The three-day “Christmas in July #2” celebration is set to return July 25-27, bringing offseason holiday cheer—and fresh revenue opportunities—to the 42-acre Lake Milton/Berlin Lake KOA Holiday campground just off Interstate 76.
The weekend opens Friday at 8 p.m. with a fire-truck ride that departs from the game room, giving campers a twilight tour of the grounds, according to the campground’s calendar.
Saturday’s schedule starts at 10:30 a.m. with free kids’ crafts in Pavilion No. 2, where children can paint ceramics, layer sand art or color KOA T-shirts; select projects will be sold à la carte. Weather permitting, a beach DJ keeps music spinning from noon to 5 p.m.
Holiday-themed fun continues Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. adult gift exchange capped at $20, a 3 p.m. foam party and a 4 p.m. hayride that encourages Santa hats. Santa himself arrives at 6 p.m.—parents must drop wrapped presents at the office by 4 p.m.—and the day ends around a community bonfire at 8 p.m.
Sunday features a lighter schedule as guests pack up and check out, allowing staff to reset the park for the next influx of campers.
Situated between Lake Milton and Berlin Lake, the property offers big-rig RV sites, premium tent pads and Deluxe Cabins, with sites stretching to 125 feet and 50-amp hookups. Recreation ranges from a swimming lake with a waterslide and jump zone to mini-golf, canoe rentals and the fenced Happy Tail Dog Park.
For operators watching their ancillary revenue, parks hosting similar events often offer bundles a two-night minimum stay with limited-edition ornaments and hot-cocoa vouchers, then layers on a $15 VIP wristband that covers front-of-line Santa photos, priority hayride seating and reserved bonfire chairs. Pre-selling those extras during the online reservation flow and stocking light-up Santa hats at check-in further nudges per-site spending.
Behind the scenes, staffers could prep a detailed grid assigning supervision for craft tables, foam-machine operation and first aid. A pre-event walk checks hayride routes, cord placement and bonfire perimeters, while misting stations and shaded water spots help guests beat midsummer heat.
Temporary ramps ensure Santa’s landing zone and hayride loading area remain ADA compliant, and real-time updates are pushed to campers’ phones. Liability and passenger limits for the fire-truck ride are confirmed with the local fire department in advance.
Reservations can be made by calling 330-538-2194 or by visiting the park website. Because the campground operates behind a gate, late arrivals must arrange entry ahead of time.
For owners eyeing ways to extend peak season, Lake Milton KOA’s midsummer holiday blueprint shows how creative programming can lengthen occupancy and diversify income streams well beyond traditional holiday weekends.