|
Ohio’s Festival of Fun and Fright Returns for its 9th SeasonBy Marilyn LoeserThere’s a chill in the air. Leaves are falling, football victories are celebrated and the kids are back in school. And in Sandusky, Ohio, it’s once again time for HalloWeekends, when monsters and costumed children rule the Midway. This year marks Cedar Point’s ninth year for turning its amusement park into a ghostly destination populated by spooky creatures and haunted houses.
This year, for example, Macaroni’s restaurant is being made over into the Creepy, Kooky, Castle Café, a family-friendly pizza parlor with stretchers for buffet tables and wall displays that talk. Also new this year is a haunted drive-in where classic horror movies will be shown on the park’s giant laser screen on Friday and Saturday evenings. Returning from previous festivals are the Fright Zone, CarnEvil and Werewolf Canyon.
Three haunted houses: Undertaker U., located in Frontiertown; Pharaoh’s Secret, located in the Disaster Transport building; and Lair of the Vampire, located on the Main Midway, open their doors on chilly autumn days and nights for those who dare to enter. For the little ones
Haunted HotelOvernight guests also can opt to stay in one of two haunted Hotel Breakers Jacuzzi suites featuring Halloween decorations, coffin coffee tables, spells, potions, skeletons and things that go bump in the night! Families can stay in one of the “Great Pumpkin Patch” suites. A welcome basket awaits guests upon arrival and includes HalloWeekends souvenirs, four tickets for Friday night and two one-day Funday tickets. Hotel reservations are currently being taken at (419) 627-2106. If you go: During HalloWeekends, Cedar Point will be open Friday nights from 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays from noon to midnight and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 9, Cedar Point will remain open until 10 p.m. On Friday nights, some rides and attractions aren’t open, but the entire park is open on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information on HalloWeekends at Cedar Point check the website: cedarpoint.com. |
|
TM
One
of my favorite reasons for visiting during HalloWeekends is the wonderfully
themed decorations, transformed rides and restaurants, and spirited fall-time
fun.
Fright
Zone, located on the Frontier Trail, is overrun by roaming Screamsters
materializing from the fog and darkness. CarnEvil, located on the Wicked Twister
Midway, is home to sideshow freaks, ominous clowns and creepy carnival workers.
Werewolves have escaped from their cages and have overtaken Thunder Canyon,
creating their own brand of thrills and chills in Werewolf Canyon.
Charlie
Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy are dressed up and ready to greet kids of all ages
at Camp Spooky, otherwise known as Camp Snoopy. There’s Halloween mask-making
and the Magical House on Boo Hill, a fun house for the younger set.
And
no one can resist the dancing Midway Monsters, the Kids’ Costume Contest and
special entertainment throughout the park including: “A Trio of Terror from
Edgar Allen Poe” in the Glassblower’s Arena; “Monsters Rock! Better Live than
Dead” in the Red Garter Saloon; DJ Zombo, located on the Main Arcade Balcony;
Gypsy Fortune Tellers, near the entrance to the Blue Streak roller coaster;
Traveling Gypsy Palm Readers; and the King Dapper Combo on the Iron Dragon stage
every Friday and Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. plus magicians Tim Hill
and Chris Linn.