SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is bringing tropical vibes to the Lehigh Valley.
The park soon will hold “Summer Nights,” an immersive Caribbean and Latin American celebration offering authentic food and entertainment.
Summer Nights will begin on Friday, July 12, and run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Aug. 18. The events will start at 5 p.m. and run until the park closes.
Dorney Public Relations and Communications Manager Ryan Eldredge said the idea for Summer Nights came from the park’s Grand Carnivale event, which celebrated international cultures.
“During Grand Carnival, we noticed a real uptick in enthusiasm when we had entertainment and or cuisine inspired by Latin American cultures. Our goal was to create an event where that was magnified, which led to Summer Nights.”Dorney Public Relations and Communications Manager Ryan Eldredge
“During Grand Carnival, we noticed a real uptick in enthusiasm when we had entertainment and or cuisine inspired by Latin American cultures,” Eldredge said.
“Our goal was to create an event where that was magnified, which led to Summer Nights.”
Eldredge said Summer Nights will replace Grand Carnival, which he said was “operationally challenging to execute” and did not draw in as many new guests as the park had hoped.
Event details
Summer Nights will feature live music from Manteca Blue & The Latin Corner, an Afro-Caribbean, Colombian and African fusion band. When the band is not performing, there will be a live DJ.
Traditional Caribbean and Latin American dishes served will include bacalaitos, empanadillas de picadillo and jerk chicken wings, according to a news release.
“Hopefully this gives people a sense of relaxation and getting away, even though they’re staying local."Dorney Public Relations and Communications Manager Ryan Eldredge
Desserts include tres leches cake, flan and arroz con dulce, and the park also will serve Latin-themed cocktails and Latin-based regional beers.
“Hopefully this gives people a sense of relaxation and getting away, even though they’re staying local,” Eldredge said.
Eldredge said the park hired a consultant to make sure the event was as authentic as possible. He said the park plans to expand the event to make it more immersive in the future.
