SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Take a stroll on the Santa Monica Pier to “Snackville” at Pacific Park, the all-new fun, food area with reimagined culinary concepts by Michelin-Star Chef James Kent, that features five new dining options that officially opens on Friday, June 7. 

“Snackville” is the first of many exciting new capital investments to be introduced at Pacific Park. “Snackville” is located on the world-famous Santa Monica Pier boardwalk and offers hand-held treats and delicious eats right by the entrance to the two-acre amusement park including:

• Smashie’s Burgers, serving smash burgers, loaded hot dogs, and a selection of freshly fried fries. Smashie’s anchors the new “Snackville” at Pacific Park. Smashie’s hot, fresh burgers are charbroiled on the griddle, topped with slices of American cheese, grilled onions, and all-new Smashie Sauce, then assembled and pressed for a crispy, melty, juicy, burger experience.
• Mr. Nice Fry, serving fresh fry varieties including Skinny Dippers, Swirly Fries and Tater Wheels. Mr. Nice Fry satisfies boardwalk guests’ cravings for all things golden, brown and delicious. Mr. Nice Fry’s fun selection of fried potatoes is served with tasty dipping sauces and premium seasonings to keep tater lovers coming to the boardwalk again and again.
• eegee’s, an Arizona beverage staple since 1971, is making its Hollywood debut over the cool blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Located inside Mr. Nice Fry, eegees are the perfect blend of real fruit and frozen goodness that’ll have you sipping on sunshine year round.
• Churrita Churro, a classic fried dough treat gets a decadent upgrade at Churrita. Cinnamon sprinkled, dulce de leche filled, or chocolate dipped, get your churro fix, with or without creamy soft-serve ice cream at Santa Monica’s hottest new sweet shop.
• Scoops Creamery, located just inside Snackville’s main entrance, Scoops Creamery serves frozen treats including hand-scooped ice cream, milkshakes, and sundaes. Scoops Creamery is open daily and offers six flavors of Dippin’ Dots and freshly made funnel cakes, which you can top with your choice of Lappert’s premium ice cream. 
• Cosmic Funnel Cake, Pacific Park’s signature Funnel Cake is a boardwalk treat that can’t be missed on any visit to the Santa Monica Pier. The name comes from the technique of pouring batter through a funnel into hot oil. The funnel gives the cake its signature texture. Funnel Cakes are typically served with a dusting of powdered sugar. At “Snackville” they are served at Cosmic Funnel Cakes and Scoops Creamery and can be topped with strawberries, whipped cream, or even a scoop of your favorite Lappert’s premium ice cream.

“Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has been an opportunity to apply our restaurant experience to some of my most beloved amusement park foods,” said James Kent, Michelin-Star Chef and Executive Chef at Saga Hospitality Group. “We’ll serve exactly what I want when I’m on the water with my family, namely the definitive smash burger and extra crispy fries.”

Chef James Kent’s culinary journey began at Bouley, leading to Le Cordon Bleu and Johnson & Wales. He honed his skills at renowned kitchens like Babbo and Jean-Georges before joining Eleven Madison Park. Under Kent’s leadership as chef de cuisine, EMP earned four stars from The New York Times and three Michelin stars. In 2017, Kent set out to pursue his first solo project–an ambitious pair of restaurants in the landmark Art Deco building at 70 Pine Street in New York’s Financial District. Kent opened Crown Shy, the first of those restaurants, in March 2019. Just six months after opening, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star. After 18 months of pandemic-related delays, the pair opened SAGA–a fine-dining restaurant in the tiered spire of the building–in August of 2021. In October 2022, SAGA was awarded two Michelin stars.

“Pacific Park is excited to be working with Chef James Kent and look forward to implementing the new culinary concepts developed for ‘Snackville’ and other projects,” said Nathan Smithson, Senior Director of Business Affairs at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “We look forward to introducing ‘Snackville’ to a whole new audience visiting Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.”

SC Holdings, an investment firm with extensive experience in the consumer, entertainment, and hospitality sectors, recently acquired the operating group of Pacific Park and committed $10 million in capital investments over the next five years in Pacific Park’s food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and keeping it a fun and friendly destination for tourists, families, and the community.

ORLANDO — SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando’s premier improv comedy theater, is now delighting audiences at its new home at 55 West Church Street. The move represents the largest capital investment in the company’s 47-year history.

Originally founded in 1977, SAK Comedy Lab has called Orlando home since 1991, and this new venue marks a return to Church Street after leaving its first Downtown location in 1999. Throughout its three decades in Orlando, the company has operated successfully as a rare entertainment beacon that’s been able to run continuously and grow almost exclusively off admission and bar sales, a robust improv university program and a corporate outreach department.  

“SAK’s journey has been a delight to witness,” said Terry Olsen, Founder of SAK Theatre Company. “It germinated from a little band of traveling street theater performers in Minnesota, to contracting with Disney to open street entertainment at EPCOT, to the live entertainment venue we know today that has spanned four Downtown locations.”

With a build-out cost of $1.4M, SAK Comedy Lab’s new location was brought to life by McCree General Contractors and Adirondack Studios, who helped create an exciting cityscape feel in the venue’s lobby, box office and bar areas. The theater itself is equipped with 175 seats in a stadium seating format, with a stage and set reminiscent of SAK’s earlier venues, but with intricate, professionally designed and built theming. The entire venue boasts 7,200 square feet of space, inclusive of the back-of-house classroom space featuring three separate studios, a small office and a green room for performers.

“This new location at 55 West offers fresh life to our company, said Chris Dinger, Executive Director of SAK Theatre Company. “We find ourselves in a neighborhood more conducive to our live entertainment audience, an upgrade to every aspect of the experience and triple the classroom space of our previous venue. That combination of upgrades means many more years of laughs for our audiences, our students and our corporate partners.”

Cincinnati Reds players spent today’s rare home off-day having fun at Kings Island with their families and friends.  Some of them, including Jonathan India, Nick Martinez and Fernando Cruz checked out the park’s new Camp Snoopy and family roller coaster, Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers. The park’s newest coaster is 74-foot tall and travels 36 mph over 1400 feet of track. Kings Island and Soak City Water Park are open every day this summer through August 18.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO) is excited to announce the 38th Annual Safety Seminar, taking place from January 26 to January 31, 2025, in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina.

NAARSO, a non-profit organization committed to promoting safety within the amusement industry through the doctrine of “Safety Through Communication,” invites industry professionals to join this comprehensive event aimed at enhancing the safety and reliability of amusement rides and attractions.

Seminar Highlights:

• Expert Speakers: Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders about best practices in amusement ride safety.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, professionals, and vendors from across the industry, fostering valuable relationships and collaborations.
• Certification Courses: Participants can enhance their qualifications with specialized safety certifications, with CEUs available. Courses include:
  • Inspector Level 1 through 3
  • Operations Level 1 through 3
  • Aquatic Operations Level 1
  • Additional certifications to be announced
• Hands-On Training: Gain practical knowledge by visiting Carowinds, where attendees will learn about the diverse needs for operations and inspections of various attractions.

Mark your calendars for this enriching week dedicated to advancing safety practices within the amusement ride industry. NAARSO will be releasing more information on the exact location, hotel group rate discounts, and registration information later this year.

SeaWorld Orlando is excited to celebrate World Oceans Day and the one-year anniversary of the SeaWorld Coral Rescue Center, one of the largest public-facing facilities dedicated to coral conservation in the United States. To honor this special occasion, SeaWorld is offering a free reusable, wheat-based utensil set to the first 1,000 guests who visit The Shoppes at Waterfront on June 8, starting at park open, while supplies last.

This initiative aligns with SeaWorld’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation. The reusable utensil set is the latest effort in combating single-use plastic pollution, joining SeaWorld’s history of pioneering environmental practices. SeaWorld was one of the first theme parks in the U.S. to eliminate single-use plastic bags and straws to help keep oceans free of plastic, and in 2023, the parks launched biodegradable cutlery across its locations nationwide.

The SeaWorld Coral Rescue Center has welcomed a record number of visitors since its opening on June 9, 2023, providing them with a unique opportunity to observe and interact with coral biologists as they perform daily husbandry for “at risk” Florida corals. The center allows guests to view living corals up close, learn about conservation efforts, and understand the steps everyone can take to improve ocean health. Housing hundreds of living coral colonies and 15 different species, many of which are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the center is a testament to SeaWorld’s dedication to coral conservation.

TORONTO, Canada — UNIS Technology Ltd. is excited to announce the appointment of Logan Schneider as the North America Sales Manager. With a proven track record of success in driving sales growth and building high-performance teams, Logan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our dynamic sales division.

In his new role, Logan will be responsible for leading the North America sales team, developing, and implementing strategic sales initiatives, and driving revenue growth across the region. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing UNIS Technology Ltd.’s mission to deliver innovative amusement game solutions and exceptional value to our customers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Logan Schneider to our team,” said Steven Tan, GM of UNIS Technology (Canada) Ltd. “Logan’s extensive experience and proven leadership in sales will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence in North America. His strategic vision and customer-centric approach align perfectly with our company’s goals and values.”

Thanks to its strong partnership with SEGA Amusements International, Sacoa Cashless System, the leading supplier of cashless solutions for the entertainment, amusement, and leisure industries, is proud to announce its second FunBox installation inside of Gravity Max Stratford in London, UK, after an equally successful 2023 installation in Liverpool.

With more than 70,000 square feet of entertainment spread across 3 levels, Gravity Max offers a wide variety of entertainment for all ages and preferences. Inside of Gravity Max is FunBox, an arcade with all of Sacoa’s latest in entertainment technology; customers can purchase and recharge PlayCards at Sacoa’s IAAPA award-winning K4 Kiosk, play at games with the Spark Reader, and redeem tickets through self-service redemption prize machines, also powered by the Spark Reader. These technologies have allowed for incredibly low labor-related costs and the maximization of profits.

Kamil Strulak, FunBox’s Operations Manager, had this to say about working with Sacoa: “This partnership has been an overwhelming success and crucial for our brand’s growth. Sacoa’s support throughout the project was invaluable and unmatched, clearly demonstrating they were the cashless technology supplier we needed. Sacoa has proved themselves once before in Liverpool, and they have proved themselves again here.”

Pol Mochkovsky, CEO of Sacoa International, added: “Sacoa’s latest technologies have been a great help in the operation of FunBox, giving the guests the autonomy to enjoy the entertainment on offer at their leisure. We are very pleased to have been selected again by FunBox for this new venture.”

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. and ORLANDO — Guests will need to silence their screams when they enter the post-apocalyptic world of Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster movies,A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II, in an all-new chilling haunted house at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. The terror of the excruciating silence is set to begin Friday, August 30 at Universal Orlando Resort, and Thursday, September 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Directed by John Krasinski and critically acclaimed for its suspenseful yet mostly silent storytelling, A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II follow the Abbott family as they try to survive the aftermath of sightless creatures with a sharp sense of hearing that draws them to prey on anything that makes the slightest noise.

Mirroring the silence in the films, the haunted houses will embrace unique sound design, special effects and the adept performances of the scareactors to convey the ominous sense of dread depicted in the films. Consequential to the storyline, Halloween Horror Nights will incorporate the use of American Sign Language (ASL) for the first time ever within the “A Quiet Place” haunted houses to capture the authenticity of the films. 

Fans will relive the tension that will come to life in the iconic scenes from the first two films, including traveling through the farmhouse that serves as the Abbott family’s shelter and stepping into the root cellar where Evelyn Abbott escapes to give birth as one of the creatures closes in. The snarls of the larger-than-life predators will follow guests at every spine-chilling turn, and guests must remember: if they hear you, they will hunt you.

Horror fans and movie buffs can now plan their visit to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood as all tickets are available for purchase. Beginning Thursday, September 5 and running select nights through Sunday, November 3, guests will encounter eight all-new haunted houses, an onslaught of sinister scare zones and the iconic Terror Tram.

A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options are available for purchase to the Universal Studios Hollywood event, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket, which provides access to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), in advance of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. event opening time, the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again.

Stay and scream with a Halloween Horror Nights Vacation Package at Universal Studios Hollywood. Sample package includes one daytime General Admission ticket, one General Admission Halloween Horror Nights event ticket and accommodation at a Universal Partner Hotel. Universal Studios Hollywood Vacation Packages are sold by Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations, CST 2137135-50. 

At Universal Orlando, a chilling new collection of horrifying experiences await guests, including 10 all-new movie-quality haunted houses, five scare zones filled with hundreds of menacing creatures, plus an energetic live show. Select tickets for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando are available for purchase, including single-night tickets, Express Passes, the R.I.P Tour, which provides front of the line access to the haunted houses, and the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour that offers a glimpse into how the scares are brought to life via a daytime, lights-on journey through select haunted house. Guests can also stay, scream and save up to $200 (based on a seven-night stay) with a special vacation package that includes one-night admission to the event, admission to all three Universal Orlando theme parks and accommodations at a Universal hotel near the haunts with exclusive benefits, including access to a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights entrance for faster entry into the event, Early Park Admission to the theme parks during the day, and more.

Tickets for Universal Orlando’s Premium Scream Night on Thursday, August 29, are now available. This unprecedented, one-night event will give a limited number of fans the opportunity to experience this year’s haunts before the event officially opens on Friday, August 30, including access to all 10 haunted houses, five scare zones and live entertainment. Premium Scream Night guests will also enjoy shorter wait times and staggered entry by group to the haunted houses, select all-you-care-to-enjoy food and non-alcoholic beverages, a souvenir credential, access to select attractions at Universal Studios Florida and free self-parking after 5 p.m. Only a limited number of tickets are available.

Fans can get a jump-start on their Halloween Horror Nights gear with an all-new merchandise collection available for purchase now at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as online at http://shop.universalorlando.com. New items include a t-shirt and mug inspired by the all-original “A Quiet Place” haunted house.

For those eager to dive more into the scares in store for Halloween Horror Nights, check out the Discover Universal Blog, which today also reveals more about the slate of six original haunted houses at Universal Orlando Resort’s event. New updates will be posted regularly for the events at both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.

LAS VEGAS — AREA15, the pulse-pounding hub of experiential art and entertainment located minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, announces it will host “House of Teletubbies: Tubbyland Rave” inside The Portal on Friday, June 21 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Nostalgic fans of the 1990s/early 2000s TV show and party-goers alike can step into the surreal and vibrant world of “Teletubbies,” where Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po will take them on a whimsical journey filled with hypnotic beats and dazzling visuals. This ticketed event is exclusively for guests aged 18 and older, offering a whimsical blast from the past combined with an electrifying nightlife experience.

The Tubbyland Rave promises sentimental fun, transforming the 360-degree, projection-mapped Portal into a colorful wonderland complete with immersive light shows, pulsating music and interactive elements that will keep attendees dancing all night long. Whether reliving childhood memories or diving into the show’s quirky allure for the first time, this rave is set to be an unforgettable night out in Las Vegas.

“AREA15 is at the forefront of revolutionizing the rave experience by introducing themed events that blend nostalgia, creativity and immersive entertainment,” said Noah Kessler, head of entertainment, AREA15. “Our themed raves, such as the ‘House of Teletubbies: Tubbyland Rave,’ offer a distinctive and engaging way for guests to connect with beloved characters and stories while enjoying a high-energy nightlife atmosphere.” In addition to the rave, AREA15 is hosting several complimentary, all-ages activities for “Teletubbies” fans throughout the day. From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., visitors can stop by Kappa Toys inside AREA15 for free merchandise, giveaways and more. During the same hours, the Sanctuary will also feature a special meet-and-greet with the “Teletubbies,” complete with photo opportunities and giveaways. The Wall will also host a complimentary activation from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring giveaways and special food and beverage offerings for purchase.

The AIMS International Safety Award is presented annually to the individual or organization that demonstrates leadership, innovation, and foresight in improving safety in the amusement industry.

Nominations for the AlMS International Safety Award can be submitted via email to info@aimsintl.org. Please include the name and contact information of the nominee, in addition to a short description of why the nominee deserves to be recognized.

The award will be presented during the Golden Ticket Awards in September 2024.

The nomination deadline is June 30, 2024

To nominate, please email info@aimsintl.org.