Santa Claus Christmas Parade to feature Good Gravy! Coaster Train

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. — The Santa Claus Christmas Parade is December 9th, at 1 p.m. CST. The float from Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari will feature the gravy boat-shaped train for Good Gravy! Family Coaster, which will open May of 2024. The parade is a time-honored tradition for Santa Claus, Indiana, America’s Christmas Hometown. Last year, the parade attracted approximately 15,000 visitors from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio. The parade is part of the three-weekend Santa Claus Christmas Celebration, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each December.

 

Good Gravy! track is already under construction and will be completed shortly. The Good Gravy! gravy boat-shaped train was unveiled at an attractions industry event in November, this will be its last appearance before the ride opens in May.

“The Santa Claus Christmas Parade is a special tradition,” says Holiday World President & CEO, Matt Eckert. “It draws families from across the Midwest, and Good Gravy! is a roller coaster that’s made for families. We hope that sharing our giant gravy boat-shaped cars this December brings back warm memories for all families enjoying the parade this weekend.”

The 2023 Santa Claus Christmas Parade Grand Marshal is Wayne Utley, general manager of HoHoHoldings and the Santa Claus Christmas Store. Originally from Providence, Kentucky, Utley has resided in the town of Santa Claus since 1979. In that time, his many roles in the community have included: sales at George Koch & Sons, Santa Claus American Legion Commander, and general manager at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph, where he served for more than 35 years. Utley and his wife Gayla have four sons and nine grandchildren.

“Wayne has been a huge part in developing Santa Claus, Indiana. During his time at Lake Rudolph, the resort nearly tripled in size,” says Melissa Arnold, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau and president of America’s Christmas Hometown, Inc. “We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate Wayne as this year’s parade grand marshal.”

The Santa Claus Christmas Parade kicks off three weekends of special holiday events and activities like the Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show, Christmas Dinner with Santa, Santa Claus Land of Lights, and more. For more information about the Santa Claus Christmas Parade and other exciting events, visit SantaClausInd.Org.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari open to the public in May of 2024. Platinum Season Passholders and Season Passholders will be among the first to ride Good Gravy! Family Coaster during the first weekend of May.

For more information about the Santa Claus Christmas Parade and
other holiday events, visit SantaClausInd.Org/Events.