Cedar Point celebrating its 150th anniversary in style

SANDUSKY — Cedar Point will give guests a rare chance to visit the park for free to celebrate the 150th anniversary. Guests can reserve a free ticket to the Just for Fun Weekend, which provides free admission and parking. Additionally, platinum season pass holders can now reserve a special free preview night that includes a reserved boarding time slot for Snake River Expeditions. Plus Cedar Point is hosting a special chance to enjoy a throwback night at the Sesquicentennial Gala. Just for Fun Weekend In the 1970s, Cedar Point switched from a pay-to-ride model to an all-day admission program. Guests were originally given free admission to the park but paid for individual tickets to ride attractions. The 150th anniversary season kicks off in true retro style with the Just for Fun Weekend, scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. You can relive Cedar Point's past — when visiting the park was free, and each attraction had its own ticket price. Cedar Point is giving everyone a rare chance to see the park for free to celebrate the 150th anniversary: Everyone can reserve a free ticket to the Just for Fun Weekend, which provides free admission and parking. Provided photo/CEDAR POINT Guests are invited to attend the Just for Fun Weekend but must RSVP and reserve a complimentary ticket online in advance at cedarpoint.com/events. Tickets are limited and may sell out. RSVP tickets include parking and non-rider admission. Guests who would like unlimited access to available rides must purchase a ride wristband online, for $20.20, at the same time as their RSVP ticket reservation. No tickets or wristbands will be available at the park. During the Just for Fun Weekend, guests will be the first to: • Try some of the new treats at French Quarter Confections • Visit with the Peanuts characters • See a special film in the Jack Aldrich Theatre celebrating Cedar Point's history • Pick up limited-edition merchandise at Celebration Central • Purchase, collect and trade anniversary buttons with the new button-trading program. Guests who have purchased an unlimited ride wristband will have access to a collection of Cedar Point's rides along the Main and Lakeside midways. Scheduled attractions, subject to weather and maintenance, include Blue Streak, GateKeeper, maXair, Raptor, Valravn, Wicked Twister, WindSeeker, Kiddy Kingdom, Planet Snoopy, Cadillac Cars, Cedar Downs Racing Derby, Dodgem, Matterhorn, Ocean Motion, Scrambler, Sky Ride, Tiki Twirl and Troika. The 2020 season passes are not valid during this pre-opening weekend. In addition, special add-on products — such as All-Season Dining, All-Day Dining, the All-Season Drink Plan, the All-Day Drink Plan, Fast Lane and Fast Lane Plus — will not be valid for this special event. Platinum Passholder Anniversary Preview Nights All 2020 platinum passholders are invited to an exclusive Cedar Point event to experience select rides, attractions and new dining options during the Platinum Passholder Anniversary Preview Nights, scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7. During Cedar Point's Just for Fun Weekend, guests will be the first to try some of the new treats at French Quarter Confections. Provided photo/CEDAR POINT This complimentary event is for platinum passholders only, and advanced RSVP ticket registration is required at cedarpoint.com/events. Tickets are limited and may sell out. Platinum passholders will also have the chance to be among the first riders to enjoy the new Snake River Expedition ride. Platinum passholders must RSVP to reserve their ride time at the same time as their RSVP ticket registration, as capacity is limited during this event. In addition to Snake River Expedition, 18 additional rides at the front of the park are scheduled to be open, including Ocean Motion, Sky Ride, Valravn, Raptor, Kiddy Kingdom, Planet Snoopy, Blue Streak, GateKeeper and more. Passholders can also try free samples from some of Cedar Point's new food locations making their debut in 2020, like French Quarter Confections, The Roost, The Mac Shack and The Corral. Exclusive anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase at Celebration Central at Pagoda Gift Shop, and guests can get a head start on the new button-trading program by making their first purchases of special platinum passholder lanyards and anniversary buttons at the Button Stop. Sesquicentennial Gala If you took part in the City of Sandusky Bicentennial Ball in 2018 inside Cedar Point's Ballroom, then you have seen the building in all its glory. The very same space that hosted so many famous big bands, majestic dances and grand events of days gone by comes to life once again as the park hosts the Sesquicentennial Gala in the Cedar Point Ballroom, scheduled for 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, May 2. The formal party at The Point will feature live music from the Bluewater Kings, a 13-piece band specializing in melodies from multiple genres and time periods that will satisfy any musical taste as guests dance the night away, just like they did many years ago. During Cedar Pont's Just for Fun Weekend, platinum season passholders can reserve a special free preview night that includes a reserved boarding time slot for Snake River Expeditions. Provided photo/CEDAR POINT Attendees will enjoy roving entertainment, an open bar, hors d'oeuvres stations, an official party toast and displays featuring memorabilia from Cedar Point's storied past. Limited tickets for the black tie-optional Sesquicentennial Gala are $150 each and include admission, parking and a commemorative anniversary gift crafted by Cedar Point's own artisans. Sesquicentennial Gala sponsorship and VIP packages are also available. Guests can purchase tickets at cedarpoint.com/events beginning Monday. Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter.