Diamondback souvenirs and apparel available at the DB Trading Post

You'll never forget the tallest, fastest and meanest roller coaster to ever strike Kings Island when you take home souvenirs of Diamondback. T-shirts, hats, glassware and much more, all displaying the awesome Diamondback logo, are available in the new DB Trading Post gift shop located in Rivertown. General park merchandise is also available in the DB Trading Post, including 30th anniversary Beast souvenir items and apparel.

OSU band coming to Kings Island

The 230-member Ohio State University Spring Athletic Band will be performing at Kings Island Saturday, May 30. Performance times are 9:30am, 12:00pm and 1:30pm and included free with park admission.

The Ohio State Spring Athletic Band has performed throughout the Midwest including the Kentucky Derby, the Indianapolis 500, and annually performs for the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium. This year the band performed for over 95,000 people at the Spring Game. The band performs at approximately 20 different venues each spring.

The Ohio State Band will perform a wide variety of music at Kings Island, including all of the popular Ohio State school songs, as well as patriotic music including "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and "America the Beautiful". The band will also be performing music from the 70's Rock halftime show they recently performed in Ohio Stadium. Music from that show includes "Proud Mary", "Midnight Rider", "Peace of Mind" and "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend photo contest winner announced

West Chester, Ohio native Ty Mullins snapped the winning photo for the inaugural Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend Photo Contest.

Mullins, who attended the two-day event as a member of KIExtreme.com, shot a photo of Congo Falls from the Invertigo plaza area with a Canon PowerShot A720.

Mullins photo was selected as the winner by a panel of judges from the more than 200 entries received.

Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend was held May 9-10 at Kings Island. Roller coaster enthusiasts from 25 states and Canada participated in the event.

Don't Stop the Music opens at Kings Island

DJ pump up the music and let the party start! Get down with today's hottest hits and chart smashing songs in this all-new revue! Don't Stop the Music features songs by Rihanna, Katy Perry and more! On the International Street Bandstand near the Eiffel Tower.

Collective Soul in concert tonight at Kings Island

Multi-platinum rock band Collective Soul will perform tonight on the Maxell Music Stage in the Timberwolf Amphitheatre.

Tickets for this concert are free but all concert goers must have a ticket with an assigned seat. Pick up your free ticket at one of two Collective Soul ticket booths in the park (near the Eiffel Tower or at the main front gate entrance).

Freestyle Motorcross wows the crowd at Kings Island

Freestyle Motocross rider Dustin Nowak thrills the crowd at Kings Island Saturday with a backflip on International Street.

Freestyle Motorcross riders will be back at the park again Sunday for another gravity-defying performance of tricks while flying ramp-to-ramp over a 75-foot gap! Show times are 12:45, 3:15 and 6:15.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoV7DhBz4Y

Team FASTRAX Skydivers drop into Kings Island

An action-packed weekend at Kings Island began Saturday morning at 10:00am when the Team FASTRAX skydivers dropped into Kings Island.

Watch BMX and Skateboard Vert riders practice Friday at Kings Island

BMX Vert rider Simon Tabron took a practice run Thursday at Kings Island in preparation for the ASA Action Sports World Tour stop this weekend at Kings Island.

Park visitors will have an opportunity to watch BMX and Skateboard Vert riders practice Friday at Kings Island between 2:00pm and 5:00pm in front of the Eiffel Tower on International Street.

Vert ramp construction continues at Kings Island

Construction of the vert ramp for the ASA Action Sports World Tour stop Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 at Kings Island continued today.

The two-day event features the world's top pros in skateboard and BMX vert and Freestyle Motocross as the ASA Action Sports World tour makes its fourth stop of the 2009 season.

In addition to the two jam-packed days of intense competition, there will be musical guests include a free concert performed by multi-plantinum rock band Collective Soul Sunday, May 24, Team FASTRAX Skydivers and an expanded fireworks show that is four times the normal size.

The chedule of events for the two-day event is available online at:

www.visitkingsisland.com/events/event_detail.cfm?event_id=575&ec_id=15

Landscaping sure to catch eye at Kings Island

Lanscaping is a big attraction at Kings Island. Shown here is a landscaper replanting the Floral Clock located behind the Eiffel Tower on International Street on Wednesday.

Construction of vert ramp underway at Kings Island

Contruction of the vert ramp for the ASA Action Sports World Tour stop May 23-24 at Kings Island began Tuesday. The two-day event features the world's top pros in BMX, Skateboard and Freestyle Motocross and is included FREE with park admission.

A schedule of events for the upcoming Action Sports World Tour event is now available online at:

www.visitkingsisland.com/events/event_detail.cfm?event_id=575&ec_id=15

Kings Island the place to be Memorial Day Weekend

The ASA Action Sports World Tour featuring some of the biggest names in the X Games is coming to Kings Island Memorial Day Weekend! So is multi-platinum rock band Collective Soul. And just added!!! Sky Divers, Pop Evil, LoveSick Radio and an expanded fireworks show.

And you can be there for all of it. All free with park admission.

SATURDAY, MAY 23
9:00am - Gold Pass Early Rides – Diamondback & Beast
10:00am - Team FASTRAX Skydivers & National Anthem
10:00am - Park Opens to the Public
1:15pm - FMX Show – Main Gate
2:00pm - BMX Vert Prelims – Tower
4:15pm - FMX Show – Main Gate
4:30pm - LoveSick Radio Concert in Showplace – (no ticket necessary)
5:30pm - Skate Vert Prelims – Tower
7:15pm - FMX Show – Main Gate
10:00pm - Team FASTRAX Skydivers Night Pyro Jump
10:00pm - Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks Show – 4 Times the Normal Size!

SUNDAY, MAY 24
9:30am - Gold Pass Early Rides – Diamondback & Beast
10:00am - Team FASTRAX Skydivers & National Anthem
10:00am - Park Opens to the Public
12:45pm - FMX Show – Main Gate
1:30pm - BMX Vert Finals – Tower
3:15pm - FMX Show – Main Gate
4:45pm - Skate Vert Finals – Tower
6:15pm - FMX Show – Main Gate
7:00pm - Free Concert in Timberwolf POP EVIL and COLLECTIVE SOUL
10:00pm - Team FASTRAX Skydivers Night Pyro Jum
10:00pm - Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks Show –4 Times the Normal Size!

Skateboard star draws a crowd at Kings Island

Skateboarder Danny Mayer signs autographs for fans Friday at Kings Island. Mayer will be competing against other top X Games Pros in BMX, Skateboard and Freestyle Motocross (FMX) during the ASA Action Sports World Tour stop May 23 and May 24 at Kings Island. The two-day event is included free with park admission.

Multi-platinum rock band Collective Soul coming to Kings Island for free concert

Multi-platinum and international recording artists Collective Soul will perform on the Maxell Music Stage Sunday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Kings Island. The concert is included free with park admission or season pass.

Collective Soul re-released their seventh studio album, Afterwords, on December 9, 2008, to all retail and digital outlets. Afterwards debuted in the Top 25 on Billboard’s Album Chart and on the iTunes Top 10 when it was originally released in August, 2007, via exclusive deals with Target and iTunes. At the same time, the disc’s first single, “Hollywood,” was used in commercials by American Idol throughout their lengthy audition process. By sheer coincidence winner David Cook was a big fan, performing Collective Soul’s classic hit, “The World I Know,” on the show’s finale, causing Entertainment Weekly to note that Cook “staked his entire Idol career on a Collective Soul cover,” and won. Songs from Afterwords have also been featured in television shows The Hills, 90210, Celebrity Apprentice, Women’s Murder Club, Brothers and Sisters and Shark.

This brand new edition includes for the very first time three solo songs by songwriter and singer Ed Roland; “An Evening With,” “Ain’t That Enough” and “Give.” The physical album also included a year’s membership to the band’s fan club, The Collective Souls. The digital album includes a Deluxe Edition with a seven-minute video diary from the band’s trip to Peru in early 2008.

Currently, Collective Soul has a song featured in the new blockbuster film Twilight as well as the accompanying chart topping soundtrack. The soundtrack held the #1 position on both iTunes and the Billboard charts the week after it was released.

Collective Soul have released a total of seven studio albums in their 14-year career, sold over 10 million albums and have had 19 singles landing in the Billboard charts, seven of those reaching the #1 spot on the magazine’s radio charts.
Collective Soul recently signed a World-wide recording deal with Roadrunner Records and is currently in the studio recording their eighth album due for release later this year.

Tickets for the concert are available at the park on public operating days and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meet X Games stars John Parker and Danny Mayer Friday at Kings Island

X Games stars John Parker (BMX) and Danny Mayer (Skateboard Vert) will be available to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photographs at Kings Island Friday, May 15 at 2:00pm in the Festhaus.

Parker and Mayer are among the world’s top X Games pros in BMX, Skateboard and Freestyle Motocross (FMX) that will be competing for ranking points as part of the ASA Action Sports World Tour stop Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 at Kings Island.

The ASA Action Sports World Tour event is included free with park admission.

JOHN PARKER - BMX
www.actionsportstour.com/athlete.html?athlete_id=7&sport=bmx

DANNY MAYER - SKATEBOARD VERT
www.actionsportstour.com/athlete.html?athlete_id=69&sport=skateboarding

Ride Warriors came out to play at Kings Island

Roller coaster enthusiasts from 25 states and Canada visited Kings Island this weekend to celebrate and enjoy roller coaster riding at its finest for the inaugural Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend event.

Ride Warriors enjoyed a combined total of 14.5 hours of exclusive ride time during the two-day event on Kings Island's most popular roller coasters, including the new Diamondback and the Beast.

Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend also included behind the scenes tours of the Beast, Racer and Son of Beast, a 30th birthday party for the Beast and prize giveaways.

Several coaster clubs and enthusiast organizations were represented including the American Coaster Enthusiasts, Great Ohio Coaster Club, Coaster Zombies, Coaster Community, Western New York Coaster Club, Florida Coaster Club, KICentral.com and KIExtreme.com.

Kings Island to host roller coaster enthusiasts from coast to coast and Canada for Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend

Roller coaster enthusiasts from 25 states and Canada will visit Kings Island this weekend to celebrate and enjoy roller coaster riding at its finest for the inaugural Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend event Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10.

Coaster enthusiasts will be able to enjoy a combined total of 14.5 hours of exclusive ride time during the two-day event on Kings Island’s most popular roller coasters, including the new Diamondback and Beast.

Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend will also include behind the scenes tours of several Kings Island coasters, special guest speakers, prize giveaways and a birthday party for the Beast, celebrating 30 years of terror in 2009!

Approximately 1,000 roller coaster aficionados are expected to attend. Several coaster clubs and enthusiast organizations will be represented including the American Coaster Enthusiasts, Great Ohio Coaster Club, Coaster Zombies, Coaster Community, Western New York Coaster Club, Florida Coaster Club, KICentral.com and KIExtreme.com.

Beast still a marvel 30 years later

Designer of Kings Island’s marquee coaster delights in the Beast’s lasting appeal.

www.journal-news.com/beast-still-a-marvel-30-years-later-109462.html

Gold and Platinum passholders can bring a friend this Sunday for just $9.99!

Kings Island is filled with good times that were meant to be shared. Whether it's the thrill of the new Diamondback or the wonder of a child meeting Scooby Doo face to face. And if you're a Gold or Platinum passholder, you can bring a friend to Kings Island this Sunday, May 10 for just $9.99 and spend a day together you'll remember for a long, long time!

The best deal for Kings Island tickets is online

The fun at Kings Island is ageless – there’s something for everyone! New in 2009 is Diamondback – the tallest, fastest and meanest roller coaster to ever strike Kings Island! There’s also the legendary Beast – the longest wooden roller coaster in the world! And Firehawk – Ohio’s only flying roller coaster. The thrills just never seem to end.

The best deal for Kings Island tickets is online. These tickets are good any operating day of the 2009 season. Simply choose the tickets you would like to purchase and add them to your shopping cart. It's that easy! Plus, after your purchase you will be able to print your tickets right from your home printer.

www.visitkingsisland.com/shop/shopping_general_admission.cfm