4th of July weekend in the Midwest suggestions.

With the 4th of July weekend looming a few weeks away, if your were in the midwest, which of these parks would you for the 4th of July weekend attend and why? Michigan Adventure, Cedar Point, Six Flags, Great America, Indiana Beach, Kings Island, or Holiday World. I would love to hear everyones feedback, postive or negative.

I wouldn't go to an amusement park on 4ht of July weekend. It's too busy, especially at the parks that offer a fireworks show.

I have not found that to be true at all. We were at Waldameer on July 3rd and Darien Lake on July 4th last year with little to no crowds. Granted these aren't on the same scale as most of the ones that Talon listed.

Are you going for a day trip or for the weekend? Of those listed, I think I would try IB on the 3rd and SFGAm on the 4th with a budget to get a GFP if needed (I would bet that it will be needed). My reasoning is that the 2 parks are close enough together that they can be done in one trip. KI & HW are another pair that could be combined.

Well, that's good to know then. I have worked at some very busy 4th of July's at Cedar point and Universal.

And as for smaller parks...Lakemont and DelGrosso's were insanely packed every Independence Day that I can remember when I was a kid, living in Altoona, PA.

Maybe sometimes it is the expectation of large crowds on 4th of July that keeps people away.

Well at this point, we may or may not hit an amusement park this summer. We are getting married in August, bought a new house in April, and had anticpated saving money for a honeymoon next summer at Disneyworld, Universal Orlando, and Seaworld. But with all the stress with the wedding and that of a new home purchase, I feel it would be a great stress relief to get everyone out of the house and to an amusement park for a day or two. I have heard of conflicting stories about attendance at all of the parks, so lines or no lines, I may get everyone up early in the morning that weekend, tell them to pack and not tell them where we are going, wing it along the way. stay where every we can find room type vaction.

If you go with the expectation that it will be busy but your going to have a good time anyways, you'll be fine. When you go expecting it to be dead and find that everyone else figured the same and all showed up is when it can turn sour.

I wouldn't honeymoon to parks. I mean, if parks are your passion, you're already going to them anyway.

The best firework show Ive ever seen was in Boston. The Boston Pops do a free outdoor concert there that ends with the playing of the 1812 Overture complete with Howitzers and every church bell in the North End. Then one of the largest firework shows in this country begins. Its amazing, not to mention you are in the cradle of liberty for Independence Day how much more patriotic can you get?

The couple of years we lived in Allentown we did Dorney every 4th. Mostly because all the options were just as crowded and annoying, might as well pick the park.

With that said, I wouldn't be caught dead in a park on the 4th.

Well, that's good, 'cause nobody wants to see you dead in a park anyway. ;)

I think I've been to Kennywood a few times on the 4th and it wasn't so bad. Jeff and I went to CP on the 4th a few years ago and it was crowded, but not unbearable. I think Dave's right that if you're expecting the crowds and only have the goal of being out and about for a while, I think you should go for it. That was my attitude that year at CP and I had fun.

Someone at KI once told us the crowds were very light at parks the Monday after the 4th for some reason. I don't know how true that is, but maybe if you go on Monday the 5th, it would be better? Don't know. Good luck!

Kings Island 10am-3pm Strickers Grove 4-11pm.

Good day

I'm a huge fan of Red, White and Boom! in Columbus. I've been there at least 23 of the past 25 years. This year it's on Friday, July 2nd.

Jeff thanks for the advice about Honeymooning in the parks. As much as I love the parks, my soon to be wife has never been to any park in the Orlando area. Unfortunaly as much as I would love to travel to the area yearly, knowing how much money we will make in our professions, realistically it would be years in between visits since we won't be rolling in the dough. Plus it would only be the two of us, it would be my daughter whom would be 16 by then and My soon to be wife's daughter whom would be 8 by then. We plan on doing it right as well, spending at least 2 weeks in the area. So we have ample time to do things at our lesiure(sp).

I always anticipate a crowd when I go to amusment park, so crowds will not bother me. I think it will be intresting to see what Promos or extras the parks will have for the 4th. I guess what I am for from people to hear there pleasant and not so pleasant expericences in a park around the 4th, then spur of the moment go with what the weather and advice others steer us to.

If you have not yet been to Stricker's Grove, I'd recommend it. Since you started it off with 4th of July, and that's one of their very rare public days.

If you have already been, then you can disregard, or not, at your discretion... ;)

I've been to indiana Beach on the Fourth. It was very crowded, but even had no more than a 20-minute wait or so for the coasters.

I've been to my former homepark Adventureland (Iowa) many time son the Fourth and it was never too crowded. Riding the Tornado while the fireworks are going off right in front of you is a cool experience.

Since the Fourth falls on a Sunday this year, many people will have Monday off for the holiday. Because of that, I would expect Sunday to be the busiest day of the weekend this time around. It tends to be that way whenever there is a 3-day weekend in park season.

BTW, Stricker's web site announced there will be four public days this year: Fourth of July, Family day (2nd Sunday in August), Labor Day and a day in October. Didn't they used to only be open twice a season?

Carrie M. said:
Jeff and I went to CP on the 4th a few years ago and it was crowded, but not unbearable.

Says you! :) You know what a poopy pants I was in wanting to get the hell out of there.

Yeah well...I just ignored you as well as the crowds. ;)

I think it all has to do with the way the holiday falls in the week- if the 4th is mid-week somewhere, people tend to take their one day off and stay home for the parades, picnics and fireworks, and the parks can be surprisingly dead. If it's attached to a weekend, however, the chances of the parks being busier on the actual holiday is greater.

Charles Nungester said:
Kings Island 10am-3pm Strickers Grove 4-11pm.

Good day

I agree! That's where I will be! :)

-Tina