Cedar Point Announces New Barrels and Bites Event Featuring Bourbon, Beer, and Wine

SANDUSKY, OHIO — Cedar Point is expanding its summer lineup with a new signature festival that focuses on the intersection of regional culinary arts and craft beverages. The event, titled Barrels & Bites, is scheduled to run from June 5 through June 28, 2026, offering a different pace for visitors navigating the historic park. According to Cedar Point, the festivities will be centered along the Frontier Trail, the shaded pathway that connects the park's Main Midway to the Frontier Town area. This section of the park, which often features traditional crafts and quieter surroundings, will host a variety of tasting stations showcasing beer, bourbon and wine. Guests can expect a selection of regional pours paired with specific dishes developed by the park's internal culinary team. At the Trail Tavern, the menu includes smoked pork belly sliders topped with pickled onions and bleu cheese crema. Other locations, such as the Wild Turnip, will serve braised beef short rib ragout over sage butter gnocchi, while Fort Sandusky plans to offer honey- and herb-brined smoked wings finished with a raspberry chardonnay reduction. For those looking for dessert, the Whistle Stop will feature aged cheeses accompanied by dried fruits, nuts and chocolate. The festival will also bring in local artisans to contribute to the atmosphere. Artists from Loft at 36 Eleven will be on-site to create custom handmade hats for purchase, and traditional park mainstays, such as the Glassblowing Store and the Leather Shop, will feature limited-edition items branded for the event. The event hours are set for 4 p.m. until the park closes each day, though the festival will not operate on Tuesdays. While access to the festival area is included with a standard park ticket, the individual food and beverage tastings require a separate fee. Cedar Point representatives noted that local performers, including a jazz trio and folk piano players, will rotate throughout the month to provide live music. Those traveling from outside the Sandusky area can look into resort packages that include park admission after 4 p.m. for arrival days. Information regarding specific tasting prices and full menu listings is available on the official Cedar Point website. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.