastle adds colors, sights and sounds for the 2024 season
• Deadlines approaching to attend 2024’s GTA event
• Inspections at CocoCay hold intriguing challenges for Safe Slide
• Busch Gardens’s Loch Ness Monster resurfaces after restoration
• Gravity Group, Texas Skilled Carpentry refurbish Funtown’s Excalibur
• 2024 World’s Largest Swimming Lesson draws thousands
• Europa-Park rebuilds bigger, better revamped Austria … and much more!

ORLANDO — SeaWorld Orlando’s hair-raising Halloween Howl-O-Scream event is preparing to re-emerge, promising a more terrifying experience than ever. This year’s event features five bone-chilling houses – four of them new, seven scare zones – three of them new, five interactive bars and two spectacular shows, plus several all-new attractions creeping into the event line-up. Howl-O-Scream taunts guests with a nightmarish adventure where the deepest fears come to life and new horrors emerge from the shadows, lurking around every corner, ready to haunt every step.

Guests can save up to 70% on Howl-O-Scream tickets now and for a limited time during the Sinister Sale, running until July 28. Tickets start at $32.99, offering a terrifyingly good deal for a night full of fantastic frights.

SeaWorld Orlando has provided a peak at what’s new for Howl-O-Scream this year, including a new haunted house “Farm 51,” where guests will harvest their fears as they navigate through fields of terror, as well as a new scare zone “Seeds of the Coven,” a forest where witches’ curses are sown and harvested. Still to come are details on three new houses, two more scare zones and two new bars.

Returning favorites include the haunted house “Deleri1um666,” and the scare zones “Blood Light District,” “Toxic Turmoil,” “Terrors of the Deep” and “Carnevil Pier.” Guests can also revisit the bars “Tormented,” “Carnevil Curiosities” and “Longshoremen’s Tavern.” Also returning are fan-favorite performances, “Monster Stomp” and “Siren’s Last Call.”

Guests can elevate their night of frights by experiencing SeaWorld Orlando’s roller coasters at night. Ride with ghosts on Mako, Manta, Ice Breaker and Pipeline for bone-chilling thrills all evening.