PHOTO COURTESY KENNYWOOD

Pittsburghers looking to get a jump start on summer are in luck: Kennywood is opening early.

The West Mifflin theme park will open its gates this Saturday for “412 Day,” turning a quirk of the calendar — it’s April 12, or 4/12 — into a reason to celebrate. The last time Kennywood opened this early in the year was way back in 1931. This will be the longest season in the park’s history; the last day of the 2025 season won’t even be in 2025, as select operating dates are currently scheduled through Jan. 4, 2026.

The park will open with a new springtime theme, the “Eggcellent Celebration,” featuring a variety of family-friendly activities starring a new park mascot, Tuft. Egg hunts, photo opportunities and a meet-and-greet brunch with Tuft are planned for the next three weekends, as well as Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21. (While most of the “Eggcellent Celebration” activities are included with admission, there’s an extra fee for brunch.)

TUFT, THE NEW PARK MASCOT. | PHOTO COURTESY KENNYWOOD

The park will also introduce the new “Kennywood Junction” area, a re-theming of the family-focused portion of the park formerly occupied by characters from the “Thomas the Tank Engine” franchise. Five re-themed rides make up the all-ages area, including the returning Olde Kennywood Railroad, as well as the new Junction Gift Shop.

Kennywood’s April operating hours are 11 a.m. through 7 p.m., with hours extending later in the year. Single-day tickets and season passes are available now (and cheaper online than they are in person).