5 reasons to fall in love with Cedar Point's Great Pumpkin Fest

Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter.SANDUSKY — Cedar Point's Great Pumpkin Fest is considered by many the best daytime Halloween-themed attraction for families.And this year, the spectacle is better than ever.Cedar Point's Great Pumpkin Fest has seen many new improvements and upgrades for this year's HalloWeekends, running through Oct. 29. Many popular attractions, such as the Peppermint Patty's Hay Bale Maze, Linus' Mummy Pit, and Franklin's Tractor Trek, return as well.Favorites like Peppermint Patty's Hay Bale Maze, Linus' Mummy Pit, and Franklin's Tractor Trek are back again, though this year park employees split the activities throughout the Kiddie Kingdom/Wicked Twister Midway and Camp Spooky, located inside the Camp Snoopy area.Here are some of our favorite new daytime activities that you will want to experience with your family:1. Seasonal ride overlaysCedar Point has taken a select group of rides and rebranded them just for HalloWeekends.Guests can experience Ocean Potion (Ocean Motion), where Halloween-themed music plays as bubbling red water churns below the boat.The Friendly Monster (Monster flat ride) also received an overhaul, with spooky eyes on the ride's vehicles and seasonal music.For HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, the Friendly Monster (Monster flat ride) received an overhaul, such as spooky eyes on the ride's vehicles and seasonal music.The Witches' Wheel gets special sound effects, while the Sky Ride may have some unexpected guests on your ride vehicle.Perhaps what guests were most excited to try was Cedar Creek Mystic Mine Ride (Cedar Creek Mine Ride) and see the overlay only for HalloWeekends. To really appreciate this ride, we hope you made a trip down to sister park Kings Island this summer to try Mystic Timbers.Once you experience the real #WhatsInTheShed effects, you might appreciate the play on what Cedar Point is trying to do with its seasonal trickery. Otherwise, the jokes may fly right by.2. Kid-friendly haunted housesYoung guests have always enjoyed the kid-friendly Magical House on Boo Hill as an entry to the Haunt universe. After going through the spook-free haunted house, kids receive a special prize bag at the end that rewards them for their journey.New for 2017: Cedar Point has introduced a whole new kid-friendly experience, Hexed Spellbound.On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, families can head into the Hexed maze, next to GateKeeper, for a great new experience. Outfitted with a flashlight, kids are greeted by friendly witches in each of the rooms with the option to answer a riddle before entering the next room.Hexed Spellbound was a fantastic experience for kids, allowing them to see a Haunt maze without concern for being scared. We loved the creativeness of having to find something in each of the rooms and/or solve a puzzle in order to move on. It was very, very well done, and we hope to see more of this in the future.For HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, families can head into the Hexed maze, next to GateKeeper, for a great new experience. Outfitted with a flashlight, kids are greeted by friendly witches in each of the rooms with the option to answer a riddle before entering the next room.3. Daytime fun activitiesIn a great move, Cedar Point has introduced a new kids area they are going to love: Pigpen's Corn Box.Adjacent to MaxAir, kids can climb into a giant box filled with corn kernels. Picture a giant sandbox, but with corn, and it's glorious. Complete with sand toys, the corn box was an absolute delight with easy cleanup.For HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, kids can climb into a giant box filled with corn kernels, which is adjacent to MaxAir. 4. Trick-or-TreatingOne of our kids favorite activities each year is trick-or-treating throughout Kiddie Kingdom.After receiving a bag and punch card, kids visit eight stations and receive a treat or prize at each one. Kids love the experience, and the park does a great job hitting all the bases with something healthy, sweet, and fun.At the end, trade in your completed punch card and receive a free miniature pumpkin.For HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, kids can trick-or-treat at eight different stations.5. Kids gamesDo your kids drive you nuts all season about playing games of chance to win a prize? Well, fortunately, the Great Pumpkin Fest makes it super easy for families to experience the fun.Schroeder's Games of Skill allows guests to play some kid-friendly games for only $1.For HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, children can partake in Schroeder's Games of Skill, which allows guests to play some kid-friendly games for only $1. We just scraped the surface with all the family-friendly fun available at Cedar Point this season.You can also see a variety of new shows featuring the Peanuts characters, enjoy the Great Pumpkin Parade every Saturday and Sunday starting at 4 p.m. and experience the Pumpkin Spectacular, which features impressive displays of more than 1,000 carved pumpkins along the Top Thrill Dragster midway.For HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, guests can experience the Pumpkin Spectacular, which features impressive displays of more than 1,000 carved pumpkins along the Top Thrill Dragster midway.The Great Pumpkin Fest at Cedar Point takes place Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29.