Each year as Halloween approaches, those who love a good scare look forward to the start of Kings Island’s popular Halloween Haunt. But for those of us who have little ones at home that can’t quite handle the fear factor (or for moms who can’t handle it, either), the amusement park has the perfect compromise.
The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Island is filled with festive Halloween fun for even the youngest members of your family.
We had taken our young children to Kings Island once before and our four-year-old, especially, has talked about it ever since. Now a year older, he was thrilled to learn that we were heading back and he couldn’t wait to ride the rides that are perfect for little thrill seekers. We started in Planet Snoopy, which has many rides and attractions that are geared toward babies through young school-aged children. Both kids were able to ride some of the rides by themselves and they loved the playful Snoopy theme.
At noon, we walked over to Soak City, which of course is not operating as a water park right now, but instead has been transformed into the Great Pumpkin Fest. You could easily spend most of your visit in this area, as there are many fall-themed activities and attractions. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side during our visit, but we were still able to trick-or-treat (they have bags available, so you do not need to bring your own!), visit the Great Talking Pumpkin, ride a tractor through a hay bale track and play around in the foam. We also caught a glimpse of a few of our favorite characters from Charlie Brown, walking around to greet the kids.
Kings Island is always a fun time as a family, and it’s especially memorable in October. The Great Pumpkin Fest runs Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the month and is included with admission to the park. Even with a little rain, we had a great time riding the rides, trick-or-treating and making family memories. Our visit ended perfectly with a relaxing train ride back to the main area of the park from Soak City, which happened to keep us out of the rain!
If you’re looking for a unique family outing this season that will satisfy the fall favorites of everyone in your family, now is the perfect time to visit Kings Island! For more information, be sure to check out their website here for all you need to know and to order tickets.
About Andrea:
A native Cincinnatian, Andrea has experienced life in all four corners of this city. After growing up on the west side, she headed north to attend Miami University, then moved east to Hyde Park and now lives in Northern Kentucky with her family.
When she’s not playing trains and doing the “hot dog dance” as a stay-at-home mom to her two toddlers, Andrea is busy writing for Cincinnati (and, ahem, Kentucky!) publications and brainstorming ideas for her next children’s book! With a newfound passion for fitness and overall health, she spends a lot of time at her family gym and loves to play outside.
Andrea worked in education for several years and has a special love for children’s literature. She loves showing her children all our city has to offer and enjoys sharing her finds with other parents. Her favorite spots include the Cincinnati Zoo (although she steers clear of the bird house), her local library and any playground.