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. 

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. 

(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. 

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. 

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Registration 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

Knott's Riders (click link to donate to individual riders): 

Frank Escarega III 

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

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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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