With Easter behind us, Jellystone Parks across North America are making preparations for Mother’s Day weekend, which is becoming an increasingly popular camping weekend, according to the company that franchises Jellystone Parks.
“Every year, our franchisees get busier over Mother’s Day weekend,” said Michele Wisher, vice president of marketing for Leisure Systems, Inc., which franchises 85 Jellystone Parks across North America.
“Most of our franchisees have special Mother’s Day activities planned, and they vary from park to park. They offer everything from Mother’s Day craft activities for children to mother-child lookalike contests. Some of our parks also organize wine and craft socials and spa type activities.”
Every mom who stays at a Jellystone Park during Mother’s Day weekend will also receive a gift created specifically for the weekend and not available for purchase. About five years ago, the Jellystone Park franchise started recognizing moms and dads with custom gifts during their Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends. “We wanted to do something nice for parents and the gifts have become quite popular,” Wisher said. This year’s gifts for moms are a pot holder and oven mitt.
Here’s a sampling of some of the Mother’s Day weekend activities planned at Jellystone Parks across the U.S.:
— Austin, Minn.: Children will have an opportunity to make special crafts for their mom. The weekend’s activities will also include a wine tasting with cheese, crackers and fine chocolate. Moms are also treated to a free breakfast on Mother’s Day. http://abcamping.com/jellystonemn/
— Estes Park, Colo.: Activities include crafts and candy bar bingo and a free pancake breakfast for moms on Sunday. www.jellystoneofestes.com
— Bath, N.Y.: Kids will have an opportunity to make a craft for mom. There will also be “Mommy and Me” games and a wine and craft social for mom. This is also the weekend when park guests wake up Yogi Bear from his long winter slumber. www.fingerlakesjellystone.com
— Caledonia, Wis.: Activities this weekend include Cindy Bear’s Princess Party. Moms are also invited to bring their own favorite bottle of wine to sip and share while being instructed on how to paint a masterpiece they can bring home. https://jellystone-caledonia.com
— Elmer, N.J.: Kids can participate in a “Draw Your Mom” contest. There will also be a mother-child lookalike contest as well as free coffee and cookies for mom on Mother’s Day. http://www.abcamping.com/jellystonenj/
— Mount Gilead, Ohio: Children will have an opportunity to make a candle craft for mom. There will also be a parents versus kids kickball game. Moms will have an opportunity to make their own lemon scented bath balm and decorate a wine glass. There will be free donuts and coffee for moms on Sunday. www.columbusjellystone.com
— Niagara Falls, Ont.: Children will create a special card and crafts to give to mom on her big day. Yogi Bear will also deliver a special treat to each mom, and there will be board games and sports activities for everyone in the family. www.jellystoneniagara.ca
— Nashville, Tenn.: Saturday will be a “Spa Day” for mom and will include a Mother’s Day team party with Cindy Bear. Children will also have an opportunity to make a gift and card for mom. www.nashvillejellystone.com
— Quarryville, Penn.: In addition to a Mother’s Day craft making activity for children there will be a mother-child lookalike contest, a Mother’s Day scavenger hunt, a wine and cheese tasting for mom, and a family movie night. There will also be a free pancake breakfast for moms on Sunday. www.jellystonepa.com
For more information on Mother’s Day weekend activities at Jellystone Parks and to find a Jellystone Park in your area, please visit www.campjellystone.com.