 Last week we took a quick trip to Knott's to check out their preparations for Summer. The park is kicking off a whole bunch of summer excitement this Saturday and we'll of course be there to check it all out this weekend. But in the meantime, here's some of the preparation that was going on last week. Pictures and Words by Gregg Condon It was a beautiful day at the farm, but was full of Middle School groups, not my thing so it was probably my quickest visit to the park ever, less than an hour.  How about a couple of pictures of Jaguar in action. The Coasting For Kids riders got a lot of rides in this past Sunday. You can still donate to the riders even though the event is over by clicking the link above.   A quick look at Iron Reef, the line didn't look too bad even though the park was relatively busy.   The stage for the new Vertical Impact shows, there is a day time and night show. They are definitely going for the Steampunk Theme here. Looks and sounds like fun, the description is below.  (NEW) Vertical Impact – Calico Square Stage: The show presents the ultimate blend of extreme stunts with high flying acrobats performing a one of a kind performance perfect for the entire family! This high energy show is set to the most popular songs of today, combining everything from trampoline stunts, BMX riders, skaters, dancers, and aerialists. Every show ends with an informal meet & greet for the guests with the entire cast on stage. June 13 - August 23. No shows on Mondays & Tuesdays (NEW) Vertical Impact: Geared Up! – Calico Square Stage: The fun continues after dark as the cast pumps up the volume with the latest hits, the biggest tricks and awesome special effects. The pace is intensified, the stunts are electrified, and the cast is breaking down the walls, defying gravity, and taking it all to the next level. "DJ Nytemadness” keeps the party going mixing all the best of current EDM, dance & pop hits after each show while the gleeful cast invites guests become a part of the fun. June 13 - August 23; no shows on Mondays & Tuesdays     Some of the other shows coming to the park this summer. (NEW) Blockbuster Beagle!...on ice - Charles M. Schulz Theatre:Snoopy and his Peanuts buddies "go Hollywood" bringing Walk of Fame glamour, dazzling movie lot escapades and California excitement to a brand new ice show adventure. Join Snoopy and our world-class ice skating stars for this amazing new production! June 13 - August 23; no shows on Wednesdays  Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – Bird Cage Theatre: Things get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies perform their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, side splittin’ country comedy show that has Knott’s audiences clamoring for more! See Knott’s website for show dates and times  (NEW) Big Band Swingin’ Sundays – Boardwalk Circle: The timeless allure of swing dancing is something guests won’t want to miss this summer! Jump, Jive & Swing to the sounds of Orange County’s best local Big Bands. Sundays,June 14 – August 30 The Big Fat Steve Band – Boardwalk Circle Stage: Back by popular demand, The Big Fat Steve Band is a one-of-a-kind dance band with a swingin’ beat. Enjoy the live musicality of rockabilly, swing and classic sounds. The only thing missing is your dance moves. See Knott’s website for show dates and times  (NEW) Salsa Bands – Fiesta Plaza Stage: Fiesta Plaza stage heats up this summer with the infectious energy created by some of Orange County’s most popular salsa bands. See Knott’s website for show dates and times Ghost Town Streetmosphere – Ghost Town Streets: Ghost Town is alive with townsfolk who will put you smack dab in the middle of the Wild West. New residents have put down stakes recently - Clem Culpepper, the ever hopeful gold miner, Ma & Pa Shine, our resident moonshiners & Nathan Quickly, the Pony Express Agent, and more Calico townsfolk  Charlie Brown’s Happy Campers - Camp Snoopy Theatre: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, their friend JT, and the world’s most popular beagle, Snoopy will take the stage in a show that’s sure to make an outdoorsman out of anybody! Daily, June 14 – September 1  Knott's Summer events begin this Saturday, be sure you are following along on Social Media as we'll be covering the event all day.  Cedar Fair Entertainment Company's best loved theme parks are partnering with Give Kids The World to host the 7th Annual Coasting For Kids fundraiser. Here's your chance to have fun marathon riding a signature thrill ride while making a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses! Below you will find all of the registration information as well as a line-up of what each park is offering as far as perks and rides. Some of the parks have yet to announce their schedules but you can get your fundraising page going now. If you will be participating please let us know either in the comments below, on Facebook or Twitter and we will add your donation page to the links below. How To RegisterRegistration is easy. Just visit the site below, pick the park you want to participate at and then set up your fundraising page. Coasting for Kids Registration In addition to the ride marathons, lunch provided by the parks and other surprises all participants will get an event shirt, park admission, keepsake certificate and returning riders will get a special sticker. Below a little bit of info on what each park is offering during the event. Are you a roller coaster fanatic? If so, this is the event for you!Here is your chance to make your coasting miles count! Cedar Fair Entertainment Company is partnering with Give Kids The World Village to host the 7th annual Coasting For Kids fundraiser. Get your adrenaline pumping at Cedar Fair’s most beloved theme parks for marathon-rides that make a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses. Date: Sunday, June 7, 2015** Location: All 11 Cedar Fair Entertainment Company parks across North America Registration Fee: $25 Fundraising Requirement: $75 minimum How It Works: Participants select their favorite Cedar Fair park to participate at. Register using the links above and create your personal fundraising page. Raise at least $75 between now and June 1, and we will invite you to celebrate with us on Sunday, June 7** at your park! The more money you raise, the more incentives you will receive! Participants must raise at least $75 to gain entrance to the park on Sunday, June 7, 2015  ITINERARY COMING SOON!  Registration Time // Location: 8:15 a.m. // Front Gate Exterior Kiosk Event time: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. // Behemoth area coasters (Backlot, Psychlone, Behemoth, Swings of the Century) ERT 08:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. // Leviathan Meal Time // Location: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. // Breakfast at Marketplace International Buffet 01:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. // Lunch Awards Ceremony Time // Location: 3:00 p.m. // Marketplace International Buffet Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - VIP Tour for four (4) 2nd place - Four (4) tickets to Halloween Haunt; Dinner at International Marketplace Buffet 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket Canada's Wonderland Riders (click link to donate to individual riders): Matt Bryane  Registration Time // Location: 8:30 a.m. // Front Gate Event time: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. — Fury 325 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Afterburn 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. — Thunder Road Meal Time // Location: 12:30 p.m. // TBA Awards Ceremony Time // Location: 1:30 p.m. // TBA Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - TBA 2nd place - TBA 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket  Registration Time // Location: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. // Main Entrance Event time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Millenium Force 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Wicked Twister 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Rougarou 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Gemini Meal Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. // Lakeside Pavillion Awards Ceremony Time // Location: 5:30 p.m. // Near Gemini Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - Four (4) Good Any Day tickets; Four (4) meal vouchers; Cedar Point Prize Pack 2nd place - Two (2) Good Any Day tickets; Two (2) meal vouchers 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket Cedar Point Riders (click link to donate to individual riders): Nicole Forst  Registration Time // Location: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. // Main Gate Event time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: ERT 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - TBA 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Steel Force 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Talon 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Hydra Meal Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. // Food Fest Grove Awards Ceremony Time // Location: 1:15 p.m. // Center Stage Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - Dorney Park Prize Pack including four (4) admission tickets 2nd place - Dorney Park Haunt Prize Pack including four (4) Haunt tickets 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket Dorney Park Riders (click link to donate to individual riders): Chris Conrath  Registration Time // Location: 8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. // Outside Front Gate Event time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: ERT 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Dominator 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - one side of Rebel Yell Meal Time // Location: TBA Awards Ceremony Time // Location: TBA Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - TBA 2nd place TBA 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket  Registration Time // Location: 9:00 a.m. // Front Gate Window Event time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Red Racer 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Blue Racer 10:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. - Banshee Meal Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. // International Restaurant Awards Ceremony Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. // International Restaurant Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - TBA 2nd place - TBA 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket Kings Island Riders (click link to donate to individual riders): Shawn Smith Kimberly Williams  Registration Time // Location: 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. // Western Employee Parking Lot off Western Ave Event time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Coast Rider 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Jaguar Meal Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. // Fiesta Village Awards Ceremony Time // Location: 5:30 p.m. // Fiesta Village Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - TBA 2nd place TBA 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket  Registration Time // Location: 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. // Group Sales Office Event time: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Thunderhawk 3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Shivering Timbers Meal Time // Location: 2:30 p.m. // Family Grill Awards Ceremony Time // Location: prize pickup prior to 6:30 p.m. // Group Sales Office Regular Park Operating Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - Gift package including four (4) 2015 General Admission tickets 2nd place - Gift package including two (2) 2015 General Admission tickets 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket  **Coasting For Kids at Valleyfair will be hosted on Sunday, June 14, 2015** Registration Time // Location: 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. // WOF Front Gate Event time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Steelhawk 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Mamba 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Prowler 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Patriot Meal Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. // Lakeside Pavillion Awards Ceremony Time: 5:30 p.m. // Near Gemini Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - Four (4) Worlds of Fun tickets; park souvenir pack; Oceans of Fun cabana on return visit date 2nd place Four (4) Worlds of Fun tickets; Worlds of Fun t-shirt 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket Valleyfair Riders (click link to donate to individual riders): Josh Cameron  Registration Time // Location: 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. // WOF Front Gate Event time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Marathon Taking Place On: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Steelhawk 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Mamba 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Prowler 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Patriot Meal Time // Location: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. // Lakeside Pavillion Awards Ceremony Time: 5:30 p.m. // Near Gemini Regular Park Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Prizes: 1st place - Four (4) Worlds of Fun tickets; park souvenir pack; Oceans of Fun cabana on return visit date 2nd place Four (4) Worlds of Fun tickets; Worlds of Fun t-shirt 3rd place - Give Kids The World gift basket  Yesterday we headed back out to Knott's for the 10th Annual Knott's Coaster Run. I had previously done this event 3 years ago and I have to say this years event was great, some things better, some things not so much (which we'll get into below). We also have some Iron Reef pics from our visit last Wednesday. Our Sunday morning started about 2 1/2 hours after our Saturday ended. Due to the time change we were up way too early with too little sleep. The start line at about 6:00am  After getting our bibs, hanging out a bit, seeing some of you who came out, we started to get in our corrals. And this was the one big issue of the day. The corrals made no sense. Usually corrals are sorted by your projected finish time. Now, I'll be honest, I can't remember if I put in a time when we registered, but I don't think we did. It seemed that the corrals were sorted by registration date, which makes NO sense. Hanging out in Wave 6, behind walkers and people with strollers. Even the people behind me were confused, or they were confused at how tired I looked. LOL.   Now I'll admit, I'm not the fastest runner, usually around 10:30 per mile on my normal runs, but I admit it and will always put myself in an appropriate corral/wave/whatever. My wife walked the 5k and stated in the back, as it should be.  Corral issues aside though, I will admit, that there was enough gap between waves that it really wasn't as big of an issue as it could have been. But catching up to the previous waves walker 3-4 minutes after the race started was kind of weird. Headed into the park  And here is the BIGGEST improvement over the last time we did the Coaster Run, actually running through the park. The last time we did it we ran around the park, but never in it. So this was awesome.    Beware of Boomerang supports Log ride looks awesome in the morning   Running through Ghost Town   Lines for character pictures weren't that long at all   Fog Alley  Heading out of the park   Looping around the Marketplace, through the tunnel and into Soak City  Believe it or not, this was actually my first time in Soak City. We'll certainly be checking it out this summer.    The 5k/10k split. If you did the 5k, your course was entirely on Knott's Property (which is awesome). For the 10k the 2nd half of our race was on nearby streets, which was totally fine. Lots of great staff out to cheer you on.  I ended up finishing the 10k in 1:03:46 and a pace of 10:07 per mile. Not my best, not my worst by a long shot. The 2nd half of the race was faster due to not having to dodge strollers and walkers. And of course, no day at Knott's would be complete without some Boysenberry Pie.  After a tasty breakfast at Mrs. Knott's, a post race selfie, showing off the medal in a theme park. =)  Overall, I'd give this race about a 8 out of 10, it's well organized, the course is great and the minor weirdness regarding the corral placement aside, we had an absolute blast. I would suggest having people with strollers at the very least start in the back next year. If you are pushing a stroller and can pass me more power to ya. But we'll certainly be back next year. Moving on to Knott's Iron Reef construction, they are starting to work on the outside of the building now. And apparently the ride vehicles have shown up at the park as well.    The station is receiving a bulk of the work  Ground work for the building    An overview of the work area, looks like the brick is staying.   Not sure what they are doing on this end yet  A peek inside  Around the rest of the park, is this thing ever open anymore?  Jaguar was closed for a brief refurb, but was back open over the weekend.  Montezooma's Revenge just returned from it's rehab and is running great as always.     Lastly, not sure when these were replaced (probably been awhile) but they look great. I don't normally go into Camp Snoopy, just always find it weird when I'm without kids. =)  Alright, that's going to wrap it up for this update, we hope you enjoyed it. We'll be back at the park on the 28th for the Boysenberry Festival. Looking forward to trying out lots of great food. |
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