Six Flags St. Louis teams provided two community services when they opened for the season this weekend.

First, for those three days they decreased ticket prices to $20.12 each, which is nearly 60 percent off the main gate's typical cost.

Then for any $20.12 ticket purchased online, Six Flags donated $1 to the St. Louis Salvation Army to be used for disaster relief efforts in this area. Guests who were unable to purchase tickets online could take two, nonperishable canned food items to the park to get the special price.  

"Fortunately the area has not seen the storms that hit early spring last year, but it is our goal to help the Salvation Army have the resources they need when the next round of storms do hit," stated Six Flags St. Louis public relations manager Elizabeth Gotway in an email.

"In the event of a disaster, the Salvation Army is on the scene quickly, providing for basic survival needs to those impacted, and they can depend on us to help as long as it is needed," stated Major Lonneal Richardson, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army in a Six Flags-issued release. "As we continue our work in areas recently affected and prepare for the next disaster, we are only able to do so through the generosity of supporters, like Six Flags St. Louis."

Six Flags Opening Weekend events included a Slurpee Drinking Contest on Friday and an Easter Eggstravaganza on Sunday. Guests registered to see who can drink six Slurpees the fastest to win 60 tickets to the park. The Easter Eggstravaganza was free to the first 1,000 guests, ages 12 and under, to register. Guests selected eggs at locations throughout the park for a chance to win Six Flags tickets or a Nintendo Wii.

Six Flags will debut Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast on May 5, as previously reported on Eureka-Wildwood Patch.

Additionally on May 26, the new Bonzai Pipeline looping body slide opens in the park's Hurricane Harbor. Riders will be dropped from a special launching capsule, and sent freefalling through a 290-feet twisting slide at nearly 40 mph.   

Six Flags St. Louis also will host Cheerfest on April 28, and Six Flags Music Festivals on May 5 and 12.          

The theme park is open for weekend-only operations from April 6 through May 13. It will open daily beginning May 19; Hurricane Harbor opens for the season on May 26.