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Cedar Fair Unveils Plans for Safe Family Fun In 2021

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and immersive entertainment, today announced plans to welcome back guests for a fun-filled season in 2021. From a landmark 150th anniversary celebration at one of its signature parks to a full lineup of new thrill rides, themed culinary events and high-energy cultural celebrations, there’s sure to be something for everyone across Cedar Fair’s family of 13 owned and operated properties.

“Our primary goal for the 2021 season is to fully reopen all of our properties and provide our guests with fun, dynamic and memorable experiences they can share with their family and friends,” said Tim Fisher, Cedar Fair chief operating officer. “We are optimistic that attendance levels at our parks and resort properties will significantly improve in 2021, particularly as COVID-19 vaccines become more broadly available. We have a loyal season pass base of 1.8 million passes outstanding, and customer surveys show a strong intent to visit amusement parks this year. In anticipation of this improving demand, we are poised to resume normal operations.”

He added: “As always, the safety and welfare of our guests and associates remain our highest priority. All of our properties that reopened in 2020 exemplified high-quality immersive entertainment in a safe, sanitized and stress-free environment, and we intend to build on that strong foundation in 2021. We want all of our guests to have fun and feel safe when visiting, so we’ve developed extensive reopening plans that incorporate guidelines and recommendations from medical experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and health officials. We’re all in this together and by working together, we can safely and confidently enjoy the thrills and fun that only Cedar Fair parks can deliver.”

Cedar Fair to Hire 45,000 Seasonal Associates

In preparation for reopening, Cedar Fair anticipates hiring approximately 45,000 seasonal associates across its 12 U.S. properties during 2021. The company will be hosting a virtual National Hiring Day event on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Candidates can register online at https://bit.ly/2YXOGJF.

The following park reopening dates and operating information are subject to change based on federal, state and local guidelines related to COVID-19 protocols.

Park Operating Plans and Highlights for 2021

California’s Great America, Northern California’s premier entertainment destination, is set to debut the all-new South Bay Shores waterpark as part of its safe return to fun in May. South Bay Shores will introduce seven new aquatic attractions, two new restaurants, new merchandise locations, premium cabanas and more—all in accordance with the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Headlining the waterpark’s new experiences are Pacific Surge, a water slide complex featuring four free-fall drop slides and two tube slides, and the Tide Pool children’s lagoon play area with eight miniature water slides.

Canada's Wonderland, the country's premier amusement park, is preparing to open this season celebrating 40 years of fun with all-new experiences including Mountain Bay Cliffs, an exhilarating cliff-jumping attraction situated high above the 20-acre Splash Works waterpark and Beagle Brigade Airfield, an exciting plane ride for kids. The four-season amusement park features world-class entertainment, live shows and special events including Camp Spooky, Halloween Haunt and the immersive holiday event WinterFest.

Carowinds, the premier entertainment destination of the Carolinas, will open to the general public May 22 so guests can once again enjoy world-class thrill rides, live entertainment, delicious dining options, immersive events and more. The 2021 season will top them all with the debut of Boogie Board Racer, the longest mat-racing water slide in the Southeast, in Carolina Harbor waterpark. This high-speed, high-thrill six-lane slide will give racers the slide of their lives. Also debuting this year is Grand Carnivale, an exciting cultural celebration featuring lavish décor and extraordinary cuisine from global cultures. There will be something for everyone to enjoy at Carowinds this season.

Cedar Point, the nation’s second-oldest amusement park, celebrates its postponed 150th anniversary in 2021. The park, which will open to the public May 14, will introduce the new Snake River Expedition family boat ride, the Celebrate 150 Spectacular parade, commemorative throwback merchandise, new dining locations and much more. The heart of the 150th anniversary celebration will take place June 26 through August 15. The family destination in Sandusky, Ohio, is home to the world’s largest collection of amusement rides, including record-breaking roller coasters like Steel Vengeance®, Top Thrill Dragster® and Millennium Force®. The park’s adjacent waterpark, Cedar Point Shores Waterpark, which features 18 acres of splish-splashing family fun, is set to open Memorial Day weekend. With favorites like the famous mile-long Cedar Point Beach, live shows, three kids’ areas, immersive live entertainment, marinas, resort accommodations and an unmatched Lake Erie setting, it’s easy to see why one day is not enough to discover all that Cedar Point has to offer.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania, kicks off its 138th operating season featuring new and returning attractions and experiences set to bring both thrills and spectacle. Dorney Park, the northeast region’s premier amusement park, will open May 22 highlighting over 100 rides, shows and attractions, the largest collection of kids’ rides in Planet Snoopy™ and the return of the highly anticipated, Grand Carnivale. Wildwater Kingdom, one of the nation’s top-ranked waterparks, is set to open Memorial Day weekend – debuting a multi-level, beach-themed play structure, Seaside Splashworks. This new family attraction will be the largest structure in the waterpark featuring more than 75 play elements to engage the entire family for hours.

Kings Dominion, Virginia’s premier destination for family fun, will open to the public May 22. New for 2021, guests can take a trip to the tropics at the redesigned area of the Soak City waterpark: Coconut Shores. The new area will feature two family-friendly attractions: Sand Dune Lagoon, a mini-wave pool with playful one-foot waves, and Lighthouse Landing, a 45-foot-tall, multi-level aqua play structure with more than 200 interactive elements and eight slides for families to explore. Families can grab a bite to eat at Beach Street, an all-new food-truck-court dining experience in Soak City. Also being added throughout the amusement park, guests can delight in new food and beverage options, highlighted by Grain & Grill, a signature dining location featuring fresh locally sourced dishes with hundreds of combinations.

Kings Island in Ohio officially opens its gates to the general public May 15. A Gold and Platinum season passholder preview will happen the weekend prior on May 8 and 9. New this season is Kings Island Camp Cedar, a luxury outdoor resort and RV park, less than a mile from the amusement park's front gate. For many park guests this will be their first opportunity to experience the Orion giga coaster, winner of USA TODAY’s “Best New Amusement Park Attraction” in 2020. Featuring a 300-foot-tall first drop, Orion became the seventh giga coaster on the planet when it debuted in July 2020.

Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City look forward to welcoming back guests this season. Knott's Berry Farm is making plans to reopen in May in accordance with the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The iconic park plans to commemorate its 100-year anniversary with a summer celebration paying tribute to the Knott family's rich history and legacy of family fun for all. Guests will be immersed in a once-in-a-lifetime anniversary celebration featuring festive park décor, themed food items, unique entertainment, exclusive merchandise, and special surprises along the way, all paying homage to the nostalgia that surrounds the historic theme park. Upon reopening, Knott’s Berry Farm also will debut Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair, an all-new 4-D interactive dark ride that celebrates a beloved classic attraction with a reimagined gaming twist.

Michigan’s Adventure, the largest amusement park and water park in the state, offers more than 60 rides and attractions for thrill seekers of all ages. The amusement park, which will open to the public May 29, will debut the new Peanuts® themed kids’ area, Camp Snoopy. Camp Snoopy features five family rides, including Woodstock Express, Camp Bus, Beagle Scout Lookout, Pig Pen's Mud Buggies and Peanuts® Trailblazers. Additionally, beautiful natural landscaping with plenty of shaded seating and pathways will lead guests to Beagle Scout Acres, an adventurous playground. Michigan's Adventure offers rides and slides for guests of all ages and thrill levels.

Schlitterbahn guests in New Braunfels, Texas, will notice a variety of improvements when the park opens to the public May 8, including restroom refurbishments, cabana makeovers, and retail store renovations. The iconic Lagoon pool in the original section of the park is also receiving a fresh new look and noticeable enhancements park guests will enjoy as they return this season. Additionally, the gift shop located at the park’s primary entrance has received a facelift along with the introduction of an array of new merchandise.

When Schlitterbahn in Galveston, Texas, opens to the public May 15, guests will see that the large pink family slides, Wolfpack and Thunder Tub, have received a makeover. The iconic slides in the Surfenburg section of the park were repainted this off-season with new, fun colors that are sure the make the thrills a little brighter. Additionally, guests will notice a refreshing remodel of their favorite pizza joint. Pointe Pizza is being updated, paying homage to the laid-back nature of the Galveston coast with new décor, fresh paint and a new drink menu. On top of that, the Riverbend Cabanas have been outfitted with new furniture providing an escape for a day of ultimate comfort to relax and unwind.

Valleyfair, the Twin Cities’ amusement park, will open May 22. Valleyfair is where families come to play the Minnesota way with more than 75 world-class thrill and family rides, live shows, unique attractions, and special events throughout the season. On select days during the summer of 2021, Valleyfair guests can see, hear and experience how the world kicks up its heels at the brand new Grand Carnivale, a larger-than-life cultural celebration with something for everyone.

Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri, kicks off its season May 22 and will feature the return of popular events like Grand Carnivale and Halloween Haunt. Oceans of Fun waterpark will open the following weekend on May 29 with the debut of an all-new attraction, Riptide Raceway. At 486-feet long, it will be the longest mat-racing slide in the world. Guests will race down five stories on soft foam mats through four side-by-side tunnels and around a thrilling 360-degree loop. The slide concludes with a final splashdown at the finish line.

About Cedar Fair

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world, is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Focused on its mission to make people happy by providing fun, immersive, and memorable experiences, the Company owns and operates 13 properties, consisting of 11 amusement parks, four separately gated outdoor water parks, and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 luxury RV sites. Cedar Fair’s parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Texas and Toronto, Ontario. The Company also operates an additional theme park in California under a management contract.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this news release that are not historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements as to the Company's expectations, beliefs and strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements may involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, general economic conditions, adverse weather conditions, competition for consumer leisure time and spending, unanticipated construction delays, changes in the Company’s capital investment plans and projects and other factors discussed from time to time by the Company in its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) could affect attendance at the Company’s parks and cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease. Additional information on risk factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the filings of the Company made from time to time with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, information, circumstances or otherwise that arise after the publication of this document.

This news release and prior releases are available under the News tab at http://ir.cedarfair.com

Contacts:

Investor Relations
Michael Russell, 419.627.2233
https://ir.cedarfair.com

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