Human sundaes, pie-in-the-face games, “Wild West” lasso competitions, weekend hoedowns, evening glow parades and glow swims, pet parades, and doggy fashion shows are just a few of the new activities planned at Jellystone Park locations this year.
“Every year our locations develop new activities and new weekend themes to not only keep guests entertained but to also help families create memories that will last a lifetime,” said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone, the Southfield, Michigan-based company that franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts across the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s a sampling of some of the new activities and weekend themes at Jellystone Park locations this year:
California
— Lodi: New weekend themes at this location include a “Great Outdoors” weekend April 12-14 with flower planting activities and a petting zoo. “Wild West” weekends are planned for the weekends of April 19-21 and 26-28 with lasso competitions, balloon stampedes, and weekend hoedowns. This park will also celebrate Cinco de Mayo the weekend of May 3-5
with live music and a salsa eating contest.
Georgia
— Bremen: This location will have a “Holiday Medley Mix-up” the weekend of August 16-18 in which Easter, Halloween, and Christmas will all be celebrated on the same weekend. Activities will include an Easter Hunt with candy-filled eggs, trick-or-treating in your ugliest Christmas sweater, and campsite decorating with holiday-themed decorations of your choice.
Illinois
— New Douglas: This location will have a “Furry Friend Fiesta Weekend” May 31-June 2. Activities will include pet charades, an animal calling contest to see who can make the best animal sounds, a popsicle stick dog craft with Boo Boo, pet lick painting in which pets can make their own painting, and some “pet only” water time.
Indiana
— Plymouth: This location has several new themes, including a “Slime Your Life Weekend” June 7-9 when guests will be able to create fluffy slime as well as slime art. There will also be games that allow children to slime themselves and their families. An “All Things Messy Weekend” is set for Aug. 16-18 with chocolate pudding art, a human sundae competition, and a pie-in-the-face game. No child will walk away clean! A “Throwback Weekend” is scheduled for Aug. 23-25 with a “Wacky Tacky Prom” and adult arm wrestling contests.
Kentucky
— Cave City: This location has several new themes, including a “Wizards and Wonders” weekend April 12-14 with wand making; broomstick sucker making; a costume contest with prizes for best overall, most original, and most magical; wizard tattoos with Boo Boo; glow-in-the-dark gellyball; a game of pin the hat on the wizard; and a glow stick party. A “Super Safari” weekend is scheduled for April 19-21 with monkey craft painting, a tiger handprint craft, an animal cracker stacking game, animal freeze tag, goldfish racing, and a game of animal trivia. A local petting zoo will also bring animals to the location.
Maine
— North Monmouth: New themes at this location include a Great Outdoors weekend May 15-17 in which guests will be invited to wake up the bears, plant flowers, and enjoy a petting zoo. Another new theme is scheduled for Aug. 16-22 when the park will have a “Peace, Love and Boo Boo” week. Guests will celebrate Boo Boo’s birthday, participate in a 70s-style tie dye competition, and show off their dance skills in a disco dance party.
Maryland
— Williamsport: This location will have its first ever “Winter Wonderland Weekend” Nov. 29-Dec. 1 with a holiday market, a foam party, and a hot cocoa bar.
Michigan
— Frankenmuth: New weekend themes at this location include a “Bugged Out Weekend” April 26-28. Activities include bug-themed crafts and games with Yogi Bear and friends. Kids will also create bird feeders as a craft activity and join a compass scavenger hunt. A “Bubbles and Balloon Bash with Boo Boo” is set for June 28-30 with activities including bubble time with Boo Boo, balloon waddle races, balloon twisting, and an afternoon foam party.
— Grayling: This location will have a “Puppy Paw-ty and S’mores Sweet Treats Weekend” April 26-28 with a puppy parade as well as doggy fashion and talent shows. Other activities include gooey games, crafts, and marshmallow delights as well as s’mores with a bear, a s’more building contest, and a s’more relay.
Mississippi
— Pelahatchie: New themes at this location include a “Glow Big or Go Home” weekend May 17-19. Activities include glow rides, glow pool parties, and glow games. Guests are encouraged to decorate their campsite with things that glow to win a free night’s stay!
New York
— Mexico: This location will have a “Retro Rewind Weekend” June 21-23 with tie dye t-shirts, a decades-themed costume contest, and a retro dance party. Guests who come to the park in restored vintage campers will also receive a 15% discount on their weekend stay.
North Carolina
— Asheboro: This location will have a “Bears and Bikes” weekend Sept. 7 with timed races on the park’s new Bunny Hop Pump Track.
— Tabor City: New themes at this location include a “My Pet and Me” weekend May 31-June 2 with games for guests’ pets as well as a pet look-alike contest. A “Go for the Gold Week” is scheduled for July 29-Aug. 4 with a week’s worth of games and competitions with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded after each competition. Some games will be traditional such as basketball while others will have entertaining twists such as silly swimming contests. Families will also have the chance to compete against other families in friendly competitions. A “Let’s Glow Week” will take place Aug. 5-11 with dress up contests and crafts, glow-in-the-dark “hey” wagon rides, silent disco dance parties, pool parties, basketball, and Z-tag.
Ohio
— Mt. Gilead: New themes at this location include a “Mad Science Weekend” May 3-5 with activities that include science-themed crafts and projects such as creating chemical reactions and launching rockets into the sky. The week of June 3-9 will have a theme of “Neon Nights and Tie Dye Delights.” Activities will include an evening glow parade, a late-night glow swim, a color run, and tie dye activities.
Texas
— Fredericksburg: New themes at this location include “Around the World in a Weekend” June 28-30. Guests will receive a passport and earn stamps for visiting all seven continents with themed activities specific to certain countries. Guests will learn new games from Ghana and Chile as well as traditional arts and crafts from North America, Tahiti, and Japan. There will also be character appearances and movies.
With more than 75 locations across the United States and Canada, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts feature fun attractions such as pools and water slides, non-stop family activities, up-close fun with Yogi Bear characters, and glamping-style accommodations. For more information about Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, please visit www.jellystonepark.com.
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