News update: Live music returns to Tomorrowland, 'Fryathlon' at Six Flags

July 29, 2016, 12:14 PM · Disneyland is reviving one of its old, but lost, traditions.

The park announced today that it will start hosting live bands again at the Tomorrowland Terrace stage, starting next week. For years, Disneyland programmed a variety of bands throughout the park, to draw locals in the evenings on weekends. You could find Dixieland jazz at the French Market, swing bands at the Carnation Gardens, and pop bands at the Tomorrowland Terrace.

It's been a few years since bands have played in Tomorrowland, but Disney's going to give it another go, "for a limited time," starting August 6 and running Friday-Sunday nights. Don't expect any nationally-known names, but there are plenty of good local bands in the area to keep the line-up filled with quality acts for as long as Disney wishes to host them.

The Summer Olympics get started in one week, so it's time for businesses to start trying to cash in on the hype. Six Flags has announced its "Fryathlon," a three week promotion where its parks will feature French fries topped with flavors inspired by Olympics host Brazil, as well as Thailand and the United States. The Brazilian meats-and-cheeses fries and American cheeseburger fries make thematic sense, given the location of the parks and the Olympics. But why Thailand? Sriracha, baby. (Let's ignore for the moment that Sriracha is made in America and just go with the spicy, okay?) Six Flags will be offering special midway game competitions, too, with the opportunity to win souvenir medals, as well as Gold Season Passes, Gold Flash Passes, or Gold All-Season Dining Passes.

Note that since Six Flags is not an Olympic sponsor or partner, that word never appears in any of its promotion for these events. Finding a way to run an Olympics promotion without using the word "Olympics" ought to be an Olympic event in itself.

Finally, we've been talking about this over on the Discussion Forum, but Kings Island has announced its new ride for 2017: Mystic Timbers — a GCI wooden terrain coaster, seemingly in the style of the park's classic The Beast, but with a surprise lurking in a shed near the end of the ride. Here's the POV animation from the park:

The new ride is scheduled to open next spring.

Replies (3)

July 29, 2016 at 2:59 PM · What does limited time mean???
July 29, 2016 at 8:21 PM · I figure it means a trial run. If it's popular they might extend it. Glad to see this come back. I grew up in So Cal and remember the bands more than I do a lot of the lesser attractions.
July 31, 2016 at 8:48 AM · They should book Suburban Ledgons again. While they are at it they should book The Aquabats for the first time in a couple decades.

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