Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts across the United States and Canada are preparing to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a slate of family-friendly programming aimed at enhancing the guest experience and driving early-season occupancy.
Franchisees of the Yogi Bear-themed camping brand will be offering a variety of activities designed to attract families and create memorable experiences tailored to mothers and children alike.
The weekend lineup includes crafts, spa activities, themed contests, and live entertainment across more than 75 locations.
These events serve not only as a celebration of Mother’s Day, but also as an opportunity for campground operators to increase revenue through experiential offerings and differentiate their parks in a competitive market.
“We welcome moms with a gift as soon as they check in,” said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone, the franchising company behind Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts.
Specific activities vary by location. In Lodi, California, children can participate in a Kids Club craft session while mothers enjoy a complimentary Sip & Paint. In Estes Park, Colorado, events include crafts, laser tag, and candy bar bingo, while Larkspur features a scavenger hunt and tea with cookies.
The Bremen, Georgia park offers spa nights and live music for moms, and Pittsfield, Illinois is hosting a pancake breakfast and foam party.
In Monticello, Iowa, flower planting is the highlight, while Madison, Maine will host a pajama party and extend late check-outs.
Michigan’s Carsonville park offers spa pampering and character-led activities, while Grayling is running candy-themed contests and crafts. In South Haven, Cindy Bear’s Sweet Tooth Weekend focuses on crafts and treats.
Pelahatchie, Mississippi, presents a packed agenda, including a Mom-and-Me tea party, spa time, and scrapbooking with Cindy Bear.
At Monroe City, Missouri, guests can enjoy a Mom’s Night Out and themed crafts. Endicott, New York, ties into its Chocolate Lovers Weekend with events like a giant chocolate slide, pudding wrestling, and a breakfast-in-bed relay race.
In Bostic, North Carolina, moms can attend a Sip & Paint session while children create themed crafts. Tabor City includes a painting night and breakfast deliveries for surprise celebrations. At North Lawrence, Ohio, a similar blend of crafting and painting events is planned.
Two Texas parks—Burleson and Tyler—are offering karaoke tributes, wagon rides, and dress-like-mom contests. Finally, Chincoteague, Virginia, will feature juice and cookies with Mom, bingo, and kids’ crafts.
For park operators and industry stakeholders, events like these underscore the growing importance of themed experiences in outdoor hospitality.
By aligning holiday-specific programming with strategic marketing, franchised resorts can boost customer satisfaction, encourage repeat visitation, and support ancillary revenue through premium experiences like spa services and guided workshops.
As seasonal competition intensifies, such programming may serve as a useful case study for independent park owners looking to evolve beyond traditional campground offerings and cater to today’s experience-driven travelers.
Featured image by Jellystone Parks