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Around the Corner: Sights, Sounds and Spirit of the Holidays at Kings Island

The holidays begin at Kings Island with the return of WinterFest on select nights Nov. 23 through Dec. 31. You’ll step into a world where the holiday spirit comes to life. A world where every moment becomes a memory. A world filled with the magic of the season. From flavors of the holidays to festive entertainment, here is what we are most excited to experience during WinterFest.

Calling all performers! Kings Island to hold auditions for 2019 season

Do you love the stage? Do you enjoy being in the spotlight? If so, then it’s time to loosen up those vocal cords and polish your dancing shoes. Kings Island will be casting for a wide range of exciting opportunities for the 2019 summer and WinterFest seasons. Auditions will be held at Kings Island in The Beast Room in the Human Resources Building October 27-28 from 12-5 p.m.; November 1 and November 8 from 5-8 p.m. and December 20-22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Demolition work completed to make way for new Kings Mills Antique Autos

Cool fall temperatures make it hard to think about spring, but that's exactly what construction crews at Kings Island have been doing this month. Demolition in the Coney Mall section of the park has been completed to make way for the start of construction on the new Kings Mills Antique Autos ride opening spring 2019. Kings Island guests can check out the construction progress themselves over the next two weekends (Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 26-28) while visiting the park to experience Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest.

Kids can win prizes by attending The Great Pumpkin Fest in costume

As one of the top family Halloween events in Greater Cincinnati, The Great Pumpkin Fest presented by the Hershey Company at Kings Island has a spook-tacular costume contest with a chance for kids to win great prizes. Any little ghoul or goblin can walk in a parade during Lucy’s Holiday Fashion Show & Costume Contest. The short parade runs around the crowds of The Great Pumpkin Fest, and kids love waving at the audience and showing off their costume.

Kings Island named top theme park Halloween event in national poll

After a month of spirited voting in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest, Kings Island has won the title of Best Theme Park Halloween Event in the country. Halloween Haunt features nine haunted mazes, four spine-tingling scare zones, three sinister shows, plus the thrill of 20 rides.

Sign up for the Kings Island Blog Firehawk meet-up

The last days of operation for the FIrehawk roller coaster will occur during the final weekend of Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest, October 26-28, which is why our Kings Island Blog Team wanted to offer our readers an opportunity to join us for a behind the scenes tour before of the ride before it is retired. The Kings Island Blog behind the scenes Firehawk meet-up begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on October 20, 2018. During the meet-up, you’ll have plenty of great photo and video opportunities of the ride during one of its final days of operation.

Scare up some fun at Halloween Haunt

It’s October. Fall is officially here and Halloween is just around the corner. Fill a Friday or Saturday night through October 27 with some fright at Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., the park is transformed into a playground of terror with a host of creepy creatures lurking in the shadows waiting for unsuspecting victims.

Halloween Haunt a can't-miss Halloween event in Cincinnati

There’s quite a lure when it comes to haunted mazes and a spooky atmosphere – especially this time of year. If you are a fan of Halloween, then Halloween Haunt at Kings Island is an event you can’t miss. With nine haunted mazes, four scare zones, three sinister shows, evil creatures everywhere and 20 rides, the thrills and chills are endless.

The graveyard of old Kings Island rides

Have you ever wondered what happens to rides when their motors have stopped, their wood turned rotten and steel to rust? Since Kings Island’s opening in 1972, a lot of attractions have come and gone. The former rides graveyard on display during the Halloween season at Kings Island allows guests to grieve over deceased rides from the past that are lost, but not forgotten.

Rock on to Halloween Haunt's live entertainment

I think everyone has a different idea of Halloween “fun.” Some love to run through dark mazes and escape monsters, while I would rather sit back and eat 20 fun-sized candy bars. I’ve never been a fan of haunted houses, so working at Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt for the first time seemed terrifying. That was before I found out that Halloween Haunt features some of the best Halloween-themed shows in Cincinnati. I got the chance to sit in on each of them, and here’s what I found out.