The Blog

Gilroy Gardens is open weekends in October. The operating calendar is here: http://www.gilroygardens.org/calendar.html

Halloween Camp Night
Camp overnight in the park and enjoy Gilroy Gardens by day on Saturday. For more information, see: http://www.gilroygardens.org/campnights.html

2010 Season Membership
Buy a 2010 Gilroy Gardens Season Membership now and get the rest of the 2009 season. You also get free parking for 2010 and the rest of the 2009 season. In addition, you also get free admission to the 2009 Holiday Lights event at Gilroy Gardens. Further, your membership is fully tax deductible! For more information, see: http://www.gilroygardens.org/tickets.html

For more information on planning your visit, go to
the Gilroy Gardens web site.

— photo: Steven Wilson

Hot Rods on the Beach!
Get down to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk this weekend, October 10-11, to check out the twelfth annual Hot Rods on the Beach classic car show! The event benefits the Santa Cruz City Police Officers’ Association. Event admission is free. For the schedule and more information, see: http://www.hotrodsatthebeach.com/schedule.html

Ride. Ride. Ride!
You can enjoy rides at the Boardwalk on weekends this month. For October’s operating schedule and information, see: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2009/october.html

2010 Season Pass
Buy a 2010 Endless Summer Season Pass for only $68.95 now and use it for the rest of the 2009 season! For more details, see: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/01_tickets.html

For more information on the park, visit
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s web site.

— photo: Steven Wilson

Fright Fest!
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom offers thrills by day and chills by night with Fright Fest each weekend now through November 1st, 2009. For full information, see: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/FrightFest2009.aspx

2010 Season Pass
Can’t get enough fun? Get your 2010 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Season Pass now and enjoy the rest of the 2009 season, too! Pass prices are at their lowest, just $49.95 for an individual pass. For all the details, see: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/tickets/seasonpass.aspx

For more information about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, check out their web site.

Welcome to the September 2009 edition of ACE NorCal News!

In this issue:
ACE Day at the California State Fair, 2009
Concord’s Pixieland Amusement Park
California’s Great America, September 2009 update
Gilroy Gardens, September 2009 update
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, September 2009 update
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, September 2009 update

— Steven Wilson

ACE members pose for a group photo before starting ERT on the Pole Position spinning coaster. Not pictured: Leonard Gottlieb.

ACE Northern California continued our annual tradition of spending a special day at the California State Fair this year with a new twist. This year marked the first time for Butler Amusements to provide the big midway for the fair. Despite being understandably busy with the challenge of operating the state fair’s midway for the first time, Butler was exceptionally gracious to roll out the welcome mat for ACE.

The day started off with Butler’s Michael Gorman presenting each of us with a souvenir welcome packet. Then he led us on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour. ACE member Richard Tuck served as co-host on the tour. After some delightful suprises, we were ready for some good, old-fashioned ACE ERT on the Pole Position spinning coaster and the Olympic Bobsled coaster. The tour and the ERT were provided for ACE members free of charge, courtesy of the kindness and generosity of Butler Amusements. Following ERT, attendees scattered in all directions to enjoy the rest of the day at the fair on their own.

Extra special thanks go to Michael Gorman of Butler Amusements and the rest of the Butler team. Extra special thanks also go to ACE member Richard Tuck. Thanks for a wonderful time!

More photos:

Butler Amusements welcomes ACE!

ACE members are seen here during the Butler Amusements behind-the-scenes tour.

ACE members enjoy ERT on the Olympic Bobsled coaster.

— photos: Steven Wilson

Have you ridden the Flying Dragon coaster at Pixieland Amusement Park yet? This traditional Wisdom coaster is located at 2740 East Olivera Road in Willow Pass Park in Concord. Rides on the roller coaster are two tickets, for a total of $3.00. Or you can purchase a book of 10 tickets for $14.00. Pixieland is open on weekends through December 6th as well as some Fridays and Labor Day. Other rides available are a train ride that goes outside of the amusement park and around a lake with ducks, antique cars, frog hopper, kiddie planes, and a carousel. For more information, see: http://www.pixieland.com/

— Emi Pearce; photo: Emi and Matthew Pearce

¡Adiós, Diego!

Hit the road, Blues Clues! See your favorite Nickelodeon characters at California’s Great America for the last time during the remainder of the 2009 season. In 2010, Nickelodeon Central will be replaced with Planet Snoopy, featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts characters.

The park is open on weekends and on Labor Day Monday in September. Labor Day Monday is the last day of operation for Boomerang Bay in 2009.

California’s Great America lights up the skies with fireworks on Sunday night, 6 September. Park is open until 10:00 PM. Fireworks are at 9:45 PM.

For more information about California’s Great America, visit
the California’s Great America web site.

— photo: Steven Wilson

Gilroy Gardens is open weekends and Labor Day Monday in September.

The Creature Kingdom at Gilroy Gardens continues in September. This barnyard petting zoo will be at Gilroy Gardens through October 25th. Please note that hourly access to the petting zoo is limited. There is an additional charge for admission to Creature Kingdom. The funds collected go to the care of the animals.

For more information on planning your visit, go to
the Gilroy Gardens web site.

— photo: Steven Wilson

The popular FREE Friday Night BANDS ON THE BEACH concludes this Friday, 4 September with The Tubes performing. For details, see: FREE Friday Night BANDS ON THE BEACH.

The Boardwalk’s rides are open on weekends and on Labor Day Monday in September. For more information on the park, visit
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s web site.

— photo: Steven Wilson

The park is open on weekends and Labor Day Monday in September. Enjoy a Labor Day Weekend Celebration Picnic this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. See http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/LaborDayWeekendPicnic.aspx for all the details on this all-you-can-eat special.

See The White Tie Affair in concert at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on 26 September! The concert is free with admission, but requires a first-come, first-served wristband. Get all the details at http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/WhiteTieAffair.aspx .

For more information about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, check out their web site.

photo: Steven Wilson