Get clued in on Cedar Point's Winter Chillout

Editor's note: Justin Dietz represents a Cedar Point food blog, (CPFoodBlog.com, @CPFoodBlog on Twitter). He recently talked about the benefits of attending Cedar Point's Winter Chillout event.SANDUSKY — Tickets are now on sale for Cedar Point's offseason event, Winter Chillout.This is your one chance during the winter where you can see the park — including backstage areas not normally accessible to park guests — eat a meal and learn insider information about the upcoming season. Who knows: Maybe you will even get a peak at Mean Streak's future.This year's Winter Chillout takes place on Feb. 25 with a backup date of March 4 if weather become an issue.Tickets are required and can be purchased on Cedar Point;s website. The cost is $50 per person, however, all of the proceeds are donated to A Kid Again charity.Your ticket includes:• A guided, walking tour of Cedar Point• A close-up view of the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park• Lunch• An exclusive presentation by park management• A behind-the-scenes look at locations not normally accessible to guests• Fun with friendsThe park also usually provides guests with some gifts to take home as souvenirs.No rides or attractions are open during Winter Chillout.In addition to being a charitable event, Winter Chillout gives guests the chance to see Cedar Point, hopefully, covered in snow, while also seeing some of the offseason progress of what to expect for the new season.The 2016 Winter Chillout event gave us confirmation on the closure of Chick-fil-A and its replacement, Frontier Inn, plus other dining enhancements around the park. In addition, there was an up-close encounter with the construction of Valravn as well as the reveal of the ride vehicles. Guests also were taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of the train engine house and into the planning and design building.This year's Winter Chillout should give you a firsthand look at the new Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling, the expansion of Hotel Breakers and reconstruction of Cedar Point Shores water park, and maybe if you are lucky, the park will walk you close enough to get a peak at the metal work being done to Mean Streak.The tour lasts about five hours — and, for the diehard fans of Cedar Point, this is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and have a really fun time enjoying the park from a different perspective.The 2017 Cedar Point Winter Chillout event takes place on Feb. 25 with a backup date of March 4 if weather become an issue. For $50, with all proceeds going to charity, a person can receive a walking tour of the park, a close-up view of the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park, food and more. The 2017 Cedar Point Winter Chillout event takes place on Feb. 25 with a backup date of March 4 if weather become an issue. For $50, with all proceeds going to charity, a person can receive a walking tour of the park, a close-up view of the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park, food and more. (Provided photo/BRAD KILGORE)The 2017 Cedar Point Winter Chillout event takes place on Feb. 25 with a backup date of March 4 if weather become an issue. For $50, with all proceeds going to charity, a person can receive a walking tour of the park, a close-up view of the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park, food and more. (Provided photo/BRAD KILGORE)The 2017 Cedar Point Winter Chillout event takes place on Feb. 25 with a backup date of March 4 if weather become an issue. For $50, with all proceeds going to charity, a person can receive a walking tour of the park, a close-up view of the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park, food and more. (Provided photo/BRAD KILGORE)Dietz, Justin