The Blog

California’s Great America is now open daily. For hours, see: http://cagreatamerica.com/visit/visit_calendar.cfm

The Bay Area Bands series returns to California’s Great America, starting July 10th. For the lineup and schedule, see: http://www.cagreatamerica.com/events/event_detail.cfm?event_id=622&ec_id=13

Don’t miss the Rock Band Live show at California’s Great America starting July 23rd. For more information, see:
http://www.cagreatamerica.com/events/event_detail.cfm?event_id=713&ec_id=13

California’s Great America
web site: http://www.cagreatamerica.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cagreatamerica

— photo: Steven Wilson

Gilroy Gardens is open daily in July. For hours, see the operating calendar: http://www.gilroygardens.org/calendar.html

Enjoy ten weeks of live shows at the park’s Lakeside Amphitheater, now through August 22nd. For the lineup of shows and more information, see: http://www.gilroygardens.org/events2.html

Now you can keep up to date with the happenings at Gilroy Gardens by connecting with the park on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilroy-Gardens/122943674395623

Gilroy Gardens
web site: http://www.gilroygardens.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilroy-Gardens/122943674395623

— photo: Steven Wilson

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach July highlights:

July 10 and 11: Star Wars Tribute Weekend
Exciting, interactive costumed characters will be here for photos and surprises!

Come relive your favorite moments and characters from the Star Wars series. Compete in our Hans Solo vs. Princess Leia contests, come dressed like your favorite character. The force will *definitely* be with us, so come on by. Bring your cameras and get pictures of yourself with some of the galactic stars. For each guest who comes in a Star Wars-inspired costume, we have a special commemorative gift!

July 10 PROFESSOR B’S FLEA CIRCUS
PROFESSOR B’S FLEA CIRCUS is back by popular demand!
On Saturday July 10th we have invited Professor “B” to showcase his remarkable live Flea Circus.

On the Saturday, July 10th, in honor of our Star Wars Weekend, Professor B is even introducing his intergalactic flea — you won’t believe his amazing abilities. There will be two performances: at 1:15 PM and then at 3:15 PM. Sorry, for the protection of our performers, no dogs allowed under any circumstances!

July 17 and 18: Playland at California Extreme! Pinball and Video Games!
Join Playland at California Extreme 2010!
Where: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
Saturday 11:00 AM — 2:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
http://www.caextreme.org/

California Extreme is the Classic Arcade Games Show. It’s an annual celebration of coin-operated pinball machines, video games, and other novelties you once found in game arcades. All games on display are set for free play: no tokens or coins necessary. In addition to our booth and prizes, we will also be showing the documentary film Remembering Playland!

July 17 and 18: Motown Weekend at Playland
We’ll be groovin’ to Motown, celebrating the Motown Sound and all the singers who created it! See the Supremes, Temptations, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, Miracles, Gladys Knight & the Pips and more!

Buy the DVD of “Remembering Playland” with 20 Minutes of Extra Footage!
If you want to buy a copy of the expanded DVD version of “Remembering Playland” that includes footage not in the theatrical release, you can order a copy now from Playland-Not-at-the-Beach. The price is $20 plus tax if you purchase it at our museum Souvenir Shop. For mail order the price is $25.00 including tax, shipping and handling. Call (510) 232-4264 ext. 24 to order your copy. We have them in stock now, and the first 100 orders each receive an authentic artifact from Whitney’s Playland from the 1940s as a free gift. This is a limited edition DVD, so order early and don’t get left out.

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach nonprofit Museum of Fun, open to the public every Sat, Sun and school holiday. Open evenings for private events 365 days a year. 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 592-3002. http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org . Admission $10 for kids (to 13), $10 for seniors (55 and up), and $15 for general admission. Admission includes 34 free pinball machines, penny arcades, carnival games, treasure hunts, miniature dioramas, and surprises around every corner. ACE members receive a $5.00 discount on admission upon presentation of their ACE membership cards.

— Thanks go to Frank Biafore for contributing to this article.

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach
web site: http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Playland-Not-At-The-Beach/99162687027

— photo: Steven Wilson

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk July Highlights:

The popular Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach concert series continues this month. For the band lineup and more information, see: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/concerts/

The incredible Circo Brazil begins July 11th with two free shows daily through August 19th. For photos and more details, including show times, see: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/circobrazil/

Weeknight Discount Events continue in July, Mondays through Thursdays after 5:00 PM. Mondays and Tuesdays are 1907 Nights with special old-time pricing with rides at $1.00 each as well as $1.00 each for hot dogs, cotton candy, and Pepsi-brand soft drinks. Wednesdays and Thursdays are Pepsi Nights, on which an empty Pepsi can will entitle you to purchase an unlimited rides wrist band for $9.95 plus tax.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides are open daily in July. See the park’s calendar for full details:
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2010/july.html

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
web site: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBeachBoardwalk

— photo: Steven Wilson

ACE Day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

The big news at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom this month takes place on Sunday, July 18th. That’s our ACE Day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom! Please support ACE Northern California regional events and come on out for some great summertime fun at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. For more information and the registration form, go to:
https://acenorcal.org/aceday_sfdk2010.pdf

IMPORTANT: Registration forms must be RECEIVED by 10 July 2010. Mail yours TODAY!

Also this month, you can enter a naming contest for the park’s two new baby dolphins:
http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/info/DolphinNamingContest.aspx

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is open daily in July. See the links below for more info.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
web site: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom

photo: Steven Wilson

Welcome to the June 2010 edition of ACE NorCal News!

In this issue:
Photo report: SCBB Haunted Castle — 2 June 2010
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 2010 Summer Season Launch Party
Fun Town
California’s Great America, June 2010 update
Gilroy Gardens, June 2010 update
Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, June 2010 update
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, June 2010 update
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, June 2010 update

— Steven Wilson

Correspondent Nicholas Laschkewitsch sends in another photo report on the construction of the new Haunted Castle attraction at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The ride is scheduled to open this Friday! These photos are from 2 June 2010:

photos: Nicholas Laschkewitsch

As ACE NorCal’s Chief Correspondent on everything about the new Haunted Castle at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Nicholas Laschkewitsch was invited to represent ACE at the park’s VIP 2010 Summer Season Launch Party. The special event was to include sneak preview rides on the new Haunted Castle attraction. Here is Nicholas’ report:

Nicholas at the Boardwalk

I was recently was invited to go to a 2010 VIP Launch Party at the Boardwalk on May 27th. I did not know much about what was going to happen at the event. It ended up being a real blast! According to the agenda I was emailed, there was going to be live entertainment, free lunch (and dessert!), an announcement about the summer events on the beach, and a preview of the NEW Haunted Castle dark ride. All of this happened, except for the preview of the Haunted Castle.

However, there were a few other things to do there that weren’t announced on the agenda. In the Boardwalk’s Ballroom they had tons of Haunted Castle concept art on display from the new ride -– it was really cool. Some of the pieces were from over two years ago and it turned out that there were at least three different designs that they were considering. They also had a large projector screen set up with the time lapse videos of the construction of the Haunted Castle playing.

After my father and I checked out the awesome concept art, we grabbed something to eat. The food was very delicious. The entertainment that they had was some live Hawaiian music along with Brazilian dancers who came out later during our meal. Kris Reyes, director of community relations for the Santa Cruz Seaside Company, came up to the stage to talk about the upcoming “Bands on the Beach” and about Circo Brazil, a Brazilian circus coming to the beach. We found out later that the Brazilian dancers we had seen earlier were from that show. He then announced that the Haunted Castle ride would NOT be opening that day. I already knew that this was going to be closed. As consolation, they gave everyone free mini-golf and laser tag tickets along with free all-day ride wristbands! Thanks, SCBB! Kris Reyes then said, “Welcome to our 103rd season. Enjoy your lunch!” and we were let free to roam around the Boardwalk. I also checked out the Haunted Castle that day and it was looking fabulous.

I would like to thank Brigid Fuller, Kris Reyes, Ted Whiting, and all of the staff at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Seaside Company for making this VIP event so unique and fun. Thanks! And congrats on your 103rd season. How about another 100!

— Nicholas Laschkewitsch

— photos: Brian and Nicholas Laschkewitsch

Fun Town Amusement Park at Micke Grove

Fun Town, formerly known as Funderwoods, is located inside of Micke Grove Regional Park in Lodi. The park’s Miler coaster features a giraffe and adults are welcome to ride the coaster. The roller coaster costs only $1 to ride. Admission into the amusement park is free. Admission into Micke Grove Regional Park is $5 per vehicle. Other rides include a carousel, train, tilt-a-whirl, antique cars, scrambler, and kids’ rides such as transportation vehicles and fish. The park is open weekdays from 11:00 — 5:00 and weekends and holidays from 11:00 — 6:00 from April to September and reduced hours in the winter. Other Micke Grove attractions include the Micke Grove Zoo and the San Joaquín County Historical Museum. For more information, visit: http://www.funtownmg.com/

If you are in the area, you might also want to visit Pixie Woods in Stockton. Pixie Woods does not have a roller coaster, but the park was featured in the movie This is Spinal Tap. Pixie Woods has a train, a boat, and a carousel. For details, see: http://www.stocktongov.com/pixiewoods/

If you contact Emi, she has some leftover ride coupons for Fun Town and discount coupons for Pixie Woods that she can mail you.

— Emi Pearce

— photos: Emi and Matthew Pearce

California’s Great America is now open daily. For hours, see: http://cagreatamerica.com/visit/visit_calendar.cfm

Come on out for a spin on Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun), a drop on the Drop Tower, and check out the new Planet Snoopy.

California’s Great America
web site: http://www.cagreatamerica.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cagreatamerica

— photo: Steven Wilson