News: Paramount’s Great America Fall Guide

Posted at 3:32 PM EDT (1932 GMT)

Aug. 23rd, 2005 -- This year, Paramount’s Great America will offer a variety of event and entertainment options that the entire family will enjoy!  Paramount’s Great America continues to draw on the diverse population in the Bay Area, offering fun and excitement for people of all ages from all ethnic backgrounds.  All events are FREE with park admission unless otherwise noted.

(Park open weekends only September 3 - November 6, 2005)

Ryan Cabrera - Saturday, September 3 This summer, singer-songwriter-musician, Ryan Cabrera, will embark on a tour in support of his current release, “Take It All Away.”  The critically acclaimed new release was co-produced and co-written by the Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik and Cabrera.  Tickets range from $14.99 - $44.99 and may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com  or by calling (415) 421-8497. Concert begins at 7 p.m. in the park’s Redwood Amphitheater.

Nickelodeon™ Celebration Parade - September 3 - October 30 (Weekends Only)
More than 20 Nickelodeon characters, a cast of nearly 100 performers and seven colorful, interactive floats including the all-new Danny Phantom™ and Dora the Explorer™ brigades dance through the guest-lined streets of Paramount’s Great America for a 30-minute spectacular.  Plus, don’t miss a special Halloween version of the parade weekends throughout October!  Parade is free with park admission. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

Labor Day Fireworks - Sunday, September 4
Enjoy a fireworks extravaganza high above the skies of Paramount’s Great America! Fireworks are free with park admission and begin at 8:45 p.m. For more information or to purchase discount tickets, visit www.pgathrills.com

San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders  - Sunday, September 4 The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders treat park guests to an afternoon of autograph signing and two performances in the park’s Hollywood Plaza. Event runs 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and is free with park admission. Visit www.pgathrills.com  for more information.

Pacific Fest presented by KTSF-TV - Saturday, September 17
Celebrate Asian Pacific Island culture from noon to 5 p.m. with traditional music and dance including Polynesian, Filipino, Hawaiian and Tahitian. Event is free with park admission. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

“Run Forrest, Run!" 5K Fun Run and Walk - Sunday, September 18 Lace up your sneakers and join "Forrest Gump" for a 5K Fun Run and Walk through Paramount’s Great America. Participants raising money for United Way of Silicon Valley will receive a collectible t-shirt and a free ticket to Paramount's Great America (valid for the same day and one return visit).  There will also be prize giveaways and food from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Race starts at 8 a.m. Cost of race is $25 for adults and $15 for children (ages 17 and under). For more information or to register, visit www.bubbagump.com

JoyFest - Sunday, September 18
Don’t miss an afternoon of Christian music with Delirious, Barlowgirl, Kids in the Way, Dizmas and headliner, Relient K, as they perform LIVE at Paramount’s Great America’s Redwood Amphitheater. General admission tickets range in price from $21.99 - $45.00 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com

Physics, Science and Math Teacher Orientation - Saturday, September 24
Paramount’s Great America invites teachers to attend the FREE Physics, Science and Math Day Teacher Orientation.  Members of the Teacher Steering Committee will present experiments and explain how to incorporate activities into the course curriculum in preparation for Paramount’s Great America’s 2006 Physics, Science and Math Days.  For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

Puppies on Parade - Sunday, September 25
Puppies from the Mid-Peninsula Guide Dog Puppy Raisers and Canine Companions for Independence take a learning walk through Paramount’s Great America from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. to learn the sights, sounds and smells of a theme park. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

School of Rock - Live in Concert (Runs through September 25) Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster feature comedy comes to life in a wildly energetic, high-voltage, live rock concert featuring raw acoustics and first-rate rock concert theatrics; all supported by a full band and a play list of unforgettable rock and roll classics by artists such as Led Zeppelin, Joan Jett and Van Halen. This pulse-pounding 25-minute show is free with park admission and runs weekends only at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Nick-or-Treat™ - October 1 - 30 (Weekends Only) Celebrate the "family-friendly" spirit of Halloween during Nick-or-Treat™, a new, 10-day extravaganza at Paramount's Great America! Nick-or-Treat is free with park admission and stirs up a cauldron of fun for the entire family! For the first time ever, park guests can hop aboard the Scary-Go-Round or Collision Caverns bumper cars, play in a Pumpkin Patch foam pit or watch Elvira's "Superstition" motion movie in the park's Action FX Theater. Plus, Paramount’s Great America is the only place in Northern California where kids 12 and under can wear costumes, trick-or-treat alongside the characters from Nickelodeon® or join them in a special, Halloween-themed Nickelodeon™ Celebration Parade featuring two new floats and Nickelodeon's Danny Phantom™. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

Scout Fun Run - Saturday, October 1
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts get fit and have fun at the same time at Paramount’s Great America!  Enjoy an 8 a.m. 2-mile Fun Run/Walk in the park, followed by activities and a day playing at Paramount’s Great America. All participants will receive a Fun Run cap and patch. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.girlscoutsofscc.org

2nd Annual Deaf Awareness Day - Saturday, October 1
This fun-filled day, sponsored by the Delta Omega Delta sorority, is open to the public and will include information booths pertaining to deaf organizations, dedicated interpreters throughout the park and at all shows and an all-you-can-eat picnic in the park’s picnic grove. For special pricing or more information, call (408) 986-5861.

Parade of Bands - Saturday and Sunday, October 1 & 2 Local marching bands are invited to perform inside Paramount’s Great America! Each marching band will follow a parade route leading them to Hollywood Plaza for a stand still performance. 

19th Annual PGA/USA Cheerleading Competition - Sundays, October 2, 9 and 16
Sponsored by the United Spirit Association, the 19th annual cheerleading competition erupts in the park’s Redwood Amphitheater as junior and senior high school All-Star cheerleading squads and Youth Sports cheerleaders compete.  For more information, contact United Spirit Association at (800) 886-4872 or visit www.usacamps.com

Salute to Heroes -October 8 & 9, 15 & 16 Paramount’s Great America salutes our nation’s military, fire, police and other emergency services with a Salute to Heroes!  Members of the military, police, fire and other emergency services receive free admission to the park when they present their valid ID at Will Call or Guest Services.  Plus, up to six (6) family members will receive 50% off general admission!  For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

18th Annual Fire Prevention Day - Sunday, October 9
The Santa Clara Fire Department and Paramount’s Great America team up to kick off National Fire Prevention Week with activities, demonstrations and exhibits promoting fire and life safety. “Use Candles with Care…When You Go Out, Blow Out!” is this year’s national theme for Fire Prevention Week.  Event is free with park admission and runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the park’s Hollywood Plaza.  For more information, call (408) 615-4970.

5th Annual PGA/USA Dance Drill Spectacular - Sunday, October 16 The 5th annual Dance Drill Spectacular, sponsored by the United Spirit Association, will feature high school dance/drill teams evaluated in categories such as Officers, Dance, Hip Hop, Military, Kick and Lyrical.  For more information, visit www.usacamps.comv  or call (800) 886-4872.

3rd Annual Gospel X-Plosion - Saturday, October 22
This daylong celebration features Gospel Choir & Praise Dance Competition, prizes and a Fellowship Awards dinner. The 2005 Gospel X-plosion is sponsored by KDYA 1190 AM, “Your Gospel Music Station,” KDIA 1640 AM, “The Light At The Top Of The Dial,” and KBLX-FM. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

6th Annual Diwali Festival - Saturday, November 5
Celebrate the culture and customs of India at the Sixth Annual Diwali Festival, a daylong event for the entire family. Explore vendor booths and enjoy traditional Indian dancing, all in a festive outdoor atmosphere. The event is free with park admission and ends with evening fireworks. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com

Paramount’s Great America Closes for the 2005 Season - Sunday, November 6
Enjoy the park’s more than 50 rides and attractions or say hello to Nickelodeon® characters like SpongeBob SquarePants™ and Dora the Explorer™ before the park closes for the 2005 season.  For more information or to purchase 2006 VIP Passes, visit www.pgathrills.com The park will re-open for its 30th season in April 2006.

All events and dates are subject to change without notice.
Paramount’s Great America is owned and operated by Paramount Parks, a unit of Viacom Inc.

Paramount Parks (a unit of Viacom Inc.), is a leading developer and operator of world-class theme parks and location-based attractions, entertaining more than 13 million guests annually.  The company currently owns and operates five of the most popular theme parks in North America including: Paramount Canada’s Wonderland (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Paramount’s Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.); Paramount’s Great America (Santa Clara, Calif.); Paramount’s Kings Dominion (Richmond, Va.); and Paramount’s Kings Island (Cincinnati, Ohio).  The company also developed and manages the award-winning STAR TREK: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, Nev.) and manages Bonfante Gardens horticultural theme park (Gilroy, Calif.) and CBS Television City at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.).  More information about Paramount Parks is available at www.paramountparks.com.