Author - Jerry Paxton

Fresh off a successful opening weekend supporting Hersheypark Dark Nights, EPIC Entertainment Group is closing out its milestone 10th year with a jam-packed fall and holiday season, providing creative, production and operational expertise for experiences at some of the country’s most iconic destinations. From creating frights at Hersheypark and year-round fun at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the Santa Monica Pier’s Funhouse to bringing the holidays to life at Hotel del Coronado and The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, EPIC’s year-end projects showcase the breadth of what the company has built over the past decade.

“From Halloween attractions to holiday experiences and year-round entertainment, we’re working alongside incredible partners across the country in very different ways,” said Steve Sheldon, Managing Partner of EPIC Entertainment Group. “To be doing it at this scale as we cap our 10th year makes this season especially exciting for our team.”

The season kicked off with screams at Hersheypark Dark Nights, where EPIC Entertainment Group returns for a fifth year in partnership with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. Following a successful opening weekend, EPIC continues to oversee casting, costuming, makeup and talent management for hundreds of scare actors and specialty performers across the expansive Halloween event. New this year, EPIC adds Reese’s Depot of Doom to its Dark Nights lineup, bringing Hersheypark’s newest scare zone to life with a cast of menacing inhabitants lurking among fractured tracks and fog-shrouded boxcars. Through live performance, immersive character interactions and unpredictable, up-close scares, EPIC transforms the abandoned freight yard into a living, breathing part of the Dark Nights experience.

On the West Coast, EPIC is approaching the first anniversary of the Funhouse at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. Inspired by the legendary Toonerville Funhouse that entertained visitors nearly a century ago, the 2,800-square-foot attraction takes guests through nine interactive chambers filled with optical illusions, special effects and a storyline rooted in the Pier’s colorful past.

Continuing its longtime holiday work with Hotel del Coronado, EPIC is helping transform more than a century of the iconic resort’s history into “A Holiday Through Time,” running November 22 through January 3. New this year, EPIC has reimagined the resort’s historic Laundry building as the Holiday Lodge, a warm and festive retreat filled with hanging candles, lush garland, twinkling lights, Christmas trees and seasonal food and drinks. Families can create custom stuffed animals and stockings, while the Candy Canes, a high-energy dance quartet, bring live entertainment throughout the resort’s holiday celebration.

Across the property, EPIC’s work continues with the new Lightshow Spectacular, illuminating The Del’s towering Norfolk Island Pines with synchronized lights, a holiday soundtrack and a finale of snow flurries. EPIC is also designing and producing 11 custom Christmas trees, each representing a different chapter in the resort’s storied history. Ranging from approximately 9 to 25 feet tall, the trees span more than a century, from the Victorian era and Roaring ’20s to Hollywood’s Some Like It Hot, the resort’s military history, California surf culture and present-day Coronado. Custom ornaments, layered décor and era-specific details transform each tree into its own vignette, telling The Del’s story through the holidays.

Across the Pacific, EPIC continues its work with The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, bringing holiday magic to the iconic North Shore resort. For the 2026 season, EPIC will once again transform the property with holiday décor and lighting throughout the resort, from illuminated palms and suspended lights at arrival to richly decorated trees, garlands, wreaths, and festive installations across the lobby, restaurants, spa, Ocean Club, and Sunset Bar. Returning favorites include holiday wagon rides at the stables, illuminated for the season, along with the larger-than-life moss honu, a sculpted sea turtle photo opportunity paired with a Mele Kalikimaka display. EPIC will also refresh the resort’s holiday experience with new lighting elements, updated décor, and enhanced ornamentation throughout the property

On the East Coast, EPIC continues its longstanding partnership with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, bringing seasonal experiences to the Garden throughout the fall and holiday season. For Halloween, Garden of Shadows offers an entirely new way to experience Fairchild after dark, transforming the lush tropical setting with spooky trails, themed bars and live entertainment designed specifically for an adult audience.cAs the season shifts to the holidays, EPIC brings the magic of Very Merry Garden to life throughout the day with the return of beloved family traditions, including visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Reindeer Roundup, Letters to Santa and more festive experiences woven throughout the 83-acre Garden. Guests can also stop by the recently introduced Garden Bistro, featuring specialty seasonal drinks and desserts that add another festive touch to a day at Fairchild.

“Ten years in, what I’m most proud of are the relationships we’ve built and the trust our partners place in us to help bring their ideas to life,” said Charity Hill, Managing Partner of EPIC Entertainment Group. “Many of these partnerships have grown with us over the years, giving us opportunities to keep creating, evolving and finding new ways to make memorable experiences for guests.”

EPIC Entertainment Group, co-founded by Charity Hill and Steve Sheldon in 2016, is celebrating 10 years of designing and delivering immersive experiences for top-tier brands and destinations across the nation. Over the past decade, EPIC has built a diverse portfolio spanning seasonal attractions, immersive environments and large-scale entertainment, combining bold creative design with world-class production and operations to transform spaces into unforgettable guest experiences.

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