The Blog

California’s Great America is ramping up the entertainment this summer! Be sure to get out to the park to enjoy the incredible All Wheels Extreme, with skate boarders, roller bladers, BMX riders, gymnasts, and more performing amazing feats. All Wheels Extreme runs through August 16th. There are no performances on Mondays and Tuesdays. In addition, there will be no performances on June 7th, July 11th, August 2nd, 8th, and 15th. For more information, see All Wheels Extreme.

Starting June 6th, you can cool off with the park’s skating extravaganza Endless Summer on Ice. The show runs through September 7th. Be advised that there are no performances on Wednesdays.

Next up, starting June 13th, catch The Chipper Lowell Experience in the Showtime Theater. This comedy and magic show features comedic magician Chipper Lowell. The show runs through September 7th, with no performances on Thursdays.

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

— photo: Steven Wilson

Experience Fairy Tale Wonders at Gilroy Gardens, starting June 6th through July 2nd. What better place to enjoy classic fairy tales than Gilroy Gardens’ beautiful storybook setting? During Fairy Tale Wonders, toddlers can enjoy story time in Monarch Garden and Claudia’s Garden. Volunteer docents will read childhood fairy tales to the young visitors. Older children can get in on the fun by starring as fairy tale characters in the Lakeside Amphitheater. Be sure to bring along mom and dad, because there may be parts for them in the show as well!

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

— photo: Steven Wilson

The Giant Dipper’s Eighty-fifth birthday! …the celebration continues.

On Saturday, June 13th, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk continues the celebration of the Giant Dipper’s 85th birthday. The Boardwalk is having a fireworks spectacular in the landmark coaster’s honor.

Read more about the Giant Dipper’s eighty-five year history here:
The Boardwalk’s Most Popular Ride for Eighty Five Years – The GIANT DIPPER

June also marks the beginning of the ever-popular FREE Friday Night BANDS ON THE BEACH. The free concert series begins on June 19th and runs through September 4th. For the lineup and schedule, see: FREE Friday Night BANDS ON THE BEACH.

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

— photo: Steven Wilson

The big excitement in June at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will be the debut of the new Odin’s Temple of the Tiger. The popular tiger show is moving to a larger, more comfortable venue. In addition to the show, you can watch the tigers in an observation area at the new location. Odin’s Temple of the Tiger is expected to open around the 10th of June. Following a period of adjustment for the tigers, shows will begin.

Also big in June at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is the kickoff of the Starburst Summer Concert Series. The first act, appearing on Wednesday June 24th, will be the Australian pop stars The Veronicas. The show is free with park admission (including season pass holders). Admission to the concert, however, requires a free wrist band. The wrist bands will be distributed at the park on the date of the concert on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

Welcome to the May 2009 edition of ACE NorCal News!

In this issue:
Welcome, Emi and Matthew
Discover Sonoma TrainTown!
California’s Great America, May 2009 update
Gilroy Gardens, May 2009 update
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, May 2009 update
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, May 2009 update

— Steven Wilson

Please welcome Emi and Matthew Pearce as new Assistant Regional Representatives for ACE Northern California! We called for volunteers for the Assistant Rep positions back in January. Emi and Matthew volunteered and have been approved. They are quite active in the region. If you’ve been to any of our regional activities over the last several years, you’ve probably met them already. Congratulations, Emi and Matthew!

— Steven Wilson

All aboard for Sonoma TrainTown!

This charming amusement park near downtown Sonoma off of Highway 12 features a Wisdom kiddie coaster credit called “Dragon Train.” And you can’t miss the miniature train ride through tunnels, over bridges and trestles, and around the heavily-wooded park. Be sure to bring a camera with you on the train as there is a large mirror so you can take a picture of yourself on the open-car train. Bring quarters to feed the animals at the petting zoo / miniature town stop on the train ride. There are goats, sheep, bunnies, and more to feed. Additional rides at the park are a merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, scrambler, swings, and an airplane ride for kids only. Kids can also play in the train structure above the park entrance. Train rides are $4.75 each. Roller coaster rides are two $1.25 tickets each or buy a book of ten tickets for $10.00. From June to Labor Day, the park is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Between September and May, the park is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. The “Dragon Train” roller coaster operates only on the weekends. We visited on a recent Saturday morning in May and the park was not too crowded with all rides in operation.

For more information about visiting TrainTown, go to the TrainTown web site.

— Emi Pearce, photo: Matthew Pearce

There’s plenty going on in May at California’s Great America. The park is open on Saturdays and Sundays through May 17th. On May 23rd, daily operation begins. In addition, Boomerang Bay opens for the season on May 23rd. Don’t miss the spectacular Memorial Day Weekend fireworks at 9:45 PM on Sunday, May 24th.

Also in May, on the 10th, 23rd, 24th, and 25th, you can enjoy breakfast with the Nickelodeon characters. The character breakfasts will also be offered in July and September. For more information, see
Breakfast with the Nickelodeon Characters

For high school students interested in working in the amusement and theme park industry, check out the park’s Career Development Day.
Please note that the registration deadline is coming right up on May 8th.

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

— photo: Steven Wilson

Spring is a great time to experience the fun and beauty of Gilroy Gardens. The park is open on Saturdays and Sundays in May as well as Memorial Day Monday, the 25th of May. Through the end of May, Secret Treasures are a special treat for children up to age twelve. A free treasure map guides them on an adventure of discovery throughout the park. Gilroy Gardens members (season pass holders) may take advantage of two bring-a-friend-for-free days in May on the 9th and 10th, Mother’s Day weekend.

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

— photo: Steven Wilson

The Giant Dipper’s Eighty-fifth birthday!

Our favorite seaside gem of a wooden coaster celebrates its eighty-fifth birthday on Sunday, May 17th. What better excuse do you need to head over to Santa Cruz and take some celebratory rides? The weekend of the 16th and 17th is the Boardwalk’s Season Kickoff Event. You can enjoy free entertainment with skydivers landing on the beach and the Tubes performing in concert on Saturday only. On both Saturday and Sunday you can catch free performances of Cirque Magnifique. The special event schedule is as follows.

Saturday, May 16
1:00pm CIRQUE MAGNIFIQUE performs on Beach Bandstand
3:00pm CIRQUE MAGNIFIQUE mini performances throughout park
5:00pm SKYDIVERS land on Main Beach right in front of the Boardwalk
5:30pm THE TUBES perform on Beach Bandstand

Sunday, May 17
1:00pm CIRQUE MAGNIFIQUE performs on Beach Bandstand
5:00pm CIRQUE MAGNIFIQUE performs on Beach Bandstand

Read more about the Giant Dipper’s eighty-five year history here:
The Boardwalk’s Most Popular Ride for Eighty Five Years – The GIANT DIPPER

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

— photo: Steven Wilson