Great America's Opening Weekend Set For March 29-31

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- California's Great America's 2013 season kicks off with Opening Day on Friday, March 29, and Opening Weekend festivities continuing through Celebration Saturday and Easter Sunday.

The Friday, March 29 Opening Day will feature a 10 a.m. official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Snoopy and the Park's VIP of the day (which was selected via Facebook). The first 2,500 attendees arriving before Noon will receive complimentary Gold Striker souvenir cups that include free Coca-Cola® beverage refills for Opening Day and refills for the entire season for just $0.99 each plus tax. Also until Noon, there will be double ride times on select attractions. Plus, Snoopy and the PEANUTS® Gang will randomly distribute 2013 Opening Weekend t-shirts and other prizes.

For the March 30 Celebration Saturday, California's Great America will award several Park experience Grand Prizes, highlighted by two seats on the new Gold Striker Coaster's First Rider Day (tentatively set for May 1). Second place is a special early admittance for up to 10 attendees to have the ride of their choice 30 minutes before the Park opens, with third place being a Birthday Party (admittance included) for a party of 15. The PEANUTS characters will randomly reward guests with Fast Lane, Xtreme Skyflyer, Thunder Raceway and food passes throughout the day.

Opening Weekend concludes Easter Sunday, March 31, when the Park will create a dynamic spring environment for attending youth. Kids 12-and-under can take free pictures with Snoopy the "Easter Beagle", participate in egg dyeing, enjoy a coloring station or decorate their own cupcake. Plus, there will be a special Golden Snoopy hunt where kids 12-and-under locate five specially "hidden" golden Snoopys to collect a prize.

"Opening Weekend at California's Great America is a Bay Area tradition, and 2013 is shaping up to be an incredible season," Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg said. "From our new Gold Striker coaster, to dynamic new shows, to fresh paint throughout the Park, guests of all ages will enjoy the enhancements."

Fans attending Opening Weekend will have their first up-close look at the new Gold Striker coaster that is set to debut this spring. Gold Striker will be the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in Northern California and contains a wooden coaster record 174-foot initial descent tunnel that resembles an actual mine shaft.

There is still time to purchase a Season Pass for just $59.99, making California's Great America one of the Bay Area's best entertainment values.

CEDAR FAIR
California's Great America is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN."  In addition to California's Great America, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, four water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels.  Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.

www.cagreatamerica.com

SOURCE California's Great America