Cedar Point Fans Raise $120,000 for Charity During Annual Winter Chill Out

SANDUSKY, OHIO — More than 1,000 amusement park enthusiasts gathered along the Lake Erie shoreline on Saturday for Cedar Point’s annual Winter Chill Out, an event that balances behind-the-scenes access with a major charitable mission. This year’s walking tour raised $120,000 for the Northern Ohio chapter of A Kid Again. The nonprofit organization focuses on providing cost-free outings and support for families who are raising children with life-threatening illnesses. According to Colleen Brady of A Kid Again, the money helps these families create lasting memories away from doctor visits and hospital stays. The partnership has become a staple of the park’s offseason calendar, with every dollar from ticket sales going directly to the charity. Christine Bucknell and the Cedar Point leadership team used the gathering to detail several updates for the 2026 season. Among the new offerings is a Star-Spangled Celebration planned for the July 4 holiday and the introduction of a Regional Gold Pass. The park also announced the creation of a dedicated VIP parking area specifically for veterans and a complete renovation of the main Starbucks location. First-time attendee Kimberly Klemenok Piskur said, "We met a lot of really cool people who share our love for the park and told us stories about WCO in years past and the sunrise tour. It was really cool talking to the maintenance crew and seeing the trains dismantled." Much of the conversation during the tour centered on the park’s major thrill attractions. Crews are currently finalizing work on the Siren’s Curse tilt coaster and preparing Top Thrill 2 for the upcoming year. According to park officials, the focus remains on mechanical testing and aesthetics as spring weather approaches. Cedar Point is scheduled to open for the 2026 season on May 9. -------------------- 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.