Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA) is anchoring its first dedicated spring event around Potato Patch fries. Celebrate Kennywood Weekends runs Saturdays and Sundays from April 18 through May 10, built entirely around the 50-year-old menu item that has become the park’s most recognizable food brand. The event opens the park’s 128th season and its first full year under Herschend ownership, following the family entertainment company’s acquisition of Kennywood, Sandcastle, and Idlewild in spring 2025.
The potato-themed menu spans sweet and savory, with dishes served around the lagoon: loaded cheesesteak fries, rosemary truffle fries, maple cinnamon sweet potato waffle fries, buffalo pierogi flatbread, Irish nachos, pulled pork loaded baked potato, potato and corn chowder, and a sweet potato ice cream sundae.
Beyond food, the event includes a History Walk through Kennywood Junction with a character photo op, life-size nostalgic photo ops recreating scenes from the park’s past, and competitive Kennywood-themed trivia at the Kennyville Stage throughout the day.
“Opening Day at Kennywood is always a big deal for Pittsburgh,” said General Manager Ricky Spicuzza. “This year we’re adding Celebrate Kennywood Weekends, which honors our iconic brand, the Potato Patch through a variety of potato-inspired menu items. With milestone anniversaries for rides like The Whip and Phantom’s Revenge, we’re proud to see families continuing to enjoy generations of memories on the same rides that have made Kennywood special for nearly 130 years.”
Two New Food Locations
The park is also debuting two permanent food locations for the 2026 season:
- Centennial Grill (NEW) — Located near The Whip in Lost Kennywood, serving cheesesteaks, tater tots, and park staples. Named as a nod to The Whip’s 100th anniversary.
- Big Dipper (NEW) — An ice cream stand paying tribute to the Dipper roller coaster that operated from 1948 to 1984. Located next to Noah’s Ark, serving hand-dipped ice cream and classic treats.
The food-forward approach is consistent with how several regional parks are programming their spring calendars in 2026. Hersheypark has built patriotic summer F&B programming around the national semiquincentennial, and food festivals have become an increasingly common way for parks to drive early-season attendance before summer peaks.
Ride Milestones
Two major ride anniversaries mark the 2026 season. The Whip turns 100, with a new commemorative logo. The ride debuted at Kennywood in 1926 and remains one of only a handful of 16-car Whip models still operating.
Phantom’s Revenge celebrates its 25th anniversary with rearranged coaster cars alternating between the ride’s signature green and purple, an upgraded station, and re-recorded original ride audio added back into the queue. The coaster is currently nominated as a USA Today 10Best Roller Coaster.
Full 2026 Seasonal Calendar
Kennywood’s 2026 event calendar spans nine months, from opening day in April through early January 2027:
- Celebrate Kennywood Weekends (NEW) — Saturdays and Sundays, April 18 through May 10
- Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival (Returning) — Fridays through Sundays, May 22 through June 28, plus May 25. The international tasting event adds France and Germany for 2026, joining Cuba, Greece, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, and Poland.
- All American Summer (NEW) — Fireworks by Zambelli on July 4, plus six new drone shows with 300+ drones every Saturday and Sunday from July 11 through July 26. Tied to America’s 250th birthday celebration.
- Fall Fantasy Parades (Returning) — Daily August 1 through August 17, plus August 22. Now in its 76th year.
- Phantom Fall Fest (Returning) — Select days September 11 through November 1
- Holiday Lights (Returning) — Select days November 13 through January 3, 2027
The full-season calendar fills every major programming window from spring through winter, a model that has become standard at Herschend properties including Dollywood and Silver Dollar City.
Season Passes and Ticketing
Season passes are currently on sale with savings up to $40 when purchased online. Select passes include free access to all seasonal events, discounts on food and retail, and free guest tickets.
For more information, visit Kennywood.com.
