Visiting as a group · First time
Visiting as a group in Harrisburg: a first visit, step by step
The first time is the one that decides whether there is a second time, so it is worth getting right.
Split a group by what they want rather than by age. The child who wants to watch is having a good time too.
Families around Harrisburg who have done it once tend to plan the second visit differently: shorter, earlier in the day, and with the machine the child liked in mind.
The first ten minutes
Four machines and one big crate spread a group out. So does a rink - there is no single queue for the whole party to stand in.
Any adult who has taken six children anywhere knows the failure mode: five occupied, one bored, and the bored one setting the tone.
What children do first
Tell the centre the numbers in advance and the day runs better for everyone, staff included.
Bring a spare layer even in summer. Malls are air conditioned, rinks are colder than that, and a cold child is a child who wants to go home.
What usually goes wrong
Split a group by what they want rather than by age. The child who wants to watch is having a good time too.
Four machines and one big crate spread a group out. So does a rink - there is no single queue for the whole party to stand in.
Making the second visit better
Any adult who has taken six children anywhere knows the failure mode: five occupied, one bored, and the bored one setting the tone.
A short visit that ends while they still want more beats a long one that ends in a meltdown, every time.
Questions parents ask
How many children can come at once?
Call ahead with your numbers and arrange it: +1 (615) 968-4925.
What are the opening hours?
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
Where is New Life Entertainment?
Two centres: 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214, and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027.
Planning your visit in Harrisburg
Weekends bring more of Harrisburg out at once. If the schedule allows a weekday, take it; the same visit is quieter and the machines wait for nobody in particular.
Agree the leaving time before you walk in, out loud, to the child. Announcing it later sounds like a punishment; agreeing it first sounds like a plan.
Feed them first. Every attraction in the world is improved by not being hungry in it.
A Harrisburg school holiday runs out of ideas by about day three. This is a day-three answer rather than a day-one one.
The practical details
- XCAV ZONE — 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214: four child-operated machines over a ball pit.
- ICE PARK — 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027: a real rink with bumper cars on the ice.
- Opening hours — 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
- Phone — +1 (424) 387-6232 · +1 (615) 968-4925
- E-mail — info@newlife-entertainment.com
Questions about a specific day, a group or a party are best asked directly - info@newlife-entertainment.com, or either of the numbers on the contacts page.