SANTA CLAUS — Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is riding a wave of momentum into its upcoming season after sweeping two major categories at the 2026 Indiana Tourism Awards.
The honors were announced during the state’s annual tourism conference held March 16–18 in Indianapolis. The park, a staple of Southern Indiana’s tourism economy, was recognized for its ability to blend nostalgic traditions with cutting-edge guest experiences.
A “Roaring” Success
Holiday World took home the award for Best New Experience, specifically for the dinosaur-themed takeover introduced during its popular “Happy Halloween Weekends.”
The award-winning attractions included:
- Dino Corn Maze Adventure: A 12-acre journey featuring two dozen life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs designed by “Dino Don” Lessem, a former advisor to the Jurassic Park films.
- “Dinos Soar in the Sky” Drone Show: A nightly spectacle featuring 500 synchronized drones creating prehistoric shapes over the park.
Park officials confirmed that due to “overwhelming guest enthusiasm,” the dinosaurs are not extinct just yet. The theme is officially set to return for the 2026 season, complete with a redesigned corn maze and an updated drone performance.
Celebrating 25 Years of “Free”
In addition to its experiential win, the park received the award for Best New Merchandise for its commemorative “25 Years of Free Unlimited Soft Drinks” cup set.
The merchandise honors a milestone in the park’s history; Holiday World became the first theme park in the world to offer free unlimited soft drinks to all guests in 2000. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the park recently held a kids’ art contest, using winning designs from young fans to decorate the now-award-winning souvenir cups.
What’s Ahead for 2026
As the park prepares for its 80th season, several new perks and events are on the calendar:
- Early Entry for Platinum Passholders: For the first time, Platinum Season Passholders will receive 45 minutes of early access to Splashin’ Safari daily from June 1 through July 31, including popular water coasters like Mammoth and Cheetah Chase.
- New “Holidays in the Sky”: The summer drone and fireworks spectacular returns from June 20 to August 3, featuring pyrotechnics attached to the drones.
- Teacher Discounts: The park is introducing new ticket and pass discounts for educators, verified through ID.me.
The 2026 season officially kicks off with Season Passholder Preview Days on May 2 and 3. The park will open to the general public shortly thereafter. For the full 2026 operating calendar and ticket information, visit HolidayWorld.com.
