May's FUNWORLD Is All About Holidays

What is this, Christmas in April? Maybe so.

I've been a FUNWORLD editor since October 2004, and the new May 2010 issue is easily among my top five out of the 60 editions I've helped publish. I posted the digital edition today, so click here if you want a sneak preview before the print version lands in your mailbox.

This month's magazine, as the headline says, is all about shoulder-season success. Even though we haven't even hit the peak summer season yet, everyone knows it's never too early to start thinking about Halloween and Christmas events, which take months of planning to do right. This ENTIRE issue is dedicated to helping you make those events better than ever this year.

Topics include:
• How to navigate the sensitive politics of the holiday season (should you use the word "Christmas" or just "holidays"?).
• Is it possible to be too scary in your Halloween events?
• How can you maximize incremental holiday revenue through food, souvenirs, etc.?
• What can zoos do to set themselves apart from the crowd during Halloween?
• What are the benefits for FECs and other attractions to open on Christmas Day?
• What impact do holidays have on charitable fundraisers at attractions?
• How LEDs are changing the way attractions decorate for the holidays.
• Why warm-weather facilities are finding success with cold-weather activities.
• How FECs use the holidays to boost group sales.

I love this issue, and I hope you do, too. In fact, I hope you pass this around through your whole office, then rip it up and pin some of the pages to your bulletin boards to help in your planning for this year's post-Labor Day bonanza.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions/comments, please e-mail me.