Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Monsters, Ghosts And Coasters; Noise, Toys, And Sea Creatures: Comparing Six Major Theme Park Halloween-Themed Events, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

In times past, Halloween was recognized as a fairly innocent children’s holiday involving trick-or-treating in suburban neighborhoods. Today, Halloween is more commonly recognized as an opportunity for teenagers and adults to attend parties, dress in provocative costumes, and participate in increasingly terrifying scare zones at Halloween-themed events. This case study research analyzes social media communications of six major themed amusement parks in regard to Halloween. Three research questions are addressed and answered. The study identifies key similarities and differences between the parks’ communication outreach. Findings support earlier research suggesting Halloween-themed events contribute to negative social and cultural outcomes. The work …