New Holiday World Event is Something to Quack About

Santa Claus, Indiana (IAAPA News) - From the park where you can ride a gravy boat from Grandma’s house, experience a Mean Girls-themed coaster event, and eat an entire Thanksgiving dinner, comes the latest whimsical attraction: Rubber Duck Days. 

The family-owned theme park made the announcement on April 1—and no, this is not a joke.

From June 8-21, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, will become home to a festival featuring the world’s largest rubber duck, which will stretch to 60 feet above the Splashin’ Safari water park. The duck’s “son,” Timmy—who is only 10 feet tall—will be available for photo moments. 

New food and beverage options and themed decor will round out the festivities.

But why rubber ducks? For Lauren Crosby, director of entertainment and events and fourth-generation owner of the park, that was precisely the first question. 

Crosby and other park leaders sat down to create an event to bump attendance as daily operation began. 

“Last summer, we started brainstorming some different ideas for events that we could have in the month of June to try and get some more attention during that month,” Crosby tells IAAPA News.

 “We threw out several different concepts for events, and honestly, the one that rose to the top was rubber ducks.”

The blue sky idea ultimatly fit the park’s brand.

“At Holiday World, we love to do some wacky, off-the-wall ideas,” Crosby says. “And we just thought, why not rubber ducks?”

Crosby knew that the event couldn’t just be about rubber ducks: it needed an anchor. “After we kind of narrowed in on rubber ducks, we really focused hard on ‘How do we get the world's largest rubber duck?’” Crosby explains. 

“Then that really shaped the event.”

Holiday World produced an extensive preview video announcing the event. 

The preview trailer captures office life at the facility during the off season, making use of employees in a creative way.  

The Holiday World team found that the largest version of the squeaky yellow animal was surprisingly easy to locate—and connect with.

“They have a website and a contact us form, and we reached out and started negotiations,” Crosby says. 

“We're like, ‘Hey, I know you normally do just like, one day events, but what would you think about two weeks?’ So we worked with them, and they were excited to come and be a part of this event.” 

At its foundation, the event connects with the roots of what Holiday World is as a park. “We're not the most themed, we're not the flashiest, but [we asked] ‘What can we do that makes us stand apart in all the noise of all the parks?’” Crosby says. 

“[It relates to] just being truly wacky and out there—and not saying no to ideas.”

Crosby suggests other operators can lean into their unique positions in their respective marketplaces to enhance the park experience. 

“When someone says, let's have a rubber duck event, let's explore it,” Crosby says of Holiday World’s position. 

“Let's flush it out. Can this work before we just say no? No idea is a bad idea, but we really just like to lean into the quirky. That's become who we are, and we love to play it up as much as we can.”

Will guests find rubber ducks celebrating Christmas, Halloween, and 4th of July in the park’s various themed areas? “We will try,” Crosby concludes with a laugh.