BONFANTE GARDENS TO HOST FOUR ATHLETIC EVENTS IN 2006

Activities Include Walking, Biking and Inaugural Swimming in the Park’s Coyote Lake

(For more information, visit www.bonfantegardens.org/media/press.htm )

GILROY, Calif. (July 5, 2006) -- Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park, California’s only horticultural theme park, is known for its majestic gardens, world famous Circus Trees and an array of family rides and educational exhibits. This year, Gilroy’s non-profit theme park plays host to four athletic events featuring biking, walking and, for the first time ever, swimming in the park’s three million gallon Coyote Lake!   

The Reek Run on Saturday, July 8 kicks off the 2006 sporting line-up. Bonfante Gardens is once again partnering with the Theater Angels Art League for the 3^rd annual 5K/10K Run/Walk event that takes participants around the park’s perimeter roads, up and down moderate hills and through Bonfante Gardens’ picturesque landscaping. There will be eight male/female racing divisions ranging in age from 6-12 through 70 and older. The race will begin at 8 a.m. and will include a complimentary ticket to enjoy Bonfante Gardens. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Theater Angels Art League, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the arts flourishing in Gilroy. For more information, visit www.bonfantegardens.org or register the morning of the event at the park.

New this season at Bonfante Gardens, kids 17 years of age and younger can test their endurance during the Hammerhead Kids Triathlon on July 16, while everyone in the family can participate in the Very Scary Triathlon on October 15. Bonfante Gardens and Body and Mind Solutions have teamed up for these two events to promote healthy kids and healthy bodies. The theme park serves as a majestic backdrop as participants bike, run and swim through a challenging course inside and around Bonfante Gardens. While the park’s Coyote Lake is usually home to paddle boaters, the three acre man-made lake will cater to swimmers during the aquatic leg of the triathlon. The triathlon will culminate with a run to the top of the hill on the backside of Bonfante Gardens, giving athletes an amazing view of the park. For more information or to register, visit www.active.com or www.bodyandmindsolutions.com.

For those that crave the open road and stretches of stunning scenery, the 2^nd annual Bonfante Harvest Ride on October 21 offers regional cycling enthusiasts, beginners and youngsters 100-mile, 100K and 50K rides that begin at Bonfante Gardens and travel through the western and eastern foothills of Gilroy and Morgan Hill. The course showcases fall colors as participants travel through local vineyards, rural farms, spectacular hillsides and featured rest stops such as Gilroy Hot Springs and Specialized headquarters in Morgan Hill where cyclists will enjoy food, drinks and an opportunity to meet with some of the area’s greatest cyclists and internationally known bike experts. Children and families can also participate in a 2K ride through Bonfante Gardens before it opens to the public.

The ride will benefit Gilroy’s Parks and Recreation department, which provides healthy activities and recreation programs for local youth. Riders are also given the opportunity to raise money for any health or activity related cause, with approval from ride directors. One-hundred percent of all pledges raised by riders will be donated to their designated charities.

Riders are encouraged to pre-register by calling (408) 682-4700 or by visiting www.bonfanteride.com.

Bonfante Gardens is a non-profit organization managed by Paramount Parks. 

Bonfante Gardens, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is located in Gilroy, Calif. and is California's only horticultural theme park featuring more than 40 family attractions including six majestic gardens, educational exhibits, rides and the world famous Circus Trees. The park was awarded a 2005 Golden Ticket by International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) for Best Landscaping. For park information and discount tickets, visit www.bonfantegardens.org or call 408-840-7100.

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