Going to Kings Island? Here's what's new in 2023 🎢 🍴

Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer

April 13, 2023 at 10:20 PM·4 min read

Calling all thrill seekers! Kings Island opens for the 2023 season Saturday, meaning we're one step closer to summer.

Get ready for park staples, like speeding roller coasters, blue soft serve ice cream and pictures with Peanuts characters. Plus, find some new thrills, too.

A new themed area will open at Kings Island this year along with two new rides. Visitors can also enjoy a sweet brewery collaboration, new ticket option and restaurants.

See what's new at Kings Island this year below.

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Kings Island opens for the 2023 season this Saturday. Thrill seekers can find a few new additions to the park this year.

Food and drink

Thrill seekers and roller coaster riders will have a couple new dining options at the park this year.

Grain & Grill

Grain & Grill is a fast-casual restaurant with Eastern European and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Customers can sit indoors at the restaurant, which is located on International Street next to Starbucks and boasts views of the Royal Fountain. Select menu items will be included on the park's dining plans.

Some menu options include:

Moroccan chicken.
Glazed pork shoulder.
Shrimp skewers.
Fresh seasonal sides.

New restaurant: Grain & Grille opening at Kings Island

Kings Island 2023: Adventure Port and what else to know

A rendering of Grain & Grill, which opens on International Street at Kings Island this year.

Enrique’s

Enrique's is a new restaurant serving traditional Mexican food, according to the Kings Island website. The space is located inside Adventure Port, which opens at the park this summer.

Some menu items include:

Burritos.
Burrito bowls.
Tacos.
Salads.
Sides.

Outpost frozen cocktails

According to the Kings Island Twitter account, a new spot for alcoholic beverages will open this year in the park's Rivertown area. The bar will serve frozen alcoholic drinks and draft beer.

Here’s your first look at a new drink location opening this year in Rivertown. #KingsIsland pic.twitter.com/NHFCBj0hvs
— Kings Island (@KingsIslandPR) April 10, 2023

Strawberry Funnel Cake Ale

Kings Island once again partnered with Sonder Brewing to release a brand new dessert ale. Strawberry Funnel Cake Ale, with flavors of "strawberry and fresh dough," will be available at the park starting this weekend. It will also be served at Sonder starting Tuesday, according to a tweet from the brewery.

Strawberry Funnel Cake Ale will replace Sonder's Blue Ice Cream Ale, which debuted at the park in 2021.

We love collaborating with our neighbors at @KingsIslandPR!

This year we worked together to create an incredible dessert beer, Strawberry Funnel Cake Ale. The perfect summer treat, this beer is light bodied but loaded with flavors of strawberry and fresh dough. It takes you… pic.twitter.com/VEFQE8aV1o
— Sonder Brewing (@SonderBrewing) April 12, 2023

Sol Spin, one of two new rides in Kings Island's forthcoming Adventure Port, flies passengers 60 feet through the air at 25 miles per hour.

Rides and attractions

Themed area Adventure Port won't be open this weekend, but it will debut this summer.

According to the Kings Island website, the area is located between Coney Mall and Action Zone and is themed after "the myths of an ancient civilization and its mighty city."

Adventure Port will feature:

Two new rides: Sol Spin and Cargo Loco.
The Mercado, an area for dining and drinks.
Enrique's restaurant.

Sol Spin riders will be in open-air, suspended passenger vehicles flying 60 feet through the air at 25 miles per hour. The second new ride, Cargo Loco, takes passengers for a spin.

Shopping

Pin collectors can find a new Adventure Express collector pin this year. According to the Kings Island Twitter account, a limited supply of pins will be available at the Emporium on International Street.

Attention, pin collectors! Introducing the brand-new collector pin for Adventure Express! 🎢 Grab yours at the Emporium on International Street. Hurry—limited quantities available! #AdventureExpressPin #KingsIsland #CollectorPin pic.twitter.com/paPfJV1zDr
— Kings Island (@KingsIslandPR) April 11, 2023

International Street webcam

Check in on the action from home or on the go with the park's new webcam, broadcasting live from International Street.

Watch the livestream here.

Check out our new webcam live stream of International Street! https://t.co/Hz1M7C4pYn #KingsIsland pic.twitter.com/4eZP9FKGcN
— Kings Island (@KingsIslandPR) April 11, 2023

Tickets

The new Kings Island Prestige Pass includes the benefits of the park's Gold Season Pass, plus some new perks.

These include:

Preferred parking.
Preferred entry.
Two free Bring-a-Friend tickets per year.
One single-use Fast Lane pass per visit.
Access to VIP areas.
A 15% discount at participating restaurants and stores.

Prestige Passholders also get admission and general parking at all Cedar Fair Parks. Learn more at visitkingsisland.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kings Island: Here's what's new in 2023

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