HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — In celebration of one of Hollywood’s most distinguished and accomplished actresses, Madame Tussauds Hollywood is proud to reveal a stunning new wax figure of EGOT winner Viola Davis. Renowned for her commanding performances and groundbreaking achievements, Davis made history as the youngest person and first African American to earn the prestigious Triple Crown of Acting—an Academy Award, an Emmy Award and two Tony Awards. The actress and producer is best known for her roles in highly acclaimed films and TV shows, including The Woman King, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Doubt, The Help, How To Get Away With Murder and more. With her career continuing to soar, she is set to take on the leading role in the highly anticipated film G20, out on Amazon Prime beginning April 10.
To make sure every detail of her figure was meticulously crafted, Davis sat down with the creative team, including sculptors, colorists, hairdressers, and stylists, who took approximately 200 measurements and photographs from every angle to ensure accuracy of her exact facial and physical features.
“This is what art is supposed to do. This is how art is supposed to make you feel,” said Davis. “It’s transcendental. It goes far beyond anything you could imagine in an earthly realm.”
The new figure is dressed in the striking red Giorgio Armani Privé gown she wore to the 2017 Oscars, a night where she took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Fences. From her platform sneakers to a precise replica of her gold jewelry, including her wedding ring, every detail was considered to capture Davis’s signature elegance and presence with incredible accuracy.
“Viola Davis continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her powerful performances and extraordinary talent,” said General Manager of Madame Tussauds Hollywood Tom Middleton. “This figure is a tribute to her lasting influence in the entertainment industry, giving fans a unique opportunity to celebrate her legacy and connect with her brilliance like never before.”
Before its official reveal at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Davis came face-to-face with her wax figure, a moment that honored her extraordinary career and powerful presence on screen. Now on display, the figure serves as a tribute to Davis’s lasting impact on the entertainment industry, offering guests a unique opportunity to engage with her legacy in an immersive and personal way.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The International Adventure of Trampoline Parks (IATP) is pleased to announce the continuation of its exclusive partnership with The Insurance Center, offering IATP members access to discounted insurance rates tailored specifically for trampoline and adventure parks. This ongoing collaboration ensures that IATP members continue to receive competitive rates and comprehensive coverage for their businesses.
As part of this exclusive member benefit, trampoline and adventure park owners will continue to have access to specialized insurance solutions, including liability, property, workers’ compensation, and more. The Insurance Center’s deep understanding of the trampoline and adventure park industry ensures that IATP members are receiving the best coverage options available at discounted rates.
Why Join the IATP Today?
- Exclusive Discounts: IATP members benefit from continued access to discounted insurance rates through The Insurance Center, helping you save on essential coverage.
- Tailored Coverage: The Insurance Center offers policies that are specifically designed to meet the needs of trampoline and adventure parks, providing comprehensive protection for your business.
- Industry Networking and Resources: Joining the IATP means gaining access to a strong network of industry professionals and valuable resources to support the growth and success of your trampoline or adventure park.
Quotes:
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with The Insurance Center, which has provided exceptional value to our members. Access to discounted, tailored insurance coverage is just one of the many benefits of being part of the IATP community. We’re committed to helping our members save and grow their businesses with the best resources available.”
– Philip Slaggert, Chair, IATP
“The Insurance Center has always been proud to serve the trampoline and adventure park industry, and we’re excited to continue supporting IATP members with customized, cost-effective insurance solutions. Our team understands the unique needs of this industry and we are dedicated to helping IATP members ensure their businesses are properly protected at competitive rates.”
– Shawn Iverson, Principal, The Insurance Center
By continuing this exclusive partnership, IATP members can take advantage of significant savings while ensuring their businesses are properly protected. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom announced today that it will once again work with Tickets for Kids Charities to distribute a thousand complimentary single-day admission tickets for the 2025 season. Dorney Park estimates that the total contribution is worth over 70-thousand dollars.
Public Relations Manager Ryan Eldredge says they are increasing the number of tickets donated this year to the organization in order to expand access to the thrills of the park.
“We remain committed to our region and the children who live here,” said Eldredge. “As we did in 2024 we will continue to give back and to find ways to help our community. Expanding access to the park and providing opportunities to those less fortunate is just one way that we can show that Dorney Park Cares.”
Tickets for Kids provides free access for low-income and at-risk kids to attend the arts, cultural, educational, and athletic venues of their community. The organization’s mission is to inspire hope, dreams, and achievements for a lifetime.
“We are extremely thankful to have the opportunity to continue our great relationship with Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom for another summer. As we continue to grow and expand further into the eastern part of Pennsylvania, it is wonderful to know that we have partner organizations committed to our mission, standing by our side.” Brandice E. Miller, Executive Director, Tickets for Kids Charities
The partnership will begin when Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom opens to the public for the season on Friday, May 9, 2025.
At the top of the list of highlights for the park in 2025 is the history-making roller coaster Iron Menace, as well as a Wildwater Kingdom enhancement project which will feature upgraded dining, retail, and sliding experiences.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — An 18-hole Modular Advantage Mini Golf course was recently designed and installed by Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS) at the 188-acre Lake Arvesta Farms in South Haven, Michigan. The course features a variety of obstacles inspired by the crops and land of west Michigan from beach balls, driftwood, a blueberry harvester, firetruck and a lighthouse, to farm implements and crates used for transporting fruits to a garden hole with vegetables planted on all sides of the hole. The course also features a “buried building” on one mini golf hole that recalls the shifting sands that buried the Michigan shoreline town of Singapore in the late 19th century.
The course design was inspired by a color rendering of a mini golf course designed by owner Brian deBest hanging in his current office for over 25 years. The rendering was of a proposed mini golf course he and a partner had proposed for downtown South Haven that never materialized. However, acreage deBest originally purchased for his lawn maintenance, excavating and landscaping business to mine sand for a housing subdivision, was eventually repurposed for a water park that grew into a sports complex.
At Lake Arvesta Farms, the mini golf course joins a sizable aqua park with giant water slides, floating obstacle courses, cable wakeboarding, kayaking and paddle boarding, along with 12 pickleball courts (3 indoor, 9 outdoor), the longest Disc Golf course in North America (54 holes), shuffleboard, ping-pong, air hockey, corn-hole, bounce houses and trolley rides as well as a concession stand and full restaurant / bar.
“I said, ‘If we’re going to build a waterpark, it’s going to have a golf course on it,’” says deBest. “And when we started designing the waterpark, I wanted the golf course to be on a hillside so when you’re at the waterpark or you drive in to the water park, that is the backdrop of the facility. I had the concept but I didn’t have the initiative to do it on my own. That’s when I got in contact with Adventure Golf and Sports and asked if they would consider doing it. AGS said ‘we would consider doing it but we’ve never put one on a hillside before of that caliber and do you realize there are laws for handicap accessibility that play a role?’ And I replied ‘No, I didn’t, but I feel we have enough space and enough land that we can put it together. And that’s how we got to where we are today.’”
According to Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS), the Modular Advantage Mini Golf course they installed at Lake Arvesta Farms uses patented, high-density polyethylene modular interlocking panels that are permeable for fast and easy water drainage. The panels can create all the contours, undulations, water and theme elements historically seen on courses constructed using cement, but avoid the pitfalls of concrete construction like excavation that could require removal or damage of nearby flora and fauna, freeze/thaw cracking and water pooling that can cause slipping hazards.
“The mini golf course is on a big man-made hill that took 280,000 yards of clay to build,” says Brian deBest. “We have the capability of running cement trucks up, but it would have been
a lot harder. I know clay moves and I just like the concept that the AGS course was modular and it could flex and not crack. I’ve played several golf courses across the country to see what was right, what was wrong, and to get some ideas over the last 25 years. Cement cracks and carpet wears out. And they (AGS) told me ‘Use this modular course. The carpet (synthetic turf) doesn’t wear out as much because the water drains off of it and it can flex.’ What was intriguing to me was that, if we wish, we can always tweak it and move it around a little bit compared to pouring cement where it’s permanent.”
According to deBest, the course has several par 3s and par 4s and the holes are not all on the same elevation with some of the greens having a three-foot elevated change. There are faux sand traps on the course with a full waterfall that goes through the entire course.
deBest says “The bottom nine holes are handicap accessible. The greens are not green, they’re beige to look like sand and there’s no grass around them. It’s all beach-themed.” The themes include a sand castle hole, beach balls, lighthouse, buoys, kites, driftwood, sailboat, sandbox and the 18th hole of the course features a sand-covered building where the golf balls drop into the building to recall the sunken Michigan town of Singapore.
“Then when you go up to the top of the hill, we’re back to green holes,” says deBest. Hole themes include a fishing hole, crate hole building with a “live” roof, garden hole, farm implement hole, firetruck hole, old farm wheels, a South Haven-built blueberry harvester among a local variety of blueberry bushes, and an open-theme hole that invites players to suggest a theme.
“We wanted to expose our tourist guests coming from Chicago, Canadian cities and all over the country to the nature of west Michigan. Here, guests can play through rows of corn, Indian corn, green beans, strawberries, blueberries and other fruits and vegetables so they can see how that is grown. And we have a sign saying, ‘we use what we can at our restaurant so it’s farm to table.’ I wanted a lighthouse because South Haven is known for its lighthouse so we tried putting in different themes to portray what this area is like.
“We had the ideas for many years and I knew what I wanted for themes, but I wanted to make sure we put the holes in that weren’t too challenging but challenging enough to draw a crowd and that’s why Adventure Golf came into play because I just wanted those done right.”
deBest also saw the opportunity to promote his legacy landscaping business with the mini golf course as well. “Our office has always been about landscape, but we didn’t have a display area that showed off different types of stone, brick and material like that, and I just felt it was the way to tie our business and an attraction together….We did not sub-contract any theme elements for the mini golf course. All the retaining walls and walkways were built by deBest Inc. employees. And we used four different colors of Porous Pave for the walkways and we did it in different ways so we can use it as a tool to sell it… And we’re using different methods of retaining walls…We’ve actually got 27 different retaining walls (on the course) but they’re all different…Where else can you go to see such a variety of retaining walls at one place to choose for your own property?”
Although the course opened in 2024, deBest says, “We’re hoping for a great start in 2025. We’re known for a waterpark and that is an amenity to the waterpark, but we’ve got to do some marketing to reach people who are looking for mini golf to let them know what we have here. Not ‘come to the waterpark and there’s mini golf here.’ We’ve got to do marketing specifically for the mini golf to get our numbers where they need to be.”
And guest reactions last year? “Wow!” exclaims deBest. “We’ve had people that drive across the country to play mini golf and they say they’ve never played anything quite like it.”
WHAT:
Hersheypark springs back to life this weekend when it opens on Saturday, April 5, at 11 a.m. for its 119th operating year. The largest amusement park in Pennsylvania will be open for seven Spring Weekends through May 18, with extended hours over Easter Weekend, before the summer season begins May 22.
Tickets include more than 50 rides with the most coasters in the Northeast, Hershey Character selfies, seal and sea lion shows, ZooAmerica visits and endless Hersheypark Happy.
ONLY-IN-HERSHEY SPRING OFFERINGS:
Hersheypark offers more than 50 spring attractions (weather permitting) with 14 coasters, 20 kiddie rides and family favorites like the Ferris Wheel and Kissing Tower (celebrating 50 years).
Tickets used during Spring Weekends also include meet and greets with iconic characters Hershey Bar and Reese, Our Friends From The Sea shows featuring marine animals with special needs and entrance to ZooAmerica to see dozens of North American animals.
Hersheypark will also debut sweet and savory food and beverage offerings this spring, including new sundaes, new King Size Shake flavors topped with baked goods and a new Twisted French Fry Flight in celebration of Twizzlers Twisted Gravity opening this summer.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Zach Williams and legendary Christian rock band Skillet headline Dollywood’s popular contemporary Christian music event, Rock the Smokies, with multiple shows set to take place in Celebrity Theater on Saturday, Aug. 23.
One of contemporary Christian music’s most well-known names, Zach Williams has become known for chart-toppers—including “There Was Jesus,” a collaboration with Dollywood’s Dreamer-in-Chief Dolly Parton—that tell the story of how God’s love and guidance changed his life. While on tour with the Southern rock band he co-founded, Williams knew he needed to follow another path.
“I can remember walking through the front door crying after I got back from that tour. I apologized to my wife and my kids. I asked God to be the Lord of my life, and things started to change,” he says. “I remember getting on my knees praying, saying ‘I don’t care if I don’t do music again. I will find a job, go to church, and be a good dad…One thing after another, God showed up.”
Williams said he’s thankful for the second chance and prioritizes his wife and kids over his career saying, “Now, I won’t play anywhere where they can’t come along.” The opportunity to perform at Rock the Smokies provides Williams’ family a great place to play while dad is at work.
Contemporary Christian rock band Skillet co-headlines the Rock the Smokies concerts. The Dove Award-winning and Grammy-nominated group was formed in 1996 and has transcended music genres with their songs featured in places beyond the Christian radio airwaves.
Guests can expect to hear songs from Skillet’s newest album, Revolution, alongside their multi-platinum hits, including “Monster,” “Hero,” “Awake and Alive,” and “Feel Invincible.”
“We are excited to be at Rock the Smokies this year at Dollywood. We look forward to rocking out alongside some other great artists, like Zach Williams,” said John Cooper of Skillet. “We love whenever we get the opportunity to play in our new home state and you know that we need to have that famous cinnamon bread at Dollywood. Let’s rock!”
Additionally, Rock the Smokies features several other contemporary Christian artists performing on stages throughout the park. Those artists include Alexander Pappas, Micah Christopher, Ivey Asher, and Sansone. All performances outside of Celebrity Theater are free with park admission. Dr. Joy Greene serves as the emcee of the Celebrity Theater performances.
Tickets for the headline events are extremely popular, and premium seats tend to sell out quickly. Pre-sale begins Thursday, April 10, with tickets on sale to the general public on Friday, April 11. Tickets are good for seats in Celebrity Theater shows only; all other general admission concerts are first come, first served. Guests can save $19 on tickets purchased during the Super Early Bird promotion available through June 27.
Photo opportunities are available through the platinum VIP package. Special Dollywood season passholder pricing also is available on the event website, rockthesmokiesfest.com
Embed is the AAMA Supplier of the Year Award winner, a testament to the company’s commitment to layering value for members of the Embed family through constant innovation of solutions FEC operators can trust and maximise to enable, empower, and ease their business of fun. “We are honoured to be recognised for this esteemed award. We are grateful beyond words to our partners and the members of the Embed family for making this possible!” says Sara Paz, CMO and Growth Officer at Embed.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Opening Day at Kennywood, Pittsburgh’s Thrill and Entertainment Destination, is just nine days away, as the park’s 127th season begins on 412 Day, Saturday, April 12. This year begins with a ribbon cutting and unveiling of the all-new Kennywood Junction themed area and new Eggcellent Celebration event. Modeled after a small steel town neighborhood, Kennywood Junction features five newly themed rides, a celebration room, new retail store and will serve as the center piece for the Eggcellent Celebration.
Hoppin’ new festive fun all begins on Opening Day as the Eggcellent Celebration springs into bloom weekends April 12 through April 27, to mark the official start of spring, the Easter season and celebrate spring break. Plus, the park has added two additional bonus operating days, Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21. Details include:
- Festive Fun in the NEW Kennywood Junction – The newly themed area will be home to the Eggcellent Celebration. In addition to experiencing its five rides, including the Olde Kennywood Railroad, Kenny’s Cargo Drop, Parker’s Cloud Cruisers, Fire Bustin’ Brigade and Coal Haulin’ Convoy, guests can enjoy larger-than-life Easter inspired decorations and photo opportunities;
- Meet and Greets with Tuft the Kennywood Easter Bunny – The park’s newest character Tuft will delight visitors during the event for meet and greets and photos in an all-new celebration space featuring a winding bunny trail, rolling hills, blooming flowers and more;
- Brunch with Tuft – Guests can add a special Brunch with Tuft and his friends to their visit, offering exclusive early park access, additional photo opportunities and an all-you-can-eat buffet; and
- Thrilling Rides & Attractions – The park will be in full bloom with everyone’s favorite attractions ready for riders. Get ready for rides on the USA Today 10Best nominated Phantom’s Revenge, historic Jack Rabbit, iconic Kangaroo and more.
The Eggcellent Celebration is just the beginning of a full season jam packed with the park’s best event lineup ever. Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival makes a grand return with two all-new countries, Cuba and Spain, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, May 23 through June 29 plus, Monday, May 26. Then in July, Kennywood lights up the sky with fireworks on July 4 and 5 and nine nights of Drone Shows July 11 through 19, plus more for the new All-American Summer festival. Fall Fantasy Parades get a Mardi Gras twist daily August 2 through August 17 with parade floats, live music and other entertainment on the midways, plus specialty food and drinks for a decked-out French Quarter block party. The longest Phantom Fall Fest in park history begins on September 12, with the debut of an all-new haunted house. Kennywood closes out the longest season ever with Rudolph and friends during Holiday Lights November 14 through January 4.
“2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in Kennywood history,” said General Manager Ricky Spicuzza. “With the debut of brand-new events like the Eggcellent Celebration and All-American Summer, plus the long-awaited return of the Steel Curtain, there’s more to see, do and experience than ever before. This will be our longest season yet, and we can’t wait to welcome guests for a year packed with unforgettable thrills, family fun and new traditions.”
In addition to a full season packed with events and new reasons to visit, the park’s record setting Steel Curtain Roller Coaster makes its grand return in 2025.
Betson Enterprises is excited to announce the appointment of Stuart Wood as the new Director of Export Consultant for the Middle East, UK, and EU regions. Stuart brings over 28 years of experience in the Family Entertainment sector, most recently serving as Vice President of Arcades at HB Leisure. Prior to that, he held the position of International Sales Manager at Bandai Namco, following his early career as a sales executive at Crown Direct. Stuart’s industry experience and passion make him a strong addition to the Betson team.
“In this new role, Stuart will be responsible for driving international sales of the Raw Thrills product line through established and emerging distribution channels. He will also play a key role in growing Betson’s global footprint and strengthening relationships with key partners across the region,” stated Betson’s President Bob Geschine.
“I am thrilled to be working with Betson at such an exciting time,” said Stuart. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and network to help expand the company’s international presence and contribute to Raw Thrills’ ongoing success in global markets.”
Stuart’s responsibilities will include supporting the sales efforts of Raw Thrills’ full product line in relevant international territories, as well as identifying ancillary growth opportunities in the arcade and family entertainment market sector.
In today’s fast-paced world, a smooth guest experience is essential. Perth’s Crown Casino now uses VLocker’s cashless locker system. This helps them give their guests the best experience possible. In June 2022 Crown Casino Perth approached VLocker seeking a modern locker solution for their basement casino entry areas due to performance issues with their existing supplier.
Why VLocker? A Seamless Transition to Modern Convenience
The casino began looking for a new locker system in June 2022. They aimed to solve problems with traditional storage methods. Within a month of deciding to entrust VLocker with their modern Lockers, the sleek, aesthetically pleasing lockers were installed. They fit seamlessly with the venue’s world-class design. The change was a success. Andrew Della Vedova, Loyalty Operations Manager at Crown Perth who joined the team around the same time, saw how quickly the system was accepted and its benefits to both business and end-user, streamlining operations and improved guest satisfaction.
VLocker was chosen for its:
- Unmatched Reliability – Reduces access issues for smooth guest experiences.
- Sophisticated Management Software – Integrates with venue operations for better control.
- Elegant & Modern Design – Matches the high-end feel of Crown Perth.
- Unparalleled Security – Giving guests peace of mind while enjoying the casino and world class facilities.
Guests can enjoy a premium experience without worrying about their belongings.
Cutting-Edge Features for an Effortless Experience
This locker system is fully cashless. It supports various digital payment methods, including Apple Pay and Android Pay. Access is easy with secure PIN codes, so there’s no need for keys or physical tickets. Designed for guests, the lockers are user-friendly and require little instruction.
Enhancing Operational Efficiency
VLocker’s system has greatly improved operational efficiency. The casino reports fewer guest complaints, showing the system’s reliability and ease of use. Routine maintenance takes no more than two minutes. The self-sufficient model reduces the need for outside support and licensing fees, saving money.
Andrew noted, “Guests have mentioned the simplicity of use. With less maintenance than the old system, staff can focus on other important duties.”
Elevating the Guest Experience
For many guests, the cashless locker system has been transformative. Imagine a visitor arriving at the casino, weighed down by bags after a long flight. They approach the sleek lockers, tap their phone to pay, and receive a secure PIN. The soft click of the locker door unlocking brings relief—they can now explore the casino hands-free, fully immersed in the experience.
The PIN-based access is especially handy in a lively casino. One guest, after an entertaining night, forgot their locker number. A quick code input revealed the exact location, saving time and frustration. This convenience sets VLocker apart.
Andrew added, “We needed a locker system that matched our world-class facilities and was easy for guests to use.”
Reliable Support and Maintenance
Despite being low-maintenance, the system includes a 24-hour hotline for support. In rare cases of technical problems, such as internet outages, you can use manual override options to keep the service running. External maintenance was needed just a few times this past year. This shows the system is reliable.
“When we needed maintenance, they were very responsive,” Andrew said.
Unforeseen Advantages and Guest Usage Trends
An unexpected benefit of the cashless system is a drop in lost items and forgotten cash. The casino has three banks of lockers that provide ample space for guest demand. Some users store their belongings for over 24 hours, but the slight over-capacity allows for smooth operation with less frequent maintenance.
A Model for the Future
Mr. Della Vedova is very satisfied with VLocker’s system. He values its efficiency, minimal staff involvement, and ease of use. He recommends this model to other businesses looking for a modern, hassle-free locker solution.
A Convenient Solution for Travelers
VLocker’s lockers help more than just casino-goers. They also support airport guests, layover passengers, and hotel visitors who need safe luggage storage. A traveler worried about their luggage while waiting for a late flight felt relieved. They used a secure, easy storage option that allowed them to enjoy the casino without stress.
Looking Ahead
With the system’s success, Perth’s Crown Casino has set a new standard for guest convenience and operational efficiency. VLocker’s cashless locker system shows how new technology can boost customer experience. Industry leaders are using it to drive positive change.
