CLEVELAND I-X amusement park brings a variety of entertainment

Organizers are offer Latin, Christian and teen pop acts.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
After years of searching coast to coast to bring the latest and greatest ride or attraction to the I-X Indoor Amusement Park, which takes place Friday through April 30 at the I-X Center, officials have turned their focus to its core audience for inspiration.
"What we've done in the past for entertainment is we'll hire some big acts that travel around and play the state fairs," said I-X Indoor Amusement Park Show Director Eric German. "And then last year was the first year we said, 'Let's take some of that entertainment money and develop things that are community driven and community based.'"
More specifically, the community-based events were the La Fiesta Latina Festival Weekend and the Christian Celebration Weekend. Last year both were extremely well received in their inaugural presentation. The former embraces the Latin culture with games, crafts, dancing and entertainment, while the latter serves the spiritual side of contemporary music.
On the agenda
This year's La Fiesta Latina Festival -- taking place April 22 and 23 -- includes first-day performances by regional act Sammy De Leon and national recording band Baby Ranks, which is flying in from Puerto Rico.
German said he's unsure whether the popular Puerto Rican band could induce Beatlemania or Menudomania at the I-X Indoor Amusement Park, but he's optimistic the reaction will be positive.
"I don't know if it'll be that big but it will be popular," German said. "We work with all of the local Latin cultural associations and it's just great because we're reaching out to that community and saying we have entertainment geared towards your needs."
As for the Christian Celebration Weekend, April 28-30, contemporary Christian singer Matthew West kicks off the festivities on the first night, with regional church choirs and bands performing all festival long.
Christian music fans who attended last summer's successful "The Fest" in Wickliffe will want to attend April 28 and 29 to see a battle-of-the-bands qualifying round with the winner gaining stage time at this year's festival.
More to come
"We have a lot of entertainment this year with many different acts," German said.
"On April 7, to kick off the opening of the amusement park, we have Rhiannon, who is a big favorite among all of the teenage girls and boys. That'll be on the main stage and we'll also have a teen dance party that night in the main stage area. So if you're 13 years old, you should be here." The fun continues the following night with Disney Recording artists B5.
With so many attractions aimed at junior and high school-aged kids, including dozens of rides spread out over 20 acres, German takes this opportunity to remind parents about the I-X Indoor Amusement Park environment.
"For teenagers, it's a safe place to let them go out and enjoy a Friday or Saturday night as opposed to a mall," German said.
Perhaps all we need now is to get one of the aforementioned bands to record a new jingle for the I-X Amusement Park.
"I don't think so," laughed German. "I think it works and it does what it's supposed to do, to get people to think, 'Oh, the amusement park is here again.'"