There’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than to have a day at Cedar Point. Whether with a loved one, friends or on a solo trip, HalloWeekends at Cedar Point 2021 is so much fun.
And yes, you CAN have a blast going by yourself!
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Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is a theme park lover’s dream. Primarily known as the roller coaster capital of the world, it is a 364-acre collection of thrilling entertainment and excitement for every age.
It is also the second oldest operating amusement park in the U.S., first opening its doors in 1870.
Before you head out to the park, you’ll want to take note of the dates, times, events, and haunted houses for 2021.
What’s New for Cedar Point (2021 Safety Protocols)
Before we get into the tips, let’s go through a few things you should know be fore you go this year.
Changes from Last Season:
- Reservations will no longer be required for any guest.
- Temperature checks for guests have been discontinued.
- There will be no limitations to ride capacity, and social distancing mandates are no longer in place.
- All guests age 2 and older who are not fully immunized are required to wear face coverings while indoors unless actively eating and drinking.
- Face coverings for guests who are fully immunized are recommended but not required.
Can I wear a costume at HalloWeekends?
According Cedar Point, guests aged 12 and under are invited to participate in the costume contest and wear costumes and face paint during Tricks And Treats Fall Fest at HalloWeekends.
However, any guests aged 13 and older are not permitted to wear masks, face paint or costumes at any time during HalloWeekends.
Tricks And Treats Fall Fest for Scardey Cats
On select days from September 18th through October 31st 2021, you can enjoy the Halloween season at Cedar Point in a fun, yet not-so-scary way!
Tricks And Treats Fall Fest Food Tasting
This popular Halloweekends event is back for 2021! I’m so happy you can experience this because during this food festival you’ll be able to taste over 20 Halloween treats throughout the park like:
- Autumn Mac & Cheese
- Candy Corn Cupcakes
- Day of the Dead Fries
- Pumpkin Bread Pudding
- Craft beer
- Ciders
- Specialty potions without alcohol or with alcohol
Halloweekends for The Family
If you’re not into being scared, then you’ll love the other options available to you and your whole family at Halloweekends. You can enjoy things such as the:
- Magical House on Boo Hill
- A foam pit
- Spooky selfie stations
- Costume contest
- Trick or treating
Costume Contest
Have your little one (12 and under) dress up as their favorite Halloween inspired creature for Cedar Point’s costume contest.
All you have to do is stop by the Costume Council in Celebration Plaza throughout the day to join their “houses” as they put together their team for the big costume contest!
What time is the Tricks And Treats Costume Contest?
The Halloweekends event will take place at the following times:
- SEPTEMBER: Fridays from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on the Main Midway; Saturdays at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Celebration Plaza.
- OCTOBER: Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on the Main Midway; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in Celebration Plaza.
Halloween Food Trucks
If you’re like me, you’re only there for the food and the coasters (not so much the scares). So, the food trucks of Cedar Point is where you’ll want to find yourself visiting the most on your trip.
The Dead End Kitchen Alley is the food truck section of Halloweekends that will have your stomach so happy as you feast on ghoulish sweet treats and savory dishes. You’ll find the food trucks in Celebration Plaza.
What are the Cedar Point HalloWeekends 2021 Dates?
As you can probably guess, every fall Cedar Point gears up for the ghostly holiday with their HalloWeekends event.
Starting September 17th and running until October 31st 2021, the park changes into a spooktacular party where monsters wander after dark in this truly unnerving celebration!
What are the Cedar Point HalloWeekends Hours?
The hours for Cedar Point vary each night, but you can expect the following times:
- Thursdays 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Octobers only)
- Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
- Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
How Scary is HalloWeekends?
Depends on how easily scared you can get. This annual event features Cedar Point’s world-class rides, roller coasters and sinister haunted attractions.
Throughout HalloWeekends, you’ll be able to enjoy Cedar Point’s interpretation of the frightening holiday through their haunted mazes and scarezones.
One of the things I really like about HalloWeekends is that it has ghostly shows for all ages, but it isn’t “too” scary. Even the youngest and most sensitive of beings will enjoy the fall offerings at this event.
19 Survival Tips for Cedar Point HalloWeekends
After dark, the park has the ability to haunt you with its spooky houses, scarezones, and entertainment!
So, if you’re looking to celebrate Halloween at the roller coaster capital of the world, then let me give you some tips to make the most of your trip.
Although the event is slightly changed this year, you can use some of this strategies for your visit.
1. Know What Scary Areas to Avoid
If you want to stay away from the scarier parts of the park, stick to the front area of Cedar Point, which is family-friendly. The haunted mazes towards the front portion of Cedar Point are usually “tween approved” and not as scary as the ones further into the park.
2. Have a Game Plan Before You Go
View the park map from Cedar Point’s website in order to know what attractions and shows you want to check out.
Mapping out your day will also help you decide which houses, scarezones, and rides you don’t want to miss on your trip.
Hipster Power Tip: Use the Cedar Point app to go over the park map and to work out where you want to go. You can also check out their calendar to view the show times during the event.
Are all rides open during HalloWeekends at Cedar Point?
Most rides and roller coasters at Cedar Point stay open during HalloWeekends. I recommend saving the opportunity for riding the permanent attractions towards the end of the night once you have done the haunted mazes.
3. Check the Weather in Sandusky, Ohio Before Your Trip
Before you head out to Cedar Point, be sure to check the weather. Don’t be like me and assume September will be cold.
Average Cedar Point Weather
- May High 68° / Low 54°
- June 78° / 64°
- July 83° / 70°
- August 80° / 68°
- September 73° / 61°
- October 61° / 49°
4. Prepare for the Heat (Just in Case…)
Again, don’t be like me and think that Sandusky, Ohio has perfect cool throughout the opening season.
In fact, I went to Cedar Point last September and packed all my winter clothes thinking the average temperature would be 60 degrees.
…hey I’m a Floridian and anything under 63 degrees is cold to me.
Come to find out, it was averaging 87 degrees with suffocating humidity. I was sad thinking that I was going to escape the Florida heat for a brief week.
5. Dress for the Season
Whether you plan on going in the summertime or the fall portion of the park season, it is important for you to dress comfortably for either one.
During the hotter months, light clothing with comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a hat is recommended to battle the bright sunshine.
In the cooler months, jeans with a light sweater or jacket will do just fine in the battle between you and the chilly Lake Erie winds.
Should you choose Style, Comfort, or Both?
I choose comfort over style, but I’m trying to get better at combining the two. What I do recommend is wearing comfortable sneakers for all of the standing, walking, and running you will be doing.
Trust me, you will thank me later.
6. Have Water Handy
Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water!
Bringing a water bottle that you can refill is ideal. You’ll also want to avoid consuming alcohol on hot days as it can further dehydrate you.
7. Start Early to Avoid the Crowds
This tip is especially important if you will be at Cedar Point for only one day. HalloWeekends at Cedar Point is special in the fact that you only need to pay one price to enjoy the park thrills during the day and the terrifying haunts at night.
Because of this, the weekends can get crowded at Cedar Point, but thankfully they have added another day this year to help with the event’s popularity.
If you will be staying later for the haunting festivities, consider taking a 2 to 3-hour break during the day, away from the park, to recharge yourself for more fun later!
8. Set A Budget and Stick to It
Be aware that your money can get spent quickly if you’re not paying attention to your budget and sticking to it.
Why?
Because there’s plenty of fun games to play, souvenirs to buy, and V.I.P. experiences to enjoy!
So, be strategic with meals and snacks and try to only buy one souvenir on your trip.
…and no, I don’t want you to not have fun buying your favorite trinkets, I just want you to go back home without being broke.
Hipster Power Tip: Grab your lunch and head out to the majestic shore of Lake Erie where you can spend your park break relaxing next to one of America’s most gorgeous lakes.
9. Enjoy the Fall Décor
Cedar Point has some of the best Halloween décor of any amusement park. Plus, you enjoy going through the grave stones of the classic “dead” rides from Cedar Point’s history.
10. Get the Fright Lane Pass
For an additional cost, you can get a Fright Lane Pass. This will save you lots of time by allowing you to jump right to the front of the line on both haunted mazes and the CornStalkers scarezone.
I recommend that you purchase your Fright Lane Pass in advance, because they do sellout once you’re in the park.
Cedar Point Halloweekends Fright Lane Options
- Halloweekends Fright Lane: Valid only on the date selected. Fright Lane is a lanyard that allows you to enjoy shorter wait times for each of our Haunt mazes one time. Starts at $75.00
- FAST LANE: This wristband allows you to enjoy shorter wait times on 18 rides & attractions including Gatekeeper, Raptor, Rougarou and more. Starts at $109.00
- FAST LANE PLUS: Includes all 18 Fast Lane attractions plus rides on Steel Vengeance, Maverick, Millennium Force and Valravn! Starts at $134.00
Hipster Power Tip: Saturdays are the best days to buy the Fright Lane Pass, since it’s usually the busiest day of the week for HalloWeekends.
When you purchase the Fright Lane Pass, you’ll receive access to the Skeleton Key Rooms. There are usually around 5 Skeleton Key Rooms for you to explore (please note that I’m still waiting to see if this experience will return for 2021).
These rooms offer an exclusive, interactive and intense experience that’s only accessible by your skeleton key.
Keep in mind that the Fright Lane Pass does not include admission to the park, nor Fast Lane perks.
11. Walkthrough the CornStalkers
You do not want to miss the CornStalkers Scarezone. It opens at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (will open on Sundays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays at 8 p.m. in October), so try to go as early as possible to avoid the long line.
The CornStalkers scarezone takes you through disorienting, twisted paths with evil beings lurking amongst the field. It’s absolutely terrifying and a HalloWeekends must do!
12. Visit All of The Scare Zones for The Ultimate Experience
In my personal opinion, I think the scarezones at Cedar Point have a slight edge over the haunted houses. The scareactors really thrive in this environment and are very creative in where they hide for those epic jump scares.
Also, some of the areas throughout the park have thick foliage and suffocating fog that makes it really dark and scary. This adds to the mysterious ambiance of the scarezone, especially in the area between Millennium Force and Maverick.
The frights of the scarezones usually start around 8 p.m., so don’t enter them if you’re too scared.
13. Know Ways to Not Get Too Scared
To survive HalloWeekends without running off for cover, you’ll want to stay away from the scarezones and stick to the kid-friendly areas of the park.
If you don’t want to be scared at all, Cedar Point provides a lit necklace you can wear that says NO BOO. The necklace lets the park monsters pass you and save their scares for another victim!
Think of it as a force field to protect you from the scary creatures.
Take note that these necklaces are not free and are usually priced around $20 each.
14. Enjoy HalloWeekends Entertainment
There’s an array of entertaining options for you to enjoy at HalloWeekends such as:
- DJ Dr. Scream
- Midnight Syndicate: Conspiracy of Shadows
- Monster Mash-Up with “The Shrieks” Band
- The Fangtastics
- The Tell-Tale Heart
15. Ride to Top Roller Coasters at Night
If you know me, then you know how much I rave about riding Maverick at night!
I must say that this is an absolute must do!
If you’re a roller coaster fanatic, then you must saddle up and ride crazily through the night on this wild adventure.
Maverick will take you through a “twisted horseshoe roll” and a 400-foot-long speed launch through a pitch-black tunnel at a top speed of 70 mph!
Others rides like Valravn and Rougarou are just as thrilling in the night.
16. Spend More than a Day at Cedar Point
To get a well-rounded experience, expect to explore the park over two days. Three days is ideal to really experience everything without rushing around.
Saturdays are always popular, which translates to more crowds, and more time to take in all of the rides and attractions.
You can get the perfect Cedar Point Itinerary here!
17 – Save the Coasters for the Evening
If you want to avoid the crowds during HalloWeekends, the you should ride the roller coasters at night and do the haunted attractions right when they open up during the latter part of the day.
The thrilling coasters have the longest wait times during the day, while the evening brings about higher wait times for the haunted mazes.
18. Go with a Group of Friends
Going to HalloWeekends at Cedar Point with a group of friends makes it so much fun as the night goes on. However, going with your significant other is fun too, since you’ll have someone to protect you from all of the scares!
19. Just Remember to Pace Yourself and Have Fun!
You’re really going to have a great time, so try not to stress too much and enjoy the delightfully, ghoulish frights of HalloWeekends at Cedar Point.
Cedar Point HalloWeekends Houses and Entertainment
Now that you know how to survive HalloWeekends, let’s look at some of the unique experiences happening during this event.
HalloWeekends Haunted Mazes
- Deprivation – your biggest fears of claustrophobia and darkness come to life in this maze
- Fearground Freakshow – enter into a one-of-a-kind show put on by Professor Von Fleece
- Slaughter House – don’t become one of the butcher’s newest victim in this bloody nightmare
- G.A. Boeckling’s Eerie Estate – you’ll want to make sure you don’t become a permanent resident of this haunted mansion
- Hexed: Black Magic– this new take on a Halloweekends classic will have you entering the witches’ lair in suffocating darkness as you attempt to reverse the curse in this evil house.
HalloWeekends Scarezones
- Harvest Fear – instead of a Harvest Fair, you’ll be walking through creepy rituals of the past
- Cut Throat Cove – be sure you’re not the next victim of pirates still roaming the sunken ships
- Tombstone TERROR-tory – FrontierTown is literally turned into a Ghost Town…just make sure you’re out before you’re turned into its next resident
- CornStalkers – see how far you can navigate your way throughout this disturbing cornfield…be careful of the evil hiding amongst the stalks
- NEW Banished – According to Cedar Point, the calls of crows warn of a new evil falling upon Frontier Trail. Malevolent beings from the nearby wilderness invade to seek revenge on the panicked townsfolk who betrayed them. Become part of the terror as fear comes easily to those who venture onto Banished’s haunted trails.
- Blood on the Bayou – beware of the quiet waters around you in this scarezone…you may come face-to-face with your worst shadowy nightmare
Attractions for the Little Ones
- The Magical House on Boo Hill – this is a whimsical walk-through house
- Pigpen’s Corn Box – play in a sandbox-like adventure with thousands of corn kernels
- Peppermint Patty’s Hay Bale Maze – enjoy a miniature maze created just for the little ones
- Woodstock’s Crazy Cornstalks – take a walk through this family-friendly cornstalk maze
- Charlie Brown’s Challenge Course – enjoy an adventurous obstacle course created just for kids
- Linus’ Mummy Pit – join Linus in this foam party pit
- Franklin’s Tractor Trek – experience a tractor race built just for kids
- Joe Cool’s Drive-In Movie – take a break and enjoy a classic showing of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”
Please note that all attractions, experiences, offerings and prices are subject to change at anytime.
What to Know Before You Go to HalloWeekends
Before you make you way over to Cedar Point, you should know a few answers to some of the most common questions asked.
Is Cedar Point busy during HalloWeekends?
HalloWeekends are busy since they mostly only happen on the weekends. Friday nights are less crowded than Saturday nights so you’ll want to come as early as possible.
However, I recommend going on a Thursday night in the first two weeks of October to have the lowest crowd level at Cedar Point.
Just remember that the event gets crowded as the night goes on.
Is Cedar Point HalloWeekends scary?
Yes it is. Although it’s no Halloween Horror Nights, the houses and scarezones are intense with lifelike bloody scenarios.
Jump scares are throughout the event, but sometime the eerie, foreboding feeling is even scarier. It’s because of this that I suggest you stay around the front of the park for a “less scary” HalloWeekends experience.
Also, don’t forget to get a NO BOO necklace I talked about earlier if you don’t want any of the scareactors to come after you.
What time do the haunted houses start at Cedar Point?
The haunted houses generally start at 8 p.m. on Fridays, 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 5 p.m. on Sundays. Always check the times on the day of your trip to get the most accurate schedule.
Hipster Power Tip: If you stay at one of Cedar Point’s on-site properties, you will be able to enter the park early before the general public.
Where to find Cedar Point HalloWeekends tickets?
Cedar Point HalloWeekends tickets can be purchased at the onsite gate as a regular park ticket with inclusion of many of the park’s top attractions.
However, I recommend buying your tickets early as there are special perks to purchasing your HalloWeekends’ tickets online.
For one, you will be able to skip the long, drawn out ticket queue and head right away into the gates for your amusement park adventure.
Secondly, Cedar Point offers many discounts for advance ticket purchasers.
How much does a Cedar Point ticket cost?
Tickets for the 2021 season are now available for prices as low as $49.99 for a single day ticket depending on peak days vs. non-peak days.
Prices are subject to change.
Upgrade Your Day!
Go beyond the basics of just riding roller coasters and walking through scare zones. Why not treat yourself and upgrade your Halloweekends day by experiencing some of the fun experiences being offered by Cedar Point such as:
- Tricks and Treats Bundle: Includes admission, Parking & Tasting Card (3 tastings from Tricks And Treats menu) $79.99
- Tricks and Treats Tasting Card Experience: Tasting Card includes either 6 or 9 tastings from Tricks And Treats menu. From $49.99
- Night of the Living Fed: All-you-can-eat haunted dining experience located in the Lakeside Convention Center. $24.99
- HalloWeekends VIP Experience: This is the ultimate way to do HalloWeekends as you get access to an exclusive lounge with bottled water, commemorative lanyard, a complimentary beverage and one-time Fast Lane or Fright Lane vouchers! From $49.99
How much does it cost to park at Cedar Point?
Parking at Cedar Point is $20.00 for each vehicle, or $30.00 for preferred parking.
Can you leave Cedar Point parking lot and come back the same day?
Yes you can as long as you have your parking receipt handy.
Can you walk from Hotel Breakers to Cedar Point?
You sure can!
There are two park entrances that will land you directly into Cedar Point within a 5-minute walk. They are:
- Resort Entrance (near Gemini Midway)
- Beach Entrance (near Lakeside Midway)
Watch Next: Full Tour and Review of Cedar Point Hotel Breakers here on YouTube!
Can you bring water into Cedar Point?
You can bring individual, unopened water bottles, as well as special diet/need items, may be brought into the park.
Beer, wine and liquor are also items that you cannot bring into the park.
Does Cedar Point have water rides?
Yes. Cedar Point currently has two water rides:
- Snake River Falls
- Thunder Canyon
- Snake Rive Expedition
Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!
Final Thoughts
So, is HalloWeekends worth it? Absolutely!
No matter if you are a hard-core scare fanatic, or just want to take it easy and celebrate Halloween without getting your adrenaline up, Cedar Point does not disappoint.
It is also a great place to go solo and you will surely make a ghoulish friend or two on your visit.
If you follow the tips above, know what you want to do and prepare accordingly, it is the best way to celebrate the Halloween season.
If you’re thinking about visiting Cedar Point this season, then hit me up with a comment below. I’d love to answer any questions you may have.
Read 45 Cedar Point First Timers Tips here or if you’re more of a podcast person, then you can listen to the tips here.
Book your next trip at Cedar Point’s Hotel Breakers!
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Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
NikkyJ
(Original Article Date: Fall 2013/Last updated September 15, 2021)