Halloween at Holiday Park

***image1***As a self-proclaimed rollercoaster enthusiast, Capt. Scott Jensen says the Expedition GeForce at Holiday Park is one of the best he has ever been on.

“I’ve been on many roller coasters all over the U.S., and this one has sudden changes in direction and speed starting at the very beginning,” said Captain Jensen, with U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander’s Action Group, who visited Holiday Park for the first time this summer to celebrate his daughter’s eighth birthday. “It’s a very smooth ride, but it definitely grabs your attention.”

Deemed as “A World of Fun so Close to You,” Holiday Park in Hassloch is about an hour from Ramstein. “I had a lot of fun,” said Tiffany Jensen, who added that this was the best birthday party so far. “My favorite was the water rides. I went on them and on them.”

***image2***Shocktober 2007 is happening now at the amusement park culminating with a Halloween Party on Oct. 31. Shocktober means the park will be decorated with skeletons, luminescent pumpkin heads and shadowy light effects in trees and bushes, and its three restaurants will serve dishes fit for little and big spooks and goblins. Naturally, the park’s Castle Falkenstein will be all aglow with Halloween fun during Shocktober.

The park’s 23 rides and several attractions, including seven shows, are scattered throughout its almost 100-acre landscape. With the theme of “Summer Nights,” the park and most of its rides and attractions are open until Halloween.

One of the exceptions is the water-ski stunt show, which has its last performance on Oct. 30.

Athletes from Australia, Canada, U.S., Africa and Germany have performed at the park’s aqua stadium that showcases a seven-acre lake and have entertained visitors with its action-packed and slapstick shows. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this water-ski entertainment and the park is celebrating this birthday with a new show called “The Curse of the Pirates.”

Other shows like the “Woman of Steel” and “Crocodile Diana Show” are open throughout October. Children’s World with its Adventure Castle and Holly’s Jungle also remain open.

Operating hours throughout October are daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with admission until 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with admission until 6 p.m., and Halloween 10 a.m. to midnight with admission until 8:15 p.m., riding attractions until 9 p.m. and Halloween party until midnight.
 
Prices can be found at the park’s official Web site at www.holidaypark.de.

Wear a costume during Shocktober and receive a €2 discount when you purchase a ticket at the park. United Service Organizations throughout Europe offer discount tickets for Holiday Park.

For navigational systems or global maps, the address is: Holiday Park Strasse 1-5, 67454 Hassloch.