Ashlee Simpson headlines grand opening of MOA's theme park

By Paul Walsh , Star Tribune

Last update: March 11, 2008 - 2:21 PM

Final preparations are being made for this weekend's grand opening of the made-over theme park at the Mall of America.

Under a 10-year licensing agreement, Nickoledeon Universe officially takes over Saturday where Camp Snoopy had operated for many years in the center of the Bloomington mall and entertainment center.

The 7-acre theme park features 18 new Nick-themed rides and attractions.

A host of Nickelodeon television talent will be on hand for the festivities.

And there will be a special performance by pop singer Ashlee Simpson.

Nickelodeon Universe will feature rides patterned after many of the cable network's shows, among them: "SpongeBob SquarePants"; "Dora the Explorer"; "Avatar"; "The Fairly OddParents"; "Rugrats"; and "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius."

This is Nickelodeon's first theme park, replacing the Peanuts characters that long-graced Camp Snoopy.

Simpson, 23, will be in the mall rotunda and noon to perform songs from her new album, Bittersweet World. She'll then sign autographs.

Since her lip-synching fiasco in 2004 during "Saturday Night Live," Simpson continues to draw tabloid news attention. Lately, she's been denying that she's engaged and more recently went to her MySpace celebrity page to knock down reports that she was drunk during a radio interview last week.

Recent Local + Metro stories

Carver County weather sirens sound alarm - by mistake - March 11, 2008

Carver County weather sirens sound alarm - by mistake - Sheriff's officials offered apologies on Thursday after emergency severe weather sirens went off accidentally in Watertown, Victoria and Chaska. More