Tweetsie Railroad’s 2012 season includes many special events

By Staff Reports

BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Tweetsie Railroad is calling all passengers as North Carolina’s first theme park celebrates an action-packed 2012 season. Tweetsie Railroad will host special events including fan favorites such as Letterland at Tweetsie, July the Fourth Fireworks Extravaganza, K-9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs and the annual Ghost Train Halloween Festival. Guests will also enjoy great music from the Grammy award-winning performers Riders In The Sky and a host of additional events and fun activities.

Tweetsie, which opened in April for another unforgettable season, features live shows, amusement rides, the Deer Park Zoo and much more family fun. Visitors experience an unforgettable three-mile Wild West adventure behind Tweetsie Railroad’s historic steam locomotives. Family fun is discovered throughout the streets of Tweetsie Railroad’s very own Western town, where you can explore the long-ago era of cowboys and Indians. Guests can also take a scenic chair lift ride back in time and experience the gold rush while panning for gold at Miner’s Mountain.

Be part of Tweetsie’s live entertainment including Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Revue, Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration and the Miner’s Mountain Magic Show. Tweetsie’s Country Clogging Jamboree is also sure to get your toes tappin’.

Below is a quick look at Tweetsie’s special events scheduled for the 2012 season:

• Tweetsie’s Fireworks Extravaganza — July 4

Celebrate the nation’s birthday with a great day of family-friendly fun. Watch as the night sky is illuminated with a dazzling fireworks display! The park will remain open until 9 p.m.

• Cool Summer Nights — July 7, 14, 21 and 28

Tweetsie’s special evening program is set for four straight Saturdays in July. On these days, the park will stay open late for more family fun. So once you’ve filled your day with all the great activities Tweetsie has to offer, ride our famed steam locomotive to your heart’s content and see the park in a whole new light: moonlight.

• Meet Bob the Builder — July 13-15

Join the Can-Do Crew when Bob the Builder™ performs his interactive Sing-Along Performance. The hard-hat wearing, hard-working builder will be singing, dancing and looking for aspiring builders. He will also be available to pose with kids and families for photos.

• K-9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs — July 21-29

This team of agile canines will amaze you as they jump, flip and catch flying discs in ways that defy gravity. Don’t miss out on the action-packed thrill of these incredible dogs as they perform live at Tweetsie each day.

• Riders In The Sky — Aug. 18-19

Come hear America’s favorite cowboys, Riders In The Sky, as they fill the Blue Ridge Mountain air with sweet sounds. Known for their rich blend of Western harmony and comedy, the multi Grammy award-winning quartet has captivated audiences of all ages since 1977.

• Railroad Heritage Weekend at Tweetsie — Sept. 8-9

Travel through the Blue Ridge Mountains on Tweetsie’s historic locomotives as the park hosts its annual Railroad Heritage Weekend. Celebrate the rich history of steam locomotives and tour the famous Tweetsie Railroad Train Shop, where steam locomotives from across the nation are repaired and restored. Cherokee dance and craft demonstrations will take place on Saturday in the Tweetsie Pavilion.

• Ghost Train Halloween Festival — Friday and Saturday nights Sept. 28 — Oct. 27

All aboard Tweetsie’s Ghost Train for a can’t-miss spooktacular ride with engineer Casey Bones. Don’t miss the haunted house, the Freaky Forest, trick-or-treating and other Halloween-themed attractions that provide a night of thrills and chills for the entire family.

Tweetsie Railroad will be open seven days a week from June 1 through Aug. 19. The park returns to a weekend schedule from Aug. 24 through Oct. 28, including Labor Day Monday. The 2012 season ends Sunday, Oct. 28.

The park’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but will be open until 9 p.m. on July 4 and July 7, 14, 21 and 28 for Cool Summer Nights. In addition, the park will be open at 8 a.m. both Saturdays (June 2 and 9) for the popular Day Out With Thomas event. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights Sept. 28 through Oct. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., and price of admission is $28 for adults and children, with children 2 and under admitted free.

Daily admission is $35 for adults and $22 for children ages 3 through 12. Children two and under are admitted free. Print at home tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

Tweetsie Railroad is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock in North Carolina. For more information about the 2012 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877-TWEETSIE, or (877) 893- 3874. Find Tweetsie on Facebook or follow Tweetsie on Twitter @ TweetsieRR.