Fresh off a successful opening weekend supporting Hersheypark Dark Nights, EPIC Entertainment Group is closing out its milestone tenth year with a packed fall and holiday slate. The company is delivering creative, production, and operational expertise for experiences at iconic destinations across the United States. From dark thrills in Pennsylvania to coastal festivities in Hawaii, EPIC’s year-end projects highlight the breadth of its work.
Steve Sheldon, Managing Partner, noted that working alongside national partners in diverse ways while scaling operations makes this anniversary season particularly meaningful for the entire organization.
“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.”
Immersive Frights on the East Coast
The seasonal momentum began with Hersheypark Dark Nights, where EPIC returns for a fifth year alongside Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. Following opening weekend, EPIC manages casting, costuming, makeup, and operations for hundreds of scare actors and specialty performers. A major addition to this year’s lineup is Reese’s Depot of Doom, a new scare zone brought to life with sinister characters, fog-covered boxcars, and fractured tracks. Through live performances and direct character interactions, EPIC turns an abandoned freight yard into a central attraction.
In Miami, EPIC continues its partnership with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden through distinct fall and winter activations. For Halloween, the adult-focused Garden of Shadows transforms the lush 83-acre venue after dark with themed trails, live entertainment, and specialized beverage stations. As winter approaches, the venue transitions into the Very Merry Garden. It offers daytime family traditions like Santa encounters, the Reindeer Roundup, and seasonal offerings at the Garden Bistro.
Coastal Transformations and West Coast Classics
On the West Coast, EPIC is marking the first anniversary of the Funhouse at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. Inspired by the historical Toonerville Funhouse from a century ago, the 2,800-square-foot attraction guides visitors through nine interactive chambers. All featuring special effects and optical illusions tied to local lore.
Further south, EPIC returns to Hotel del Coronado for “A Holiday Through Time,” running from November 22 through January 3. This year includes a complete reimagining of the historic Laundry building into the Holiday Lodge. It features hanging candles, lush greenery, custom craft stations, and live performances by the Candy Canes dance quartet. The property-wide production also features a Lightshow Spectacular across towering Norfolk Island Pines, complete with snow flurries and a custom soundtrack. Additionally, EPIC designed eleven themed Christmas trees, ranging from nine to twenty-five feet tall, with each tree capturing a historical era of the resort ranging from the Victorian era to California surf culture.
Festive Traditions Across the Pacific
Extending its reach into the Pacific, EPIC is returning to The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, to design comprehensive holiday environments across the North Shore resort. The production encompasses illuminated palm trees, suspended light displays, and decorated greenery spanning the lobby, spa, and dining venues.
The installation features the return of seasonal wagon rides at the resort stables. As well as the illuminated moss honu photo point displaying traditional Mele Kalikimaka greetings. Fresh decorative elements, updated lighting configurations, and enhanced ornamentation refine the resort experience for the upcoming season.
Co-founder and Managing Partner Charity Hill reflected on the company’s trajectory, emphasizing that ten years of growth stems directly from long-term client trust and collaborative creative development. Founded in 2016, EPIC Entertainment Group continues to expand its portfolio of large-scale, immersive entertainment across North America.
“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.”
