With 71 rides, 18 of which are roller coasters including Valravn — the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster in the world — this is a place for thrill seekers of all ages to kick their adrenaline into high gear.
And the month of October offers more thrills than you’ll find all year long thanks to the popular amusement parks HalloWeekends, now in its 20th year.
Yes, October is where it’s at when it comes to a Cedar Point visit. And scares aren’t the only reason to head north. Here are 10 reasons to make your way to Cedar Point this month.
1) THE SPEED
There are plenty of fast rides to take advantage of — none as fast as Top Thrill Dragster, the fastest coaster in the park, which moves at 176 feet per second (120 mph).
2) THE VIEWS
More than 1.6 million LED lights illuminate the three miles of midway at the park. That coupled with views of Lake Erie water and beach that can be taken in from the top of many of the rides adds to the ambiance day or night at the park.
3) THE EVENTS
The “Skeleton Crew” show featuring aerialists, contortionists and high-wire walkers in addition to other entertainment like “Sideshow: A Carnival of Magic,” “Spooky Shenanigans” and “The Edge of Madness” happening during October will add to the fun. The new “Blood Drums” show located in front of Giant Wheel features a full cast of drummers playing on junkyard instruments to create some serious beats.
4) THE HISTORY
This year marks Cedar Point’s 147th season of operation, making it the second oldest continually-operated amusement park in North America dating back to 1870. The park debuted the peninsula’s first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, in 1892 that reached up 25 feet and sent people rolling down at 10-mph. The park has come a long way since then, but you can feel all the wonderful history when you visit.
5) THE NEW
In 2016, Cedar Point introduces Valravn — the tallest, fastest, longest dive coaster in the world. Riders climb over 20 stories before hanging over the edge for four seconds and then plummet downward at a 90-degree angle. This park has the thrills that more than 3 million guests experience each year and Valravn has just seriously raised the bar.
6) AND THE OLD
Cedar Point has three unique carousels, with 164 animals to ride, including one of only three operating D.C. Muller carousels in the world. There are old friends like that you can find throughout the park still to this day.
7) BECAUSE IT’S FALL
Summer days at the park are humid and very hot, not to mention the crowds and the lines. During HalloWeekends the park is open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights and the lines to ride roller coasters are much shorter. That coupled with cooler weather and a beautiful drive up where you can admire the Ohio landscape changing colors makes this time of year a major win to plan a visit.
8) THE DEALS
Cedar Point's Hotel Breakers and Breakers Express are offering an Ultimate HalloWeekends Package. This money-saving offer provides a 60-percent savings off of gate pricing and includes a two-night stay, free Friday night admission plus all-day admission for Saturday and Sunday with Early Entry and Cedar Point parking for all three days. Reservation information and additional package options available at cedarpoint.com/stay or by calling 419-627-2106. That's a deal you're not going to find over the summer.
9) THE FOOD
The park has several fun dining experiences for guests like the Night of the Living Fed all-you-can-eat buffet. Menu items include fried fowl, gory pasta salad, baked brains and cheese, spaghetti and eye balls and more. G.A. Boeckling’s Eerie Estate haunted house features higher-end menu items like filet mignon and seafood dishes if you looking to really celebrate the day.
10) THE SCARES
For the kids the park pays homage to the 50th Anniversary of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” with activities at The Great Pumpkin Fest available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Each night when the sun sets during HalloWeekends, it’s time for serious scares. “The Call of the Scare” in Celebration Plaza every Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., features creatures from the park’s six outdoor scare zones, including Cut Throat Cove, Tombstone Terror-tory, Blood on the Bayou for “a conjuring of evil before they’re set loose to their domains.”
WHAT: Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends
WHEN: HalloWeekends is open every Friday night from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Oct. 30.
WHERE: 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky
COST: Tickets can be purchased online for as low as $42 a ticket.
MORE INFORMATION: www.cedarpoint.com or halloweekends.com.
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