Gilroy, CA (March 28, 2025) - The Gilroy Gardens Board of Directors has granted Garlic Festival.

Association conditional approval is required for using the South County Grove, a separately gated area on park property, as the location for this year’s festival. We remain optimistic that the Garlic Festival Association will work diligently towards meeting

all the conditions in the conditional approval. The Gilroy Garlic Festival will be a separately ticketed event, independently managed by the festival team, with attendees entering directly through the South County Grove entrance. Guests visiting Gilroy Gardens will not have access to the festival, and there will be no joint or crosspromotional ticketing options between the two events.

Please visit their website for more information about the Gilroy Garlic Festival, including event details and ticketing. 

Gilroy Gardens

To view full press release click here. 

In the News: Lake Compounce Announces Ultimate Season of Family Fun Headlined by New Entertainment All Season Long

BRISTOL, CONN. March 27, 2025 – The countdown is on to Opening Day at America’s First Amusement Park as Lake Compounce gears up for it 179th season. Celebrating its most robust lineup of entertainment yet, this year promises to provide the Ultimate Season of Family Fun as the park debuts its first-ever pirate themed stunt show, adds spectacular drone shows, introduces an all-new haunted house during Phantom Fall Fest and so much more.

The Lake Compounce gates will officially reopen on Saturday, May 3 at 11 a.m. with more updates debuting on the iconic Wildcat and Boulder Dash Roller Coasters, all-new entertainment, additional park-wide enhancements and more. This year’s event lineup is bigger and better than ever before, offering a new reason for families to visit every month. Details include:

• NEW! Kids Fest: introduces new pint-sized thrills and family entertainment every weekend in June with character meet-and-greets, themed treats like the new Kids Lunchbox, Unicorn Milkshakes and endless entertainment – all included with park admission. This June, families will have the chance to meet:

o May 31 – June 1: Peppa Pig and her brother George – with oinktastic fun for everyone

o June 7-8 & 21-22: Daniel Tiger from PBS KIDS’ Emmy® Award-winning Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

o June 14-15: The iconic Power Rangers – uniting powers and saving the world

o June 28-29: Blippi – offering curious adventures for growing minds

• NEW! Splashbucklers Pirate Show: Ahoy! New laughs and high adventure take center stage this summer. The whole family is invited to cheer on the daring Captain Cunning as he protects the Queen’s booty from plundering scalawags and ne’er-do-wells daily from July 12 through August 17.

• NEW! Upgrades on Wildcat – The nearly 100-year-old Wildcat coaster has completed the final phase of its two-year re-tracking project with Gravity Group. More than 1,400 feet of track have been replaced with Gravity Group’s signature vertically stacked track offering riders a smoother and faster ride.

• NEW! Upgrades on Boulder Dash – The award-winning Boulder Dash coaster continues its transformation with over 1,000 feet of steel Titan Track added as part of an on-going re-tracking project. Titan Track, created by Great Coasters

International merges steel and wood to create a smoother ride experience.

• Fourth of July Celebration: Families from New England and beyond are invited to celebrate America with dazzling fireworks on July 4 and 5 and live performances on the park’s iconic floating stage on July 4, 5 and 6.

• NEW! Drone Shows—On August 30, 31, and September 1, synchronized Drones will take the sky over the lake for a spectacular display, lighting up the night sky with park-inspired and fan-favorite designs.

• NEW! at Phantom Fall Fest—This season, Lake Compounce will debut an all-new haunted house as it adds its largest and scariest haunted house to its fourth annual day-to-night Halloween event. The frights return select days from September 20 through October 26.

• Holiday Lights – New England’s favorite holiday tradition returns with more than 500,000 lights, Connecticut’s Tallest Christmas Tree, festive food options and more, select days from November 28 through December 28.

“We’re committed to delivering a next-level guest experience at Lake Compounce by creating a robust lineup of entertainment for the 2025 season, including the introduction of Splashbucklers, an all-new pirate themed comedy stunt show taking over the floating lake stage,” said Doug Hemphill, General Manager. “With so much new entertainment and a second year focusing on ride improvements for our beloved roller coasters, something is exciting waiting for guests every time they visit.”

To get the most out of the 2025 season, visitors can buy a 2025 Season Pass now for less than a day ticket, just $54.99. Select passes also include free parking, soda, friend tickets, and more. Season Passholders can unlock even more value every time they visit with the All-Season Dining Pass. For just $99.99, passholders can enjoy two meals per visit all season long.

For more information on the all-new entertainment lineup, to purchase Season Passes and the All-Season Dining Pass, and to view the park’s operating calendar, visit LakeCompounce.com.

About Lake Compounce:

From single-day adventures to weekend getaways, Lake Compounce has been the place for great family escapes for over 175 years. With uniquely themed attractions of all shapes and sizes, America’s first amusement park offers endless fun. Located in Bristol, Connecticut, this timeless New England tradition features Connecticut’s Largest Water Park,

Crocodile Cove and offers overnight stays at Lake Compounce Campground. 

Media Release Here.

In the News: Universal Orlando Resort Guests Can Now Purchase Exciting Products To Enhance Their Visit To Universal Epic Universe, Officially Opening On May 22, 2025 – Including Universal Express, VIP Experiences And More

Official Release from Universal Parks Here. 

Orlando, Fla. (March 27, 2025) – Universal Orlando Resort has launched various products to help guests maximize their visit to Universal Epic Universe – the all-new theme park opening on May 22, 2025. Starting today, guests can purchase theme park upgrades like Universal Express, VIP Experiences and My Universal Photos packages. Plus, bookings for Dark Universe’s Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience – where guests can become their favorite Universal Monster – are now available.

These exciting upgrades will allow guests to maximize their fun and time at Universal Epic Universe, which promises to be one of the most immersive and innovative theme parks ever created. With a total of more than 50 incredible experiences that range from groundbreaking attractions to captivating entertainment to incredibly themed dining and shopping and so much more, Epic Universe will invite guests to explore five astounding worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.

See below for more details about the latest Universal Epic Universe products that are available for purchase now:

UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE ADD-ONS – ON SALE NOW
Epic-Inclusive Universal Express	Guests with a Universal Epic Universe ticket may now purchase a Universal Express Pass to bypass the regular lines at participating attractions, which will include: •  Celestial Park: Stardust Racers and Constellation Carousel •  Dark Universe: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Curse of the Werewolf •  How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Fyre Drill and The Untrainable Dragon •  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Le Cirque Arcanus •  SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure In addition to a 1-Day Universal Express Pass valid at Epic Universe, guests can also purchase a multi-day Universal Express Pass valid at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, and one-day at Epic Universe.
Epic Universe-Inclusive VIP Tours	Guests with tickets to Universal Epic Universe can book a guided VIP Tour of the park, which comes with exclusive perks like priority access to all attractions and shows and more. Available VIP Experiences include: •  1-Park, 1-Day VIP Experience (valid for Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida or Universal Islands of Adventure; Private and Non-Private Tour options are available)   •  3-Park, 2-Day VIP Experience (includes VIP Tour of Epic Universe on one day and VIP Tour of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on another day; Private and Non-Private Tour options are available)     *VIP Experiences are date, time and park-specific depending on the product purchased.
Epic Universe-Inclusive My Universal Photos	With My Universal Photos, guests have the convenience of having the images that are captured by professional photographers in the park and on participating attractions collected in one place so they can be accessed later for download. Guests can also purchase prints as a keepsake for the adventures they experienced during their visit.
Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience	At the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience located in Dark Universe, guests can become fashionably monstrous as skilled artisans use their talents with face makeup to experiment or transform guests into Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and more. Pricing is as follows:   •  Experiment Ticket (Face Makeup Only): $45 plus tax per person •  Transformation Ticket (Face Makeup and Accessories): $169 plus tax per adult; $109 plus tax per child (ages 3 – 9)   *All Universal Orlando Annual and Seasonal Passholders are eligible for a 10% discount off the ticketed price.

For more information about Universal Epic Universe and to purchase these park upgrades, visit www.universalorlando.com/epicuniverse.

In the News: Baby Shark Makes a Splash at SeaWorld with Exclusive New Live Character Experiences and All-New Animated Music Video

See full press release here.

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 20, 2025) – SeaWorld and The Pinkfong Company, the global entertainment company behind Baby Shark, are teaming up to celebrate 10 years of Baby Shark this year with exclusive live character interactions coming to SeaWorld parks, plus the world premiere of a brand-new animated music video, where Pinkfong and Baby Shark visit SeaWorld as veterinarians. Baby Shark and friends will swim from park to park, starting April 18 in SeaWorld San Diego before heading to SeaWorld Orlando for the summer on June 30 and then over to SeaWorld San Antonio for the fall starting September 11.

This limited-time celebration will bring immersive Baby Shark-themed experiences to all three parks, including:

Live Character Meet & Greets with Baby Shark and Pinkfong.

Themed Activities, Food and Merchandise.

Win a Fin-tastic Family Getaway! Fans can enter a national sweepstakes for a chance to win Baby Shark merchandise and tickets to experience the magic at SeaWorld.

“We are excited to team up with The Pinkfong Company to bring the fun of Baby Shark to life in our parks, pairing education with entertainment in engaging and fun ways," said Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Entertainment. "This collaboration allows us to connect with families in a new, unique, and memorable way while also reinforcing our mission of marine life conservation."

"For 10 years, Baby Shark has brought joy to families worldwide, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with SeaWorld. This collaboration creates unforgettable experiences that bring Baby Shark’s world to life in a whole new way," said Bin Jeong, CEO, of Pinkfong USA.

A New Baby Shark Music Video – Featuring SeaWorld’s Rescue Team!

In a brand-new 2-minute animated music video debuting on April 30, Pinkfong and Baby Shark visit SeaWorld as veterinarians! They meet their baby animal friends and observe how happy and healthy they are thanks to the world-class care they receive at SeaWorld.

During their visit, Pinkfong and Baby Shark meet baby turtles rescued by the SeaWorld Rescue Team, who found them abandoned and lost wandering the beach alone. Working together, they care for the turtles and return them to the ocean, reflecting the team’s commitment to helping ill, injured, or orphaned animals in need of expert care with the goal of rehabilitation and returning them to the wild. After a busy day of helping animals, Pinkfong and Baby Shark end their adventure with a ride on their favorite SeaWorld attractions!

The video will be available in English and Spanish on Pinkfong’s YouTube channel, as well as Seaworld’s brand and park social channels.

In the News: SeaWorld San Diego Debuts a One-of-a-Kind Wonder: Jewels of the Sea – The Ultimate Jellyfish Experience!

SAN DIEGO, CA (March 19, 2025)—SeaWorld San Diego is thrilled to unveil its highly anticipated Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience, the largest standalone jellyfish exhibit in the country, which is now open to the public.

In this groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind attraction at SeaWorld Parks, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the mesmerizing world of jellyfish. Jewels of the Sea showcases these otherworldly animals' enchanting beauty, fascinating biology, and mysterious allure.

Designed to be both captivating and educational, Jewels of the Sea offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore a variety of jellyfish species through engaging, interactive exhibits. The experience features three distinct galleries, each offering a unique perspective on jellyfish and showcasing the variety of jelly species and their locations from the shallow levels of ocean to the deep unknown. Guests begin their journey with an introduction to the fascinating world of jellies, answering key questions about their stings, life cycle, and anatomy. The murals on the walls will guide guests from shallow mangrove forests, where upside-down jellies live, through coral reefs, and into a deep ocean trench, symbolizing deeper exploration.

The exhibit opens with nine unique varieties of jellies species displayed through over 15 aquariums. Highlights include one of the largest jellyfish cylinders in the country, a cascading water globe filled with jellyfish, and a fully interactive LED gallery that brings the ocean's wonders to life. Throughout Jewels of the Sea, the wall corners are rounded to symbolize the flow of ocean currents. The lighting pulses from the arch to the cylinder tank, mimicking the movement of jellies in ocean currents.

The exhibit provides a deep dive into the jellyfish life cycle, anatomy, and conservation – one of the key reasons SeaWorld San Diego chose to create this experience. The exhibit also underscores SeaWorld's commitment to marine education and the preservation of ocean ecosystems.

See full press release here. 

Kingda Ka, Pastel Park, Planco, Rollercoaster POV, Tunnels and Caves

in the News: Wild Buffalo opening at La Mer de Sable in 2025

Hauts-de-France, France – Skyline Attractions is thrilled to share its collaboration with Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII) on the upcoming debut of Wild Buffalo at La Mer de Sable in Hauts-de-France, France. Wild Buffalo marks the park’s first wooden coaster and GCII’s first roller coaster installation in France.

Designed and engineered by Skyline Attractions for GCII, Wild Buffalo offers an exciting blend of airtime and lateral thrills across its 1,643’ [500.8 m] of wooden track. The family-friendly ride stands 48.4’ [14.8 m] tall, but navigates an elevation difference of 74.1’ [22.6 m] with its clever use of the existing terrain. A standout feature of the ride is its mid-course tunnel, which the train navigates twice in opposing directions.

Skyline Attractions played a pivotal role in bringing Wild Buffalo to life, coordinating with La Mer de Sable and GCII to create an exciting layout that fits the park’s available space and existing ride lineup. Skyline Attractions also supported GCII in completing the ride’s design and engineering, utilizing its growing arsenal of custom-built software. The collaboration between Skyline Attractions and GCII has previously led to award-winning coasters such as Mystic Timbers at Kings Island, Texas Stingray at SeaWorld San Antonio, and Wicker Man at Alton Towers.

To view full press release, click here. 

In the News: New Water’s Edge Expansion Opens at Wild Adventures for 2025

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia, launches its 2025 season on March 15 with exciting new rides, live entertainment and immersive experiences, offering unforgettable family adventures through December.

Wild Adventures’ new Season begins Saturday, March 15, with the debut of Water’s Edge, an exciting new expansion featuring three family-friendly rides, new animal habitats, a new entertainment stage and more.

“This expansion is another step forward in our commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests and their families at Wild Adventures,” said Jon Vigue, vice president and general manager. “Water’s Edge will transform a large section of the park into a vibrant, immersive environment that not only enhances the guest experience but also allows us to continue expanding our fall and winter events in the future.”

Inspired by the charm and vibrance of a seaside village, Water’s Edge is a bright new adventure that provides guests with opportunities to soar, explore, learn and relax.

When the new area debuts on March 15, guests can take a spin on the latest Boat Parade, a lively speedboat-themed ride that whirls and twirls, creating the sensation of cruising along choppy waters. The guests can also feel the rush of the new Wing Swinger, a thrilling family swing ride that lifts riders high, creating a a soaring experience. Water’s Edge is also home to the reimagined Horizon Wheel, an illuminated Ferris wheel that offers stunning panoramic views of Wild Adventures and the scenic lake at the park’s center.

View full press release here. 

Cave Dive, Rollercoaster, on Ride POV

Flamingo Flight! The Ride. Wooden Rollercoaster First Person POV

In the News: Universal Orlando Resort Shares A First Look At The Expansive Collection Of All-New Merchandise And Incredible Retail Experiences At Universal Epic Universe, Opening On May 22, 2025

Universal Orlando released some more information on the shopping expierence. 

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 12, 2025) – Universal Orlando Resort is revealing the must-have array of merchandise guests can purchase while visiting the groundbreaking Universal Epic Universe theme park, officially opening on May 22, 2025. Available at 20-plus immersive retail locations throughout the theme park, guests can shop a unique assortment of new and popular merchandise that ranges from apparel to headwear to collectibles and more inspired by the imaginative worlds of Epic Universe – including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.

“The groundbreaking, immersive worlds of Epic Universe created the dream opportunity for us to design a first-of-its-kind merchandise program that brings these iconic stories to fans in new and innovative ways,” said Justin Lafoe, Global Parks Merchandise & Retail Officer, Universal Products & Experiences. “We are thrilled to bring fan-favorite worlds to life and give guests the chance to bring home a piece of their adventures with them.”

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Within Place Cachée in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, guests will discover an expansive assortment of merchandise inspired by 1920s wizarding Paris, the Fantastic Beasts films, the British Ministry of Magic and much more. At Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, guests will find an all-new collection of interactive wands that will bring to life new experiences and magic – including some exclusive to Epic Universe – and wand accessories with a Parisian twist.

In Les Galeries Mirifiques, guests will find wizarding gear and memorabilia, including 1920s-era wizarding robes complete with berets and neckties, messenger bags with wand holders, and jewelry and accessories representing each of the four Hogwarts houses. Fantastic Beasts fans can even take an interactive Niffler home with them.

Guests can also explore the Métro-Floo gift shop, Tour En Floo, where they will find the Métro-Floo collection, a variety of items featuring the Time-Turner, and the British Ministry of Magic collection – featuring apparel and wand accessories such as a wand stand and wand holder harness that don the wizarding authority’s well-known emblem.

Guests looking to satisfy their sweet tooth can indulge in délicieux, giftable sweets and treats from potions to Chocolate Frogs and beyond in the French confectionary shop, K. Rammelle.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

Fans can team up and celebrate their favorite Nintendo characters with an extensive variety of merchandise inspired by beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong and more. The 1-UP Factory and Mario Motors stores feature character hats and headbands themed to Chef Toad, Bowser Jr., Princess Peach and more; character plush like Mario, Luigi and Donkey Kong; a Mario Kart collection and a colorful Yoshi collection. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD also offers food and beverage accessories like the light-up Super Star Popcorn Bucket, 1-UP Mushroom Sipper and Super Mushroom Sipper.

At Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy in Donkey Kong Country, guests can shop for merchandise that will be available for the first time at Epic Universe such as a banana-shaped fanny pack inspired by Donkey Kong’s favorite food. Other items guests can find at Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy include a gigantic Donkey Kong coffee mug, a Diddy Kong ticket holder and more.

Guests can also purchase Power-Up Bands throughout SUPER NINTENDO WORLD inspired by popular characters Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Toad, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to gear up for interactive play. With a Power-Up Band, guests can enhance their play throughout SUPER NINTENDO WORLD by experiencing interactive activities, winning digital keys, collecting digital coins and stamps, tracking their score, checking their ranking and more.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Guests can immerse themselves in all the Viking vibes with a vast selection of merchandise, including apparel and collectibles inspired by the beloved characters, attractions and more in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. Signature items found throughout the world and in the Toothless’ Treasures retail location include blind-box collectible dragon toys, apparel, and plush inspired by the larger-than-life dragons in Berk; a chance to adopt-a-dragon via a crossbody egg carrier that holds a plush dragon; and a Toothless collection that features a popcorn bucket, zip-up jacket, wings, masks, plush headbands and more.

Those looking to become a Viking can gear up at Viking Traders with an array of cosplay attire featuring helmets, masks, shirts, shields and swords. Rustic swag fit for the most impressionable dragon trainers can also be found at Hiccup’s Work Shop.

How to Treat Your Dragon invites guests to satisfy their sweet tooth with mystery chocolate dragon eggs, trading cards in dragon house-themed packaging, and even sheep marshmallows for the most honorable Viking chiefs.

Dark Universe

As they step into the ominous world of Darkmoor, guests will discover an incredible collection of apparel, accessories, home decor, toys, and collectibles inspired by the legendary Universal Monsters like Frankenstein’s Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon and more.

Guests of all ages wanting to take their fandom to the next level can visit the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience and become fashionably monstrous with elaborate face paint, as well as shop for an extensive assortment of cosplay attire in Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities, located adjacent to the makeup experience, to complete their looks. More details will be revealed soon on how guests can choose their destiny and transform into their favorite Universal Monster with this all-new experience.

Aspiring monsters can also take home the terror with commemorative merchandise like the Bitty Monsters collection – complete with apparel, headwear, collectible figures, and plush.  The spine-tingling experiences throughout Darkmoor also inspired all-new collections themed to Frankenstein Manor – home to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, Dr. Pretorius, The Burning Blade Tavern, and Curse of the Werewolf. Guests can find these and other eclectic items at Pretorious’ Scientific Oddities and The Manor Storehouse and Guild of Mystics retail locations in Dark Universe.

Additional Retail Experiences in Celestial Park

Guests will also be able to purchase Universal Epic Universe branded merchandise to commemorate their visit to the new theme park, including apparel and accessories for the entire family, home décor, collectible souvenirs, glowing wands and headbands, a light-up popcorn bucket, and items from the Epic Universe Grand Opening collection.

These and more items can be found in unique retail locations within Celestial Park including Other Worlds Mercantile -a bustling marketplace full of majestic treasures where all of the worlds come together; Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets – where guests can find a selection of sweets and treats; and Various Emporia – which houses three smaller shops – Sensorium Emporium, North Star – Wintry Wonders and Lens Flair. Guests can also find the Nintendo Super Star Store in Celestial Park, which carries an assortment of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD merchandise and other Nintendo franchise merchandise.

Guests can purchase the all-new merchandise at Universal Epic Universe when it grand opens on May 22, 2025. Select items are available now at shop.universalorlando.com. For more information about Epic Universe, visit www.universalorlando.com/epicuniverse.

Official Release Here.

Bubblegum Twister! The Ride. Wooden Rollercoaster First Person POV

Flashback, Six Flags New England, Off Ride POV

Iconic rollercoaster Kingda Ka imploded at Six Flags

Six Flags Great Adventure demolishes Kingda Ka roller coaster