GILROY GARDENS TRANSFORMS INTO A MAJESTIC WINTER WONDERLAND
DURING SIXTH ANNUAL “HOLIDAY LIGHTS™” CELEBRATION
Holiday Lights Adds “Nights of Fire” Laser Light and Fireworks Spectacular

GILROY, Calif. – (Nov. 19, 2009) – The hardworking “elves” at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park are making a list and checking it twice to ensure the sixth annual Holiday Lights™ is twice as nice! The popular Bay Area holiday celebration returns to California’s only horticultural theme park on Friday, December 4^th and takes place for 17 magical nights through Sunday, December 30^th.

The lights in the trees and throughout the park will not be the only element to light up the night sky this year as we have added “Nights of Fire” a laser light and fireworks spectacular. This laser light and fireworks show which is choreographed to a spectacular holiday sound track on Coyote Lake is sure to be a crowd favorite this holiday season. Viewing is standing room only for this 15 minute sensory extravaganza! Show is free with park admission.

Returning for another season is “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from Knott’s Merry Farm. Presented nightly, two holiday-themed character shows featuring Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally and everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy from the popular PEANUTS comic series will be performing nightly.

Sparkling with more than a million dazzling lights, Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park will be magically transformed into a winter wonderland filled with one-of-a-kind holiday entertainment for the entire family including ice skating under the stars at Gilroy’s only ice skating venue, an all-you-can-eat holiday feast, holiday themed rides, visits with Santa and more!

“Holiday Lights is one of my favorite times of year. The park is naturally beautiful, and with all of the elements added, it just makes it something special,” said Barb Granter, vice president and general manager for Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. “Now in our sixth year, this event continues to be the perfect way for families to celebrate the magic of the holidays together and has become an annual tradition for many of our park guests.”

2009 HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT GILROY GARDENS FAMILY THEME PARK

Guests looking to enhance their Holiday Lights™ experience can also take part in an old-fashioned holiday feast with all the “trimmings” in the Park’s heated Snowflake Palace. Families can enjoy traditional holiday fare including honey glazed ham, roasted turkey,  mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, delectable desserts, hot chocolate and Coca-Cola beverages.

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park’s Holiday Lights™ is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., December 4^th – 13^th, daily from December 18^th -23^rd and December 26^th -30^th.

Admission Prices for Holiday Lights™:

· Single-night admission combo tickets (includes the all-you-can-eat Holiday Feast) are $42.99 for adults (ages 7 – 64) and $32.99 for children (ages 3 – 6) and seniors (ages 65 and over). Additional fees apply for skate rental.

· Single-night admission only tickets are $29.99 for all ages. Additional fees apply for skate rental.

· Discount tickets are available on line at www.gilroygardens.org/holidaylights.

Park guests can also enjoy Holiday Lights™ for FREE with the purchase of a tax-deductible Membership. This program features three different membership options, each of which feature exclusive money-saving offers and exciting benefits! For more information, discount tickets, or to purchase your 2010 Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park Membership, visit www.gilroygardens.org.

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is located at 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy. in Gilroy, Calif. For more information, visit www.gilroygardens.org or call 408-840-7100.

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, created and built by Michael Bonfante, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization managed by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is located at 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy (Hwy 152) 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 and 2006 Golden Ticket by International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) for Best Landscaping.

PEANUTS © UFS, Inc. in association with Knott's Berry Farm ©2009

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