Seasonal celebrations aplenty at Kings Island

Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter.Cedar Point season passholders, at no additional cost, can enter Kings Island and take part in many of the new and returning attractions for the fall and winter seasons.Have you been or are you planning on heading to Cedar Point this fall for HalloWeekends? There are many reasons to love Haunt at Cedar Point, and if you have a platinum season pass, you should consider using one of the best benefits: free admission and parking at one of the many other Cedar Fair parks.Located near Cincinnati, Kings Island is now open on weekends for Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest, and it is better than ever.As guests enter the park, they are greeted by a dramatic new Haunt sign. Get to the park early and view the opening ceremony that calls out the monsters to the midway. With flames shooting into the sky around the International Street fountain, it is quite the impressive display.As guests enter Kings Island this fall, they are greeted by a dramatic new Haunt sign. Get to the early and view the opening ceremony that calls out the monsters to the midway. With flames shooting into the sky around the International Street fountain, it is quite the impressive display. New for 2017, Kings Island has introduced two new outdoor scare zones: Wasteland and Dance of the Macabre.• Wasteland is featured on the pathway between the main park entrance and Banshee. It takes guests on a toxic journey on what went wrong at the Miami River Chemical Co.• Dance of the Macabre is located underneath the Eiffel Tower and is simply stunning. With chandeliers hanging overhead, impressive sets and costumes, the setting provides for some great photo ops.At Kings Island, the Dance of the Macabre is located underneath the Eiffel Tower and is simply stunning. With chandeliers hanging overhead, impressive sets and costumes, the setting provides for some great photo ops.Regardless of whether you have been to Haunt at Kings Island before or if it is your first time, many of the favorite haunted houses have returned for 2017.Head into Blackout and hold back your sense of disorientation in this completely dark maze. You also might want to check out Wolf Pack nearby, which, upon paying attention, you will notice it takes place in the former Son of a Beast roller coaster station.Also back again is Backwoods Bayou, Board to Death, CarnEvil (which is a really cool 3-D maze inside the former Enchanted Voyage/Smurf Ride building), Field of Screams, Kill Mart, Slaughter House, Urgent Scare, and Madame Fatale's Cavern of Terror, which is inside the former Crypt building and truly is a unique experience.Many popular fall-themed attractions have returned at Kings Island this year, including Backwoods Bayou, Board to Death, CarnEvil, Field of Screams, Kill Mart, Slaughter House, Urgent Scare and Madame Fatale's Cavern of Terror, which is inside the former Crypt building and truly is a unique experience.Guests will be excited to find some seasonal menu items around the park, like pumpkin ice cream and funnel cakes, as well as Cincinnati favorites, like Skyline Chili and LaRosa's Pizzeria pizza. Select food trucks will also be on hand throughout Haunt.Kings Island guests Guests will be excited to find some seasonal menu items around the park, like pumpkin ice cream and funnel cakes, as well as Cincinnati favorites, like Skyline Chili and LaRosa's Pizzeria pizza. Select food trucks will also be on hand throughout Haunt.Are you looking for more or less scares with your Kings Island Haunt experience? The park offers two additional features depending on your level of desire for terror.• For kids, and scared adults, pick up a Frankenstein No-Boo necklace to keep the scare actors away. At the beginning of Haunt season, our kids get the necklaces, and the actors are very friendly and accommodating with them. After a week or two though, our kids are ready to be spooked and leave the necklaces at home.At Kings Island, children and adults can pick up a Frankenstein No-Boo necklace to keep the scare actors away. At the beginning of Haunt season, our kids get the necklaces, and the actors are very friendly and accommodating with them. After a week or two though, our kids are ready to be spooked and leave the necklaces at home.No Boo necklaces only work inside the outdoor scare zones and not inside mazes. Only you will know your own kids and their age appropriateness/maturity for Haunt.• If you are looking for additional scares, and to save yourself some time, do yourself a favor and pick up Fright Lane with Skeleton Key. The lanyard allows you to bypass the lines for the Haunt mazes and go into special Skeleton Key rooms that are only available for those with the pass. Purchasing Fright Lane is a smart move the closer you get to Halloween when the lines get longer.Kings Island guests can pick up Fright Lane with Skeleton Key. The lanyard allows you to bypass the lines for the Haunt mazes and go into special Skeleton Key rooms that are only available for those with the pass.Among some other helpful tips:Kid-friendly optionsIf heading to Kings Island for Haunt is too intimidating for the youngsters, then try out to the park during the day. Planet Snoopy, the award-winning Best Kids Area in the World for 17 consecutive years by Amusement Today features an elaborate collection of Peanuts-themed family rides and attractions, including kiddie rides specifically designed for children. Then head over to the Soak City side of the park to enjoy The Great Pumpkin Fest featuring kid friendly shows, games, crafts and activities.Good Time to RideNo trip to Kings Island would be complete without riding some classic attractions and roller coasters. During Haunt, most guests are in line for the mazes, therefore, boarding many of your favorite roller coaster — like The Beast, Diamondback, or Mystic Timbers, which was voted Best New Ride of 2017, known as the Golden Ticket Awards — is quite easy with shorter waits than you would expect during the summer.WinterfestAt Kings Island, If you visit during Haunt, you will start to see preparations underway for the new Christmas event. Weather permitting, guests will be able to ride a roller coaster in December as well as a selection of other rides. In addition, enjoy new holiday shows, food, decorations and activities to make new family memories.If you are a season passholder to Kings Island, or if you are a platinum passholder at Cedar Point, now is the time to start making plans for the winter.Yes, you heard that right. New for 2017, Kings Island will be opening their gates during the last weekend of November and into December for Winterfest, a true holiday experience.If you visit during Haunt, you will start to see preparations underway for the new Christmas event. Weather permitting, guests will be able to ride a roller coaster in December as well as a selection of other rides. In addition, enjoy new holiday shows, food, decorations and activities to make new family memories. We are really excited to see Winterfest and get more value out of our Cedar Fair platinum passes. See a complete list of Kings Island Winterfest activities.Haunt at Kings Island takes place Fridays and Saturdays now through Oct. 29, 2017. Indoor attractions open at 6 p.m. Outdoor mazes and zones open at 8 p.m. The Great Pumpkin Fest is Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29. Winterfest kicks off Nov. 24 and runs select nights through Dec. 30 from 5-10 p.m.