Late summer and fall are shaping up to be peak periods for several Jellystone Park locations in Canada, with themed weekends drawing families well into September and October.
While summer typically marks the busiest time of year for campgrounds, parks in Niagara Falls, Cavendish, Kingston, and Woodstock report strong demand during the late season, particularly around Halloween-themed events.
“Families love our late summer festival and Halloween-themed weekends,” said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone, which franchises more than 75 Jellystone Park locations across North America in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences.
Activities range from trick-or-treating with Yogi Bear characters to costume contests, glow stick parades, pumpkin decorating, and even a tropical-themed beach party.
According to Hershenson, the variety of offerings is designed to appeal to families with children of all ages. “Many locations offer a combination of scary and not-so-scary experiences so families can choose the weekends with the types of activities that best fit their children,” he said in a press release.
The Cavendish, Prince Edward Island location is kicking off its first season of fall festivities on Labour Day weekend with “A Beary Scary Spooktacular.”
Events continue through September 19, concluding with a ceremony where children help tuck Yogi Bear, Cindy Bear, and Boo Boo into hibernation.
In Niagara Falls, Ontario, Labour Day weekend will feature a Halloween celebration with magic pumpkin rides, a monster-themed dance party, costume contests, and trick-or-treating. Fall activities continue until October 11.
Woodstock, New Brunswick, is hosting its “Howl-o-ween” events, which include site decorating, trick-or-treating, the Boo Boo Boogey Man Ball, and family games. Before the season winds down, the park will hold a Hawaiian-themed “Bear-adise Beach Party” over Labour Day weekend.
Kingston, Nova Scotia, will begin its late-season programming on August 22 with a haunted house, wagon rides, and trick-or-treating.
On the weekend of September 12, families can join the Jellystone Park characters for a glow stick parade, light show, and pajama party before the characters are put to bed for the winter.
For campground operators and industry professionals, these late-season events highlight the potential of themed programming to extend peak business beyond July and early August.
By diversifying offerings and appealing to families seeking experiences in the fall, parks may find new opportunities to increase occupancy, attract repeat visitors, and capture revenue during traditionally quieter periods.