The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cedar Point Frontier Festival kicks off
New Wild Frontier Nights after-hours party to debut
“I’m the grand marshal of this here ceremony and I welcome you all to Frontier Town’s very own Frontier Festival,” stated character Miss Bea the morning of May 25 as media guests were given special access to the new 2022 Frontier Festival and Wild Frontier Nights at Cedar Point.
Miss Bea, one of the four new characters to join the Cedar Point live entertainment family, welcomed guests alongside her other townsfolk friends, kicking off the event which aims as a celebration of hope health, and harvest as summer approaches.
Opening May 26 and running into the summer until June 19, the Frontier Festival will take over the park’s Frontier Town from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., daily, with live music, mouth-watering food and drink, interactive games for youngsters and adults, festive decor, artisans and crafters, and of course the lovely townsfolk.
Cherries and sunflowers will set the narrative for the event this year as Cedar Point continues its partnership with Prayers For Maria, a local organization aimed at raising awareness and funds for research to end childhood cancer.
The movement uses sunflowers as a symbol of hope as they bloom annually at Maria’s Field of Hope on Chester Road near Jaycox Road in Avon, and Maria’s Field of Hope at Cedar Point.
“One of our marketing employees would drive by the field every day, and we thought it would be a great idea to partner and have our own field of hope here,” said Colleen Brady, vice president of park operations at Cedar Point, of the partnership.
Cedar Point’s Field of Hope officially bloomed in 2019, but the partnership this year with the Frontier Festival is the latest development for the organization’s cause.
Megan McNamara, the mother of Maria and cofounder of the nonprofit, said she is very excited about the festival and the partnership it will continue to foster.
“We partnered with Cedar Point to plant our second field a while back, and what we hoped to achieve then, is the same as now.,” McNamara said. “We want to bring greater awareness.
“And we know that in the long run, this helps these kids and will help for increased funding and research into finding a cure.”
Prayers for Maria is the official charity partner for the festival this year bringing its own booth with popular merchandise as well as games aimed at collecting donations for the cause.
“You can’t go wrong with the sunflower,” McNamara said.
“It’s a child’s favorite.” As for the cherries, Frontier Festival has given the fruit new life in its wide selection of food and drinks special to the event.
Guests can purchase a tasting card and sample their way through more than 25 cherry-inspired treats at the event, or try more hearty meals at the park’s new Farmhouse Kitchen restaurant, located where the old Cadillac cars ride was in Frontier Town.
RJ Sinwald, executive chef for Cedar Point, introduced some of the new treats that will be available during the event.
“One of the signatures will be a cherry and chocolate pie filling cooked in front of guests partnered with cherry cola infused frosted cupcakes that have cherry cola that guests can spray into the cupcake as they eat,” Sinwald said.
For a more filling bite, the festival also will offer cherry glazed pork ribs and flank steak onion and pepper street tacos.
But the fun only continues once June hits as Cedar Point debuts its twoweekend adult Wild Frontier Nights from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Happening June 3, 4, 10, and 11, the Wild Frontier Nights will turn Frontier Town into a genuine nighttime hoedown as guests ages 21 and older can enjoy a continued selection of over 60 craft beers as well as ax throwing, mechanical bull riding, live music, signature cocktails and more.
Guests must buy tickets to the event online as they are not included with park admission.
During the event, guests will have exclusive access to some of the park’s most thrilling rides including Steel Vengeance, Maverick, Skyhawk, Cedar Creek Mine Ride and Wave Swinger.
For the more foodhearted guests, the Wild Frontier Nights will treat guests to the likes of Lusty Lil and the gang’s signature Chicken and Waffles with sriracha maple syrup, edible cook dough egg rolls, Quesadilla burger with garlic aioli and more.
Signature cocktails also will make their debut available in cooler bags for guests to be able to walk around freely with enjoying their beverages.
Guests can look forward to two new recipes including the Rambler, a southern comfort tea with blue raspberry, and the Avengeance, watermelon Titos with jalapenos for an added kick.
Scott Smothers, food and beverage manager for Cedar Point, said he looks forward to guests being able to try out the new drinks and food and has high hopes for the event’s future.