JACKSON – A colorful illuminated holiday tradition that has been going on in the township for years will not be returning this winter for visitors to enjoy.
Six Flags Great Adventure recently announced that Holiday In the Park won’t be back this season. It typically ran from mid-November until early January and allowed guests to visit a holiday themed winter wonderland as the park was decorated for the season while most rides were operational.
Officials of Six Flags explained the decision saying the theme park is focusing on delivering exceptional guest experiences during their core operating season – spring through autumn.
They first shared the news in an email with season pass holders although for some, it wasn’t much of a surprise as other Six Flags theme parks have also made similar announcements recently.
Last spring the theme park had their big opening of their new “Flash: Vertical Velocity” rollercoaster based off the DC Comics superhero of the same name. Park officials said that the next time they would be making an announcement about the Jackson based theme park would be in August.
News about another rollercoaster was anticipated by rollercoaster enthusiasts who came out for the Flash rollercoaster’s preview event that day. Six Flags Great Adventure had announced that they had plans to build and open a new “record-setting” coaster but those plans were recently announced to have been delayed until “beyond 2026.” The coaster was originally slated to open next year.
That announcement came as a surprise, and it too was shared in a recent email to season pass holders. The coaster was initially announced when they confirmed that they would be removing Kingda Ka. This had been the tallest and second-fastest roller coaster in the world but it was brought down in a controlled implosion, crumbling into a pile of rubble on the morning of February 28.
Kingda Ka had a long run and survived various routine mechanical failures that precipitated months-long closures. It also endured occasional lawsuits from injured riders and even a lightning strike.
The Flash: Vertical Velocity brought some new fun and excitement to the park several weeks after the implosion of Kingda Ka. The Flash rollercoaster had a red-carpet preview ceremony and marked the first-look at North America’s first super boomerang coaster.
Six Flags did not share any additional details about the now delayed roller coaster such as what it would look like, its name or what records it might break. It is unknown if the updated timeline means it will open in 2027 or possibly later.
Many regular attendees of the popular Jackson theme park have been concerned about the future of Six Flags Great Adventure with the removal of Kingda Ka and the cancelation of programs like Holiday In the Park.
Park officials have publicly stated however that there are no plans to close or make any significant changes to Six Flags Great Adventure.
Six Flags delayed the opening of some other coasters at their parks including the Quantum Accelerator at Six Flags New England earlier this summer. That coaster has been delayed until 2026.
Six Flags’ parent company merged with another theme park giant, Cedar Fair, in the summer of 2024 and the combined company now operates 42 theme parks worldwide under the Six Flags name.
The firm has continued to evaluate their portfolio and business model to make substantial changes – most notably were the announcements to close Six Flags America in Maryland at the end of the 2025 season.
The company has indicated in corporate earnings reports that these types of decisions will be made on a rolling basis.
