NORTHWEST OHIO: SPECIAL EVENTS, ATTRACTIONS

A sampling of popular summertime activities, compiled by Dispatch staff members.

THEME AND WATER PARKS

CEDAR POINT, SOAK CITY, CHALLENGE PARK

Descriptions: With more than 70 rides, including 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point has more rides than any park in the world; the 18-acre Soak City water park has slides, inner-tube rivers and a wave pool. Cedar Point and Soak City border Challenge Park, which features rides, go-carts and miniature golf. Castaway Bay, only minutes from Cedar Point, offers 237 rooms and suites and a large indoor water park that boasts a water coaster, body slides and a wave pool.

Location: 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky (Erie County)

Open: daily, operating hours vary through Sept. 7; weekends only Sept. 13 through Nov. 1

New attractions: Rougarou — the Mantis stand-up roller coaster has been converted into a new floorless ride; the two-year renovation of Hotel Breakers is complete; the Sweet Spot candy shop, on the Main Midway, will be filled with caramel apples, fudge, hand-made chocolates and other sweet treats

Admission, Cedar Point: $62 for those age 3 and older, 48 inches or taller; or $39.99 for senior citizens 62 and older and those age 3 and older who are less than 48 inches tall in shoes; free for children 2 and younger; online, military, evening, combo and group rates available

Soak City: open daily, May 23 through Sept. 7, operating hours vary

Admission, Soak City: $34.99 for those age 3 to 61 who are 48 inches or taller in bare feet; or $19.99 for senior citizens 62 and older and those age 3 and older but less than 48 inches tall; free for children 2 and younger

Challenge Park: open daily, operating hours vary; call for details

Admission, Challenge Park: prices vary

Castaway Bay: indoor water-park resort open year-round

Admission, Castaway Bay: $29 day pass, or free for children 2 and younger; availability based on occupancy; call 419-627-2106 or visit www.castawaybay.com

Parking: $15; $20 for oversize vehicles requiring more than one space; preferred parking $25 near the gate

Least-busy days: Tuesdays through Thursdays and the months of May and June

Information: 419-627-2350, www.cedarpoint.com

GREAT WOLF LODGE

Description: a 33,000-square-foot indoor water park, including slides, pools, a dumping bucket, a lazy river and an outdoor pool area

Location: 4600 Milan Rd., Sandusky (Erie County)

Open: year-round

Admission: must be a registered overnight guest; various rooms and suites available

Parking: free

Least-busy days: midweek May and September

Information/reservations: 419-609-6000, 1-800-641-9653, www.greatwolf.com

KALAHARI RESORTS

Description: The indoor/outdoor water park includes a large wave pool, two indoor surfing attractions, a lazy river, tube rides, body slides, family raft rides, a swim-up bar, 12 restaurants, 900 rooms and suites and a luxury spa, as well as the Safari Outdoor Adventure Park — including rope courses, zip lines, climbing walls and an animal park with over 350 animals

Location: 7000 Kalahari Dr., Sandusky (Erie County)

Open: year-round, operating hours vary; water park availability to nonguests based on resort occupancy; call ahead

New attraction: added to the Big Game Arcade room: Crystal Rune's laser tag; and an XD Dark Ride theater — choose from 12 scenarios on a 3-dimensional ride.

Admission: varies, check website for availability; Safari Outdoor Adventure Park admission: $29.99

Parking: free; valet parking $12 a day

Least-busy days: weekdays

Where to buy tickets: for nonguests, online (highly recommended) and at the water-park entrance when available

Information: 419-433-7200, 1-877-525-2427, www.kalahariresorts.com

MAUI SANDS RESORT & INDOOR WATERPARK

Location: 5513 Milan Rd., Sandusky (Erie County)

Description: an indoor tropical setting within the Maui Sands Resort, featuring Maui Wowie Bowl Slide — a bowl-shaped tube slide in which riders reach up to 45 mph; MakaMaka Treehouse featuring dump buckets, water cannons, racing and body slides; and Coconut Cove activity area featuring a swirl pool and water basketball

Open: daily, June 11 through Sept. 7, operating hours vary, check website for details

Admission: $39.99 for those 42 inches and taller, $12.99 for those less than 42 inches tall, free for children younger than 3; $10-a-day spectator pass; after-4 p.m. discounts available

Parking: free

Least-busy days: Mondays through Wednesdays

Where to buy tickets: on-site

Information: 419-621-7357, http://mauisandsresort.com

MONSOON LAGOON

Description: a three-story slide, lazy river, adventure treehouse, go-carts, miniature golf course and bumper-boat pond are among the park's attractions

Location: 1530 S. Danbury Rd. N., Port Clinton (Ottawa County)

Open: daily, operating hours vary; call for details

Admission: water park, $18, or $10 for senior citizens 62 and older, free for children 2 and younger; Do-it-all passes available

Parking: free

Where to buy tickets: at the gate

Information: 419-732-6671, 1-866-732-6671; www.monsoonlagoonwaterpark.com

OUTDOOR

MUSIC

COUNTRY CONCERT

Description: Country and camping converge on a 500-acre wooded property about an hour's drive north of Dayton

Location: Hickory Hills, 7103 Rt. 66, Fort Loramie (Shelby County)

Performances: July 8 (6 and 9 p.m.): Old Dominion; (7:30 and 10:30 p.m.): Dallas Smith; July 9 (6 p.m.): Frankie Ballard; (8 p.m.): Chris Young; (10 p.m.): Florida Georgia Line; July 10 (4 p.m.): the Cadillac Three; (6 p.m.): Chase Rice; (8 p.m.): the Band Perry; (10 p.m.): Jake Owen; July 11 (noon): Jon Pardi; (2 p.m.): Neal McCoy; (6 p.m.): Eli Young Band; (8 p.m.): Justin Moore; (10 p.m.): Carrie Underwood

Parking: $6 to $11

Tickets: $89 to $586 ($74 to $529 for camping)

Information: 937-295-3000, www.countryconcert.com

CENTENNIAL TERRACE

Description: an intimate venue with a seating capacity of about 1,000

Location: 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania, near Toledo (Lucas County)

Performances: June 12 (8 p.m.): Rob Zombie (sold out); June 27 (8 p.m.): Get the Led Out; June 28 (7:30 p.m.); Three Days Grace; July 10 (8 p.m.): Chris Young; July 16 (8 p.m.): REO Speedwagon; July 17 (8 p.m.): 1964 — The Tribute; July 26 (7 p.m.): Colbie Caillat, Christina Perri; Aug. 2 (7 p.m.): Under the Sun Tour featuring Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, Uncle Kracker, Eve 6

Parking: $5

Tickets: $20 to $67.50 at www.etix.com or Toledo's Stranahan Theater box office: 419-381-8851

Information: 419-882-1500, www.centennialterrace.org

MUSEUMS

ARMSTRONG AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

Description: A museum chronicling Ohio's contributions to the history of space flight, including the accomplishments of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon.

Location: 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta (Auglaize County)

Open: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays

Admission: $8, or $7 for senior citizens 60 and older, $4 for children 6 to 12, free for children 5 and younger

Parking: free, onsite

Information: 419-738-8811, www.armstrongmuseum.org

IMAGINATION STATION

Description: The hands-on science-and-learning center also features a simulation theater.

Location: 1 Discovery Way (Summit and Adams streets), Toledo (Lucas County)

Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays

Admission: $10, or $9 for senior citizens 65 and older, $8 for children 3 to 12, free for children 2 and younger

Parking: nearby surface lots

Special exhibits: "4th of July Science"— celebrate the holiday with weeklong activities (June 30-July 5); "Rocket Science" — use Newton's third law of motion to propel objects high into the sky (Aug. 4-9)

Information: 419-244-2674, www.imaginationstationtoledo.org

TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART

Description: The museum covers 41/2 acres on two levels, with 45 galleries; the Glass Pavilion features five galleries.

Location: 2445 Monroe St. at Scottwood Avenue, Toledo (Lucas County)

Open: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays

Admission: free; fees for some special exhibits

Parking: $5

Special exhibits: "The American Civil War: Through Artists' Eyes"— featuring almost 50 objects, including the painting of the Battle of Cold Harbor by Gilbert Gaul (through July 5); "Play Time"— celebrating the art of play, visitors are engaged in multisensory, interactive installations throughout the museum's 36-acre campus and select locations in the city (May 22 through Sept. 6)

Information: 419-255-8000, www.toledomuseum.org

SPORTING EVENTS

Baseball

TOLEDO MUD HENS

Description: The Detroit Tigers' triple-A affiliate is an International League rival of the Columbus Clippers.

Location: Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington St., Toledo (Lucas County)

Home games: May 18-20 vs. Gwinnett; May 21-24 vs. Buffalo; June 5-7 vs. Columbus; June 8-10 vs. Syracuse; June 18-21 vs. Norfolk; June 29-July 1 vs. Durham; July 2-3 vs. Indianapolis; July 7-9 vs. Columbus; July 10-12 vs. Louisville; July 16-19 vs. Indianapolis; July 27-29 vs. Rochester; Aug. 3-6 vs. Lehigh Valley; Aug. 7-9 vs. Scranton; Aug. 14-16 vs. Charlotte; Aug. 17-18 vs. Gwinnett; Aug. 24-26 vs. Columbus; Aug. 29-30 vs. Indianapolis; Aug. 31-Sept. 3 vs. Louisville

Admission: $12, or $10 for senior citizens and children 3 to 12; free for children 2 and younger

Parking: nearby lots

Tickets/information: at the Mud Hens office, 419-725-4367; at the park; or online, www.mudhens.com

Golf

MARATHON CLASSIC

Description: A showcase for some of the best female golfers on the LPGA tour.

Location: Highland Meadows Golf Club, 7445 Erie St., Sylvania

Dates: July 13-19

Admission: weekly grounds admission, $60; daily tickets Monday through Friday, $15; Saturday and Sunday, $20; free for those 17 and younger with accompanying adult

Parking: $5 daily, or $10 weekly parking pass; Lot B located at Centennial and Brint

Tickets/information: 419-531-3277; www.marathonclassic.com

Motor sports

MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

Description: A comprehensive motorsports facility, Mid-Ohio features a permanent road-racing circuit with a 2.4-mile, 15-turn and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit.

Location: 7721 Steam Corners Rd., Lexington (Morrow County)

Events: June 26-28: Mid-Ohio Vintage Grand Prix; July 10-12: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days; July 31-Aug. 2: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio; Aug. 14-15: Nationwide Children's Hospital 200

Admission: $20 to $70, depending on event; free for children 12 and younger when accompanied by an adult

Parking: free, non-infield

Tickets/information: at the track office, 1-800-643-6446, or online; 419-884-4000, www.midohio.com

ZOO

TOLEDO ZOO

Description: More than 6,000 animals representing 500-plus species live on the 74-acre grounds.

Location: 2 Hippo Way, Toledo (Lucas County)

Big attractions: Toledo Zoo Aquarium — after almost three years of renovations, the aquarium has re-opened and is home to more than 3,000 aquatic animals — everything from tropical fish to sharks. Visitors can touch a stingray or interact with a diver inside the reef.

Open: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays until Memorial Day weekend; until 5 p.m. daily thereafter

Admission: $17, or $14 for senior citizens 60 and older and children 2 to 11, free for children younger than 2, military discounts available

Parking: $7, or $15 for vehicles that take more than one space

Information: 419-385-4040, www.toledozoo.org

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