Theme park news: Oogie Boogie Bash canceled / Sesame Place reopens / Cedar Point cuts days

Theme park news: Oogie Boogie Bash canceled / Sesame Place reopens / Cedar Point reduces days

Disneyland is canceling its Halloween event for 2020, following other theme parks who have axed their own haunted happenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellation of the Oogie Boogie Bash was first reported by the Orange County Register, which cited unnamed Disneyland officials. The event ran for the first time at Disney California Adventure in 2019, moving the Halloween festivities away from Disneyland Park due to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Both Disneyland and DCA have been closed since mid-March. While the resort originally hoped to reopen on July 17 — Disneyland’s 65th anniversary — it later called off those plans and blamed the lack of guidelines from the state of California for reopening theme parks. No such guidelines have since materialized.

Universal Studios Hollywood officially canceled its Halloween Horror Nights event Friday. No announcements have been made about other Halloween events at California theme parks, including Knott’s Scary Farm and Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Sesame Place reopens with new safety measures, limited capacity

Pennsylvania’s Sesame Place is once again welcoming guests, having delayed the start of its 40th anniversary season for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As reported by the Bucks County Courier Times, the park is opening at 25 percent capacity, a face mask requirement and limiting meetings with Sesame Street characters to an appropriately-distanced wave.

“I wasn’t sure if people were going to show today because of the rain, but they seem happy to be back,” Dana Ryan, manager of public relations and partnerships at Sesame Place, told the Courier Times.

Masks are not required at the water park and guests are allowed to take breaks from their face coverings in designated relaxation areas.

Cedar Point moving to weekend-only schedule in August

The shortened summer season for Cedar Point will be even more limited, as the roller coaster park is reducing its hours and moving to a weekend-only schedule in the second half of August.

According to Cleveland.com, the move is likely the result of the low attendance and staffing difficulties that Cedar Point has experienced since reopening.

“Cedar Point is adjusting its operating hours to better align the park operation with the needs of our guests during the pandemic,” park spokesman Tony Clark told Cleveland.com.

Starting August 17, the park will only be open Friday through Sunday. Hours are currently only listed through Labor Day and Cedar Point has not announced details for the 2020 edition of its HalloWeekends event.

Days earlier, the low crowds had led Cedar Point to end its requirement that guests obtain a reservation in advance before visiting.

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