Going to Six Flags Great America this summer? Here's what to know, including what's new.

Six Flags Great America, just across the Wisconsin border in Gurnee, Illinois, is the closest theme park for Milwaukee families. Here's what to know about the 2023 season.

Fright Fest highlights the many festivals and events at Six Flags Great America in 2023

While there are no big new rides at Great America this season, there are a few new festivals and events, including a Flavors of the World food festival, Neon Nights nighttime shows and Viva La Fiesta, a festival celebrating Latino traditions.

Pride celebration, June 3-4: In celebration of Pride month, there will be specialty foods and beverages, as well as Pride merchandise and a new parade.

Fireworks: Every Saturday night between June 3 and Aug. 12, there will be fireworks 15 minutes before the park closes. And on Independence Day, there will be fireworks at 9:45 p.m. every night between July 1 and July 4.

Flavors of the World food festival: On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 16 through July 23, guests will be able to buy treats inspired by more than 11 different countries at street markets throughout the park.

Neon Nights: On select nights between June 24 and Aug. 6, there will be light shows and a DJ-hosted dance party, starting an hour before the park closes in Hometown Square. After the dance party, professional singers and dancers will put on their own show. The evening will end with a summer nighttime parade, which is back for the first time after a 6-year hiatus.

Viva La Fiesta: On Aug. 5 and 6, and 10-13, musical performances, hands-on activities and special food offerings will celebrate Latino traditions from North America and Latin America.

Fright Fest and Kids Boo Fest: 2023 will mark Fright Fest's 32nd season, and the event will take place on select dates between Sept. 16 and Oct. 29. In accordance with the motto, "Boo by Day, Frights by Night," there are kids' Halloween activities during the day, including a trick-or-treat trail and harvest activities. After 6 p.m., things get scary, with six haunted houses and nine scare zones.

Oktoberfest: This food fest runs weekends Sept. 16 through Oct. 29, from 6-10 p.m. on Fridays and from noon-8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The Mooseburger Patio will have lots of food options for sale, including bratwurst and kielbasa, German potato salad, pierogis, Bavarian pretzels, apple strudel sticks and seasonal beers.

Here are the thrill rides at Six Flags Great America

Great America classifies 15 of its rides as thrill rides; here are five to check out.

American Eagle: This classic wooden roller coaster has been at the park since 1981 and is the world's tallest and fastest racing wooden coaster. With its double tracks, riders can choose to ride either the red car or the blue car; the rides start simultaneously, and "race" down the tracks.

• Fastest speed: 66 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 48 inches
• Location in the park: County Fair

Viper: This is another wooden coaster that debuted in Great America in 1995. It was modeled after the classic Coney Island Cyclone; its first and biggest drop is 80 feet.

• Fastest speed: 55 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 48 inches
• Location in the park: Southwest Territory

Goliath: This roller coaster, which debuted in 2014, has the tallest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world, at 180 feet. It's giant and fast and features a nearly vertical 85-degree drop.

• Fastest speed: 72 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 48 inches
• Location in the park: County Fair

Raging Bull: This roller coaster, at 202 feet tall and more than 5,000 feet long, is the tallest and longest coaster in Great America. Its first drop is 65 degrees and takes riders underground for a second.

• Fastest speed: 73 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 54 inches
• Location in the park: Southwest Territory

X-Flight: This roller coaster is meant to make riders feel like they're riding an airplane, with a zero-G roll that makes riders feel weightless and a wing coaster design where there's no track above people's heads or below their feet.

• Fastest speed: 55 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 54 inches; maximum height: 78 inches
• Location in the park: County Fair

These are the family rides at Six Flags Great America

There are 22 family rides at Great America; here are five classics.

Whizzer: This roller coaster has been at Great America since the park opened in 1976 and has been the "first real roller coaster" for many children. After a 70-foot spiral climb, riders speed through twists and turns as they ride through a wooded area.

• Fastest speed: 45 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 36 inches with an adult, 42 inches alone
• Location in the park: Hometown Square

Roaring Rapids: In this whitewater rafting experience, riders sit in a round raft as they ride through currents that toss the boat around, geysers that spray water and tunnels that mist. The takeaway? You likely will get wet on this ride.

• Minimum height to ride: 36 inches with an adult; 42 inches alone
• Location in the park: Mardi Gras

Logger's Run: This log flume ride opened with the park in 1976. The "log" glides through the water on a leisurely trip through nature, followed by a nosedive "over the falls," ending with a giant splash.

• Minimum height to ride: none with an adult; 42 inches alone
• Location in the park: Yukon Territory

DC Super-Villains Swing: This ride, under different theming, opened with the park in 1976. It's a classic spinning swing ride where a circle of swings spins and rises higher and higher as the speed increases.

• Minimum height to ride: 48 inches
• Location in the park: DC Universe

Columbia Carousel: You can't have an amusement park without a carousel, and this one is beautiful. It's two levels of 106 intricately carved chariots, horses and animals to ride, some of which rise up and down and some of which remain stationary as the carousel spins.

• Minimum height to ride: None with an adult; 42 inches alone
• Location in the park: Carousel Plaza

Six Flags Great America features many kids rides

There are 12 rides at Great America specifically geared toward kids. Here are five cool ones.

Sprocket Rockets: This is a good kid-size roller coaster for kids who are a bit too young for the real deal. Its hills, dips and turns are less intense than a big roller coaster, and it doesn't go as fast.

• Fastest speed: 15 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 36 inches
• Location in the park: Camp Cartoon

Little Dipper: Another good first roller coaster, this one follows a figure-8 track with swift turns and dips rather than drops.

• Fastest speed: 20 mph
• Minimum height to ride: 36 inches with adult; 42 inches alone
• Location in the park: Yukon Territory

Bouncer: This is a much less scary alternative to the Giant Drop. Riders experience smaller — but still fun — drops, then bounce back up again.

• Minimum height to ride: none with adult; 36 inches alone
• Location in the park: Kidzopolis

Krazy Kups: On this miniature teacup ride, kids can control how fast their own vehicle spins, as the floor spins everybody around.

• Minimum height to ride: none with adult; 36 inches alone
• Location in the park: Kidzopolis

Splish Splash Zone: This water playground — with fountains, water jets and sprayers — is the perfect place for kids to cool off and let loose some of the energy that's been pent up after waiting in lines all day.

• Location in the park: Kidzopolis

What are the food options at Six Flags Great America?

There are several restaurants, quick food service counters and snack kiosks throughout Great America. Some of the new food options for 2023 include:

• Steak, chicken, brisket and vegetarian loaded nachos at Macho Nacho
• Chicken and waffles at Claim Jumpers
• A new bubble tea station in Hometown Square
• Tacos, tortas and quesadillas at Mijo's Authentic Mexican Cuisine
• New flavors of Dole Soft Serve at Captain Cold's
• More than 16 seasonal beers at Mission Beer Garden in Southwest Territory

Dining plans are available as add-ons when buying park tickets, and mobile food orders are available to avoid lines.

Food is not allowed to be carried into the park, with two exceptions.

• Infant food in non-glass containers can be brought into the park.
• Guests with food allergies can bring in food that fits into two sealable sandwich bags, which can be carried in a small soft-side cooler. Guests should see security to receive a medical sticker for the cooler.

For guests who want to return to their car to eat food that they've brought with them, a hand stamp is necessary for re-entry.

Here are ticket prices and operating hours at Six Flags Great America

There are many options for ticket purchases. A single daily ticket starts at $44.99, and season passes cost anywhere from $89.99 to $159.99. Depending on the package, season passes include parking, food discounts, skip-the-line passes and admission to Hurricane Harbor, the water park next to Great America.

Parking costs $35.

FLASH Passes, which allow guests to cut down on wait times at rides, are available for an extra fee of between $60 and $125, depending on the number of rides that qualify. Guests also can buy Junior FLASH Passes for kids and family rides for between $25 and $35.

Hours for the park vary depending on the season; check the online schedule for the day you want to visit.