Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 1: ABCD

Posted on January 30, 2026February 2, 2026 by marcos

Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 1: ABCD

Since there are 26 letters in the alphabet and we’re now in the year 2026, we thought it would be fun to highlight every letter in the alphabet with some of the fun rides and attractions here at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Each month we’ll feature a different section of the alphabet.

So cuddle up in your favorite storytime spot…and join us as we begin our journey from A to Z!

A is for Apple & Worm

Let’s start at the very beginning! You probably all know that “A” is for apple—and here at Gilroy Gardens, we have a very large apple being nibbled on by a very large worm!

Apple & Worm is one of the original rides that has been at the park since Opening Day in 2001. It’s a popular first ride for little ones, as they get to ride inside the giant smiling green worm (who actually looks more like a caterpillar) as he slowly makes his way around what’s left of the apple. How many seeds can you count inside the apple core?

FUN FACT: Once an apple tree is planted, it usually needs to grow for about 4-5 years before it begins producing fruit. But after that, the tree might live as long as 100 years!

What else can you find at Gilroy Gardens that starts with “A”?

Artichoke Dip
Arch Tree
Art Studio (inside The Green Barn)

B is for Banana Split

If you’re big enough and brave enough, you’ll have a blast going on the Banana Split ride at Gilroy Gardens!

Prepare to hold on tight as you swing back and forth, going higher and higher, on the biggest banana you’ve ever seen!

And did you know you can also find actual bananas growing here at Gilroy Gardens? It’s just one of many tropical fruit-bearing trees found in our Monarch Garden greenhouse. Be sure to check it out and see if you can see any baby bananas growing!

FUN ACTIVITY: No matter how old you are, bananas are always a tasty treat! Check out some fun Favorite Ripe Banana Recipes (courtesy of Yummy Toddler Food) that you can make at home.

What else can you find that starts with “B”?

C is for Circus Trees

When you visit Gilroy Gardens, you may notice some funny-looking trees throughout the park. These are our world-famous Circus Trees—and you won’t see anything like them anywhere else in the world!

The Circus Trees are living trees that were originally twisted and trained into crazy shapes by a man named Axel Erlandson. Some of these trees are almost 100 years old!

Some of the Circus Trees are actually multiple trees that have grown together over the years into amazing living sculptures, like the Arch Tree and the Four-Legged Giant.

The Basket Tree is actually made up of six Sycamore trees that were woven together into a “basket” shape. We love it so much, we made it part of the Gilroy Gardens logo!

After Mr. Erlandson died, his trees were left behind up in the mountains with nobody to take care of them. Michael Bonfante and some other tree-loving friends carefully dug them up, loaded them onto trucks, and moved them to Gilroy Gardens. They were replanted here and now can be enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year!

LEARN MORE: Go to the Park History page to learn more about these fascinating trees—and the exciting rescue mission to bring them to Gilroy Gardens!

What else can you find that starts with “C”?

D is for Dinosaur

D is indeed for Dinosaur—and did you know we have one right here at Gilroy Gardens?

“Rocko” the baby Triceratops was originally carved from a 20-ton serpentine boulder in 1988 by rock sculptor John Cody, who worked that on site at Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California. Guests got to see “Rocko” come to life as part of the park’s “Kingdom of the Dinosaurs” attraction.

After spending many years hanging out in Camp Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm, Rocko was donated and moved to his new home at Gilroy Gardens. You can now find him that in front of The Green Barn, which is a perfect place to explore nature, science, and art.

(And yes, Rocko’s very friendly, so you are welcome to climb on him if you want. However, we don’t recommend doing that if you ever encounter any actual live dinosaurs!)

What else can you find that starts with “D”?

Stay tuned for Chapter 2 of the Gilroy Gardens Alphabet, coming in February 2026!

Natural Science Days

Posted on December 3, 2025December 9, 2025 by marcos

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Science is in Full Bloom!

Discover Natural Science Days at Gilroy Gardens

Explore Our Natural Science Day Learning Stations

At Gilroy Gardens, learning and fun grow side by side! Our Natural Science Days field trip program (held each year on Fridays in May) provides a unique chance for kids—and grownups—to learn more about trees, plants and the environment while having fun in our beautiful “living laboratory.”

During Natural Science Days, students get hands-on with nature through exciting, interactive learning stations that spark curiosity and creativity. Every station is designed for kids to have fun while learning something new!

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at a few of our most popular learning stations—and also provide some crafts and projects you can do at home to reinforce some of the same scientific principles. If you do try any of these, please take a photo and post on your favorite social media channel with #GilroyGardens and #ShowYourScience!

Fun Fact: More than 28,500 elementary school students have participated in Natural Science Days since its inception.

Learning Station #1:
Create a Food Chain

Kids love food—so this is always one of our most popular learning stations during Natural Science Days. Students discover how all living things are connected through what they eat. From plants that get their energy from the sun to animals that depend on those plants, everything in nature has a role to play. Students see how energy moves from one link to the next—and learn how each creature helps keep the environment balanced.

Try This at Home: Food Chain Mobile Craft

You’ll Need: Construction paper, scissors, markers, string, and a hanger or stick.

Steps:

Think of your favorite insect, animal, or plant, and then think about how it gets energy. Then think about what other organisms eat it. This is the “food chain.” (For example, grass is a plant that gets energy from sunlight and water. Deer get energy from eating grass. And mountain lions get energy from eating deer.)
Make a drawing of each part of the food chain on a small piece of paper.
Label each drawing. What is it called? Is it a producer, consumer, or predator? You can ask a grownup for help with this part.
Cut out your drawings and punch holes in the top.
Connect them with string in order, showing which direction the energy flows.
Hang up your finished mobile and show off your science skills!
Something to think about: What would happen if one part of your food chain disappears?

Learning Station #2: Plant Parts

This colorful station at Natural Science Days digs into the science behind plants! Students get to learn about the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds that make up the plants we see every day—and discover how each part helps a plant grow strong and healthy.

Fun Fact: You’ll Need: a few celery stalks (with leaves if possible), 3-4 clear cups of water, and food coloring.

Try This at Home: “Drink Up!” Celery Experiment

You’ll Need: A few celery stalks (with leaves if possible), 3-4 clear cups of water, food coloring

Steps

Fill each cup with water and then add a few drops of food coloring. Use different colors in different cups.
Place one celery stalk into each cup, then wait a few hours or overnight.
Watch the colored water travel up through the stem and into the leaves!

Learning Station #3: You Rock!

Get ready to dig into geology fun! At this hands-on Natural Science Days learning station, students explore different types of rocks and minerals, learning how they’re formed and what makes each one unique. They’ll even discover that rocks can tell stories about Earth’s history.

Try This at Home: Go on a Rock Hunt Adventure

Walk around your yard (or, with a grownup, to a nearby park or other natural area). Collect three rocks and compare them. Are they smooth, rough, shiny, or dull? Try sorting them by color or texture, just like a real geologist!

Fun Fact: If you find a really interesting rock and would like to learn more about it, bring it in to The Nature Exchange inside The Green Barn at Gilroy Gardens! Our friendly docents can help you identify what it is, look at it up close under our powerful microscopes, and even trade it for another natural treasure from our collection. Open spring through fall.

Keep the Learning Growing

Natural Science Days at Gilroy Gardens are full of hands-on learning, smiles, and moments that kids remember for years. Each station helps students see how everything in nature connects, from the food they eat to the rocks beneath their feet.

If you’d like to experience all these learning stations (and more) for yourself, encourage your teacher to sign up and bring your whole class out in May. It’s an unforgettable field trip that combines fun and learning in the great outdoors.

Dates fill up fast, so don’t wait! Learn more and book your visit today:

Natural Science Days

If you can’t make it on our official Natural Science Days, then check out our Explorer Program, which offers similar hands-on educational adventures in a self-guided format that your group can do any time during the regular season. It’s the perfect way to keep learning growing all year long!

Goodbye 2025—and Hello 2026!

Posted on October 21, 2025November 4, 2025 by marcos

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Goodbye 2025—and Hello 2026!

Reflections and Resources for a Fun Family New Year’s Eve

Our 25th Anniversary Year in Review

2025 was certainly an exciting year here at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park! Here are just some of the highlights:

Our milestone 25th Anniversary Celebration with a musical show, vintage displays, and the return of some of our original mascots
Hundreds of elementary school students getting to learn in our “living laboratory” during Natural Science Days
The first-ever Cherry Jubilee, a “cherr-ific” summer event full of fantastic flavors and family fun
Exciting new acts during Carnival Nights including acrobats and bubble artists
All the sweet, silly and not-too-spooky fun of our popular Halloween event, The Great Big BOO
Large groups getting together for company events, picnics, school dances and other special celebrations in our gorgeous venues
A brand-new Explorer Program offering self-guided, hands-on educational adventures throughout the park
The debut of The Party Place and the return of our popular Birthday Party packages
More than 1,700 campers joining us for unforgettable overnight adventures during our Camp Nights events

We are so grateful to all of our Members and guests who made this (and every) year possible—and we’re excited to keep the fun growing in 2026!

Counting Down to 2026

Speaking of 2026, we hope you’ll be bringing the whole family to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Gilroy Gardens on December 31 (4pm – midnight). Enjoy the park’s exciting rides, North Pole Nights holiday fun, and a DJ Dance Party with specialty appetizers and drinks. Then join the countdown to midnight and our big fireworks show over Coyote Lake!

But if you’re not able to join us this year, don’t worry. We’ve pulled together some fun ideas and tips you can try at home to keep the whole family smiling until the clock strikes midnight.

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #1: Prepare Some Tasty Treats

The chefs at Gilroy Gardens have a delicious New Year’s Eve menu planned with savory snacks and scrumptious desserts. For home cooks of all ages, we’ve got a Pepperoni Pizza Cups recipe the whole family will love! These bite-sized treats are fun to create together and perfect for fueling up before the big countdown.

Pepperoni Pizza Cups
Recipe from The Country Cook

Ingredients

8 ounce can crescent roll dough
1½ cups shredded mozzarella
½ cup pizza sauce, plus more for dipping
½ cup mini pepperoni (or regular pepperoni cut into quarters)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 basil leaves, chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray 8 sections of a muffin tin with baking spray.
Roll out the dough on a clean work surface and cut it into 8 equal-sized sections.
Carefully press the dough into the greased sections of the muffin tin, making sure the corners of the dough overlap the sides.
Add half of the cheese to the bottom of the cups.
Evenly distribute the pizza sauce on top of the cheese.
Add the pepperoni evenly.
Top with the remaining cheese.
Take the corners of the dough and fold them over the filling to form a package.
In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, garlic, and chopped basil. Brush the tops of the cups with the butter mixture.
Bake for 14-15 minutes until golden brown.
Pop them out of the pan immediately. (If left too long in the pan, they can get soggy on the bottom.)
Serve with more pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

You can use store bought or homemade pizza sauce.
Switch it up and use any of your favorite pizza toppings–just don’t overfill the cups.
These can be frozen for 2-3 months.

Dangling white lights hanging from the ceiling and people dancing at Events Plaza at night

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #2: Get Your Groove On

At Gilroy Gardens, we have a professional DJ spinning tunes at our New Year’s Eve Dance Party all the way until midnight. When you’re at home, you can turn up the music and keep the energy going with your own family dance party!

Just queue up the Gilroy Gardens Dance Party playlist on Spotify for family-friendly songs that are perfect for games like musical chairs or a silly round of “Finish the Lyrics.”

The main thing is to just keep moving, laughing, and making memories together!

Several children smiling while playing a tossing game.

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #3: Make Every Minute Count

Of course, there’s plenty to do during the New Year’s Eve Celebration at Gilroy Gardens, including exciting rides, games, ice skating, a DJ dance party, and more. But even if you’re at home, you can plan some fun activities so waiting for midnight won’t feel quite so long.

Keep everyone excited (and awake!) with these fun activities:

Blow up balloons and take turns popping one every hour to mark the countdown.
Create a time capsule (inspired by the Gilroy Gardens 25th Anniversary time capsule) with mementos of 2025 that you can open up in 5, 10, or even 25 years from now.
Get creative with our downloadable coloring pages.
Make New Year’s resolutions as a family—and dream big for 2026!

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #4: Make a Magnificent Mess at Midnight

When the clock finally strikes 12:00, it’s time to celebrate!

Skip the store-bought supplies and make your own fun with DIY confetti poppers. These are a festive way to ring in the New Year and shower your family in sparkles and smiles.

All you need are some toilet paper tubes, balloons, duct tape, paint or markers, and some homemade “confetti” (such as paper hole punches, glitter, sequins or little pompoms).

Check out the Instagram reel from @melodyinthemaking to follow the simple steps.

(And don’t worry—you can leave the cleanup until the next day!)

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #5: Discover Science with a Spark

The New Year’s Eve Celebration at Gilroy Gardens concludes with a spectacular fireworks show at midnight over Coyote Lake. But if you can’t be here to “ooh” and “ahh” in person, you can still cap off your celebration at home with a fun, safe “fireworks” science experiment inspired by Science-Sparks.com.

Although this is a simple and safe science craft, be sure to get a grownup to help you. It’s a fun way to bring the sparkle indoors while learning how colors mix and rise.

Fireworks in a Glass

What You Need:

A tall glass jar
Warm water
Oil
Food coloring

What You Do:

Fill the jar about ¾ full of warm water and then add a layer of oil.
Carefully drop a few drops of food coloring into the oil.
Watch what happens. Experiment with mixing in different colors (just a few drops at a time).
Draw a picture of your “fireworks” show!

How It Works:

Oil and water do not mix! Because oil is less dense than water (meaning there is less of it in the same volume), it floats on top of water in a nice layer.

Most food coloring is water-based and therefore does not mix with oil. Instead, it sinks through the oil into the water below, leaving behind “trails” that look like fireworks streaking through the sky.

Thank You for 25 Years of Love, Learning and Laughter

As we get ready to welcome a brand-new year, we want to pause and sincerely thank every guest who visited Gilroy Gardens during this very special 25^th anniversary season.

Every Membership and ticket purchase makes a difference and directly supports our nonprofit educational mission. Your continued support helps us nurture a greater appreciation of horticulture and trees—so that future generations can experience the same beauty, wonder, and joy.

While Gilroy Gardens will be closed for the winter season after December 31, we look forward to reopening in March 2026 for more exciting adventures!

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10 Ways to Make the Holidays More Magical

Posted on September 11, 2025October 30, 2025 by marcos

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10 Ways to Make the Holidays More Magical

Ho ho ho! The holidays will be here soon—and your friends at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park have got some fun ways to make this special season even more magical!

Here’s our list of 10 ways to have some extra-magical fun this holiday season:

1. Visit North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens

(OK, we might be a little biased, but we do think our holiday celebration, North Pole Nights, deserves to be #1 on this list!)

During the holiday season (from November 28 through December 31), Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is transformed into the sparkly winter wonderland of the North Pole.

As you make your way around the park (oops, we mean around the North Pole), you get to enjoy all the fun rides all lit up at night—plus live musical shows, ice skating under the stars, festive food and drinks, magical light displays and much, much more! You can even visit Santa in his workshop and pick up fun treats along the Reindeer Roundup Trail.

Tell your grownups they can save $15 off North Pole Nights admission when they purchase tickets online at GilroyGardens.org. Or better yet, get Premium Memberships now for unlimited visits for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. Either way, hope to see you here very soon!

Little boy with a grey beanie putting a letter to Santa into a red mailbox

2. Write a Letter to Santa

Santa loves getting letters from boys and girls all over the world—so write to him yourself! You can include anything you like in your letter. You might tell Santa what you’re doing to get ready for Christmas and let him know what you’d love to see in your stocking or under the tree.

Feel free to ask questions too (like, what do reindeer really like to eat?). If you enjoy drawing or coloring, send Santa a special picture signed by you, the artist!

If you’re lucky enough to visit North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens, you can mail your letter straight from the North Pole Post Office to be sure it gets to him in time! And while you’re here, be sure to stop by Santa’s Workshop to see “the big guy” himself and get a photo to take home. Ho, ho, ho!

3. Make a Handprint Christmas Tree

Did you know that Gilroy Gardens has over 10,000 trees? If you love trees too, here’s a fun, festive Handprint Christmas Tree craft that’s easy to do at home. These make great gifts for your friends and family.

1. 1. First, get your materials ready. You’ll need a few sheets of different colored paper plus glue, scissors, and a pencil (and maybe a grownup to help).
  2. First, use the pencil to trace around your hand and all five of your fingers. Then repeat this three times and carefully cut out each hand. (Hint: You can use green paper—or make your tree any color you like!)
  3. Put two of the cut-out hands side-by-side so they overlap a bit, and use a little drop of glue to hold them in place.
  4. Then put the third cut-out hand on the top middle part of the two below, and glue in place.
  5. Then cut out a square or rectangle from brown or another color paper. Glue it in place underneath the hands to form the “trunk” of your tree.
  6. Now comes the fun part! Cut out small circles from different color paper to be the “ornaments.” You can even cut out a star if you’d like to have one at the very top of your tree. Use little dots of glue to attach your decorations to your tree.
  7. Be sure to sign your name on the back and the year.

We found this idea (and lots of other cool crafts) at: https://www.easy-crafts-for-kids.com/how-to-make-a-handprint-christmas-tree-craft.html

4. Bake Cookies for Santa

Poor Mrs. Claus. She keeps trying to bake cookies for Santa, but just hasn’t found the perfect recipe quite yet. Fortunately, we’ve found it for you!

These delicious Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies are soft, chewy, and full of yummy chocolate flavor. We suggest leaving a few out for Santa—and then enjoying the rest with your family and friends.

Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

Ingredients

▢ ¾ cup butter, softened

▢ ¾ cup brown sugar

▢ ¼ cup sugar

▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla

▢ 1 egg

▢ 2 cups flour

▢ 1 small (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix (dry powder, not prepared)

▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda

▢ ½ teaspoon salt

▢ 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

▢ 1 cup white chocolate chips

▢ 1 cup red and green M&M candies

Instructions

In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 1-2 minutes until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, and mix well.
In another bowl whisk together flour, vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until incorporated. Stir in most of the chocolate chips. (Reserve a few chocolate chips and all of the M&Ms for later.) Cover and chill for at least one hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Very lightly grease a baking sheet. Roll about 3 tablespoons of cookie dough into a ball (about the size of a golf ball) and place on prepared baking sheet.
Gently press remaining chocolate chips and the M&Ms into the cookie dough balls (this makes sure you can see the chips and the M&Ms after they bake!).
Bake for 9-12 minutes until cookies are set but still slightly underdone. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheet.

Transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

This recipe comes from lecremedelacrumb.com. (And there are many other tasty treats you can try here too!)

When you visit North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens, be sure to stop by Sugar Plum Farms to try some of our delicious holiday cookies and other sweet treats!

A family walking and smiling while going through a light tunnel

5. Find More Festive Fun in and Around Gilroy

Gilroy, California is a great place to get in the holiday spirit! If you’re planning to come to North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens (open select dates from Nov 28 through Dec 31), you might want to stay a while so you can shop and save on top brands at Gilroy Premium Outlets and find fun gifts from Gilroy and the Golden State at the California Welcome Center Gilroy. You can even join in a beloved town tradition at the Downtown Gilroy Holiday Festival & Parade on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Go to the VisitGilroy.com website to book a budget-friendly hotel room and plan your great Gilroy getaway!

Young girl in purple sweater and bow holding a yellow stuffed animal and girl in pink shirt holding a black and pink stuffed animal

6. Find Fun & Educational Gifts Under $20

Hey parents—check out these Amazon links for holiday gifts for kids that are fun, not too expensive, and educational!

(And if you enjoy fizzy drinks, be sure to come to North Pole Nights and stop by Merry & Mischief or the Live Tonight Bar, where you can find festive cocktails for grownups 21+ as well as “mocktails” for kids.)

7. Make Cranberries Dance

We love making learning fun—and this is a super-easy science experiment that you can do at home!

Dancing Cranberries Experiment

What You Need:
– Dried cranberries
– Sparkling water or any clear fizzy soda
– A clear glass or jar you can see through

Steps to Follow:
– First, fill the glass about 2/3 full with the fizzy soda water.
– Then, make a hypothesis. What do you think will happen when you drop the dried cranberries in? Do you think they will float? Do you think they will sink? Do you think they will explode??
– Add a small handful of cranberries to the water. Then observe what happens.
– Do you see them bouncing up and down? They’re dancing! Why do you think that’s happening?

This holiday science experiment was inspired by Lessons 4 Little Ones. Check it out for more details—and more STEM-inspired projects that you and your family can do together!

8. Go to a Holiday Show

The holidays are a great time to go see a live show or concert, whether it’s at your local school, church, or community theater. Ask your grownups to check the local listings and see what’s playing near you!

Of course, we’re kind of partial to our very own musical show called The Magic of Santa, which plays several times each evening in our Lakeside Amphitheater during North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens.

During this show, you don’t have to sit still or be quiet. In fact, you’ll get to sing and dance along with new friends like Rudy the Polar Bear, Tinsel the Tree, Skitter the Mouse, and a band of Santa’s reindeer. Help everyone find their wish for Santa—and then watch as Santa makes their dreams come true with a sprinkle of Christmas magic! The show is included with regular park admission.

9. Look at Christmas Lights

One of our favorite holiday traditions is seeing houses all decorated with bright, colorful holiday lights. Some evening after it gets dark, ask your grownups to go for a walk or car ride through your neighborhood and decide which ones you think have the very best displays.

During North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens, we have hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and sparkling displays throughout our winter wonderland. There’s even the 100-foot long North Pole Light Tunnel, with music that plays as you walk through! You’ll also have fun going on all your favorite rides, including the Illions Supreme Carousel and the Panoramic Wheel, when they’re all lit up at night.

10. Help Make Someone Else’s Wishes Come True

In The Magic of Santa (see #8 above), Skitter the Mouse learns that the real magic of Christmas comes from helping make other people’s wishes come true. Try it for yourself! Think about ways that you can do something nice to surprise some of the people in your family, or your friends, or maybe your teacher, coach, or neighbor next door.

There’s no limit to the nice things you can do! Maybe write them a little note, draw a picture, sing a song, or offer to help with a chore. Fresh-baked cookies are always a good choice (see #4 above), but sometimes even something as simple as a short visit or phone call to say hello can be just as special.

The best thing is, when you help make someone else happy, that makes YOU happy too—and that’s the real magic of the holiday season!

About North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens

The holiday magic is back! From November 28 through December 31, immerse yourself in the enchanting world of North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens. This extraordinary holiday experience includes jolly characters, fun live shows, ice skating under the stars, festive food and drinks, Santa’s Workshop, magical light displays—and much, much more!

Either a single-day admission ticket or valid Premium Membership is required for admission to North Pole Nights. Save $15 on single-day admission when you buy online in advance at GilroyGardens.org.

The BOO Crew Loves Halloween!

Posted on August 13, 2025October 30, 2025 by marcos

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The BOO Crew Loves Halloween!

Do you love Halloween? All the friendly characters here in BOO Alley do too—well, except for Wendella the Witch of course. But with your help, we can break Wendella’s curse and make it a happy Halloween for everyone!

The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens is the immersive family-friendly Halloween celebration that returns to Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 26 through November 2, 2025. It’s the Bay Area’s best Halloween celebration—with live musical entertainment, themed rides, and tricks and treats for the whole family.

To get everyone excited for Halloween and ready to “Do the BOO,” we’ve asked some of our BOO Alley ambassadors to share the things they love most about Halloween.

A Fun Popcorn Craft from Wolfgang Werewolf

Wolfgang Werewolf loves rock-and-roll, of course—but also popcorn!

Here’s a fun, easy and tasty Halloween popcorn craft you can make—and eat!—at home. And if you want, you could even bring one to share with Wolfgang when you visit! (He’s likely to howl with delight if you do.)

POPCORN BOO BAGS

What You’ll Need:

Popcorn (or any other tasty treats)
Clear plastic treat bags with twist-ties
Black permanent marker

How to Make Them:

Ask a grownup to help you pop your favorite kind of popcorn.
While it’s popping, use the black marker to draw a spooky or silly face on the bottom half of the bag.
Scoop a couple of handfuls of popcorn into the bag.
Twist the top of the bag and tie with a ribbon.

[Wolfgang was inspired by these treat bags at 100 Directions]

Vinnie the Vampire’s Best Ways to Stay Safe in the Dark

Trick-or-treating on Halloween night (or ANY night during The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens) is lots of fun—but it’s also important to stay safe in the dark. Even though Vinnie is a vampire, he’s actually a little scared of the dark. So here are some of his favorite ways to safely have fun after the sun goes down:

Carry a flashlight, just like Vinnie does while riding on the BOO Train.
Wear glow-stick necklaces and bracelets. Maybe even think of ways to make them part of your costume—such as a glowing tiara, a neon belt, or a light-up sword.
Go trick-or-treating with a group of friends, and stay together at all times.
Hold a grownup’s hand whenever you’re crossing the street.
Stay on sidewalks and only walk in well-lit areas.

Pumpkin Fingerprint Art from Sammy Jo Scarecrow

Sammy Jo the Scarecrow loves pumpkins—especially the giant Pumpkin Pyramid in Downtown BOO Alley. Be sure to stop by Sammy Jo’s Pumpkin Patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin to take home.

Instead of carving your pumpkin, you might want to use your fingers and some Tulip Soft Brush-on Fabric Paint to create cool designs like these.

With a grownup’s help, you can dip your fingers in black paint to make spiders or white paint to make ghosts. Once those have dried, go back and add in details like legs, eyes and mouths. You can even brush orange, yellow and white stripes on your fingers to create fun “candy corn” fingerprints! Once all the paint has dried, add some colorful bows to put on the finishing touch.

[For more detailed instructions, watch the how-to video at Creative Living with Lynn and Lilly.]

Halloween Costume Ideas from Princess Priscilla

Princess Priscilla loves to dress up—which is not too surprising, considering she’s a princess and all. So picking out a new Halloween costume is one of her favorite things to do for Halloween!

If you’re stuck for costume ideas this year, here are some cool, cute and clever costumes for kids that she thinks you’ll love and are easy to order from Amazon:

Light-Up Princess Dress

Construction Worker Costume

Fire Chief Costume

Unicorn Tutu Dress

Doctor Costume

Medieval Knight Costume

Hawaiian Dress with Lei

Baby Bat Costume

Baby Ghost Costume

Baby Black Cat Costume

Cranium’s Candy Color-Mixing Potions

Cranium the Mad Scientist loves experimenting in his laboratory and mixing up different potions. When you visit The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens, you can even sample some of his creations (both mocktails and cocktails) at Cranium’s Mad Lab.

Did you know that you can make your own “potions” using some of your leftover Halloween candy?

Here’s all you need:

A few small glass cups or bowls
Water
Colorful candy (such as Skittles, Gummy Bears, Nerds, Smarties, etc.)

The name of the game here is just to try different things and have fun! Fill up a bowl with clear water and then drop in one or two pieces of candy. What do you think will happen? What do you actually observe?

Does the water change color? Does the candy stay together (intact) in the bowl, or does it start to break apart (dissolve)? How long does that take? Are some candies different than others? What if you mix together two different kinds of candy? Or maybe even three? If a grownup says it’s OK, you can even take a sip of your “potion” to see what it tastes like (all in the name of science, of course)!

This fun idea came from housingaforest.com, where you can find even more ideas for kid-friendly experiments and crafts.

A Pumpkin Roll Recipe from Wendella the Witch

Wendella may hate Halloween, but she LOVES this tasty Pumpkin Roll—and she thinks you will too! This one will require some help from a grownup in your house. It’s a sweet treat that’s fun to share with friends and family!

Items Needed:

PAM cooking spray
Parchment paper
Jelly roll pan
Cheesecloth or thin cotton towel

Cake Ingredients:

1 box of Spice Cake mix
3 Eggs
⅔ cup Pumpkin (canned or fresh)
¾ cup Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
5 tsp Cinnamon

Filling Ingredients:

1 8-ounce container of Cream Cheese
1½ cups Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
¼ cup Butter

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°.
Coat jelly roll pan with PAM. Cover with parchment paper and spray again with PAM.
Mix cake ingredients and then spread over parchment paper. Bake 15 minutes at 350°F.
Sprinkle cheesecloth generously on both sides with powdered sugar. Invert jelly roll pan with cake onto towel and roll tightly. Yes, you want the towel between the rolls!
Refrigerate 20 minutes to cool.between the rolls!
Unroll cake. Spread with filling mix and re-roll (minus the towel this time!). Refrigerate several hours or overnight. This roll may be frozen, if desired. Just defrost before serving.
Slice and eat!

Arch circus tree in front of Claudia's Garden sign

Stay and Play for More than Just One Day

If you’re traveling to Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park from out of town, book a hotel room here and then check out the VisitGilroy.com website to plan your trip—and learn more about other fun Halloween events and activities you can do while you’re in town!

Let’s Learn About Cherries!

Posted on June 26, 2025July 7, 2025 by marcos

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Let’s Learn About Cherries!

The Gilroy Gardens Cherry Jubilee is a fruit-filled celebration of the local cherry harvest that will be returning to Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Summer 2026.

In the meantime, here are 10 fun facts about cherries:

1. Cherries have been grown in Gilroy even longer than garlic.

Sure, Gilroy is known as the “Garlic Capital of the World.” But cherries have actually been growing here even longer than garlic—for over 110 years, in fact! Gilroy is part of the Santa Clara Valley, which used to be known as the “Valley of the Heart’s Delight” because it was filled with beautiful flowering fruit orchards (including cherries, apricots, pears, and prunes) as far as the eye could see.

Casa de Fruta store with people shopping

2. There are still a lot of cherries grown in Gilroy.

Although you’ll find more houses than farms these days, there are still an estimated 1,000 acres of cherry trees growing in and around Gilroy—and that makes for a lot of cherries to harvest!

To enjoy them fresh off the farm, visit one of Gilroy’s many fruit stands like Ralph’s Cherry Hut, the Very Merry Cherry Stand, The Cherry Shack, or LJB Farms. And don’t forget Casa de Fruta, the grand orchard resort that started out as a simple roadside cherry stand and now includes a restaurant, a candy shop, a merry-go-round, cool log cabins you can stay in, and even the Casa de Choo Choo train.

3. Farmers really have tried using monkeys to harvest their fruit!

The Cherry Jubilee character of Nannerz the mischievous monkey is based on real-life monkeys who, according to local legend, were hired by a farmer who was looking for a cheaper way to pick his crops. (This was long before machines had been invented to help make harvesting easier.)

This farmer had heard about monkeys being trained to pick coconuts in tropical areas, so he imported 500 monkeys from Panama and let them scamper about his orchard. They did indeed pick all the juicy fruit—but promptly ate up his entire harvest!

Young lady in a white sweatshirt and toddler in pink sweatshirt eating funnel cake with cherries

4. Cherries can be sweet or tart—or somewhere in between.

Cherries are grouped into sweet cherries and tart cherries. Most of the cherries grown in California are sweet cherries, like Bing, and are perfect for eating fresh off the tree. Tart cherries are mostly grown in Michigan and Wisconsin. They’re a bit sour when eaten fresh, but hold their shape nicely when canned or baked into pies.

There are dozens of cherry varieties, each with its own unique color, shape and flavor. Be sure to stop by the “Which Cherry Are You?” exhibit at the Cherry Jubilee to see which one best matches your own unique personality!

Woman with pink flowers in her hair kissing a red cherry

5. Cherries that are grown in California are enjoyed by people all over the world.

Cherries grown in California are shipped throughout the United States and even to other nations, including Canada, China, and Japan. To ship that far, cherries have to be harvested very carefully, then “hydrocooled” quickly using cold water. Then they’re packed into refrigerated shipping containers that keep them fresh for about two weeks.

6. You can get thousands of cherries from just one tree.

Did you know that a single mature cherry tree can produce up to 7,000 cherries in a single season? That’s about 100 pounds of cherries—which is enough to make at least 65 delicious cherry pies. Yum!

Cherries falling while a machine shaking a cherry tree

7. Many farmers today use machines to pick their cherries.

That farmer who once tried using monkeys would be amazed to know that today, a tree-shaking machine can harvest an entire cherry tree in just 7 seconds! The machine is designed to grip the trunk or branches, then shake just the right amount to knock off the ripe fruit so it falls below. Some shakers even have conveyor belts to move the collected produce to a truck or bin.

Painting of a family harvesting cherries in large baskets

8. Cherries got their start long, long ago and far, far away.

The sweet cherry originally grew somewhere in Asia and was probably carried to Europe by birds. The Greeks were the first to plant cherry trees; later, the Romans planted them along roadsides and used the trees for both wood and fruit.

Sweet cherries came to the U.S. with English colonists in the 1600s, and later were introduced to California by Spanish missionaries. In the 1800s, pioneers and fur traders brought sweet cherries westward to Washington, Oregon, and California.

Cherry, plum, nectarine, peach and apricot on a wooden table

9. Cherries have some interesting relatives.

You might not be too surprised to know that cherries are distant cousins to other tasty fruits like plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Those are all known as “stone fruits” because they have a sweet, juicy flesh that grows around a hard, inedible pit. But did you know that all those stone fruits are also part of the same family as roses?

Young woman in a white sleeveless shirt holding a cherry plushie while smiling

10. Cherries are good for you!

It’s amazing to think that something so sweet and delicious as a cherry can be healthy too. In fact, fresh cherries are packed with good-for-you fiber, vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy and strong. Some cherries (especially tart varieties) may even help you sleep better at night.

So help yourself to a handful of juicy red cherries today—and enjoy sweet dreams of all the fun you’ll have during the Gilroy Gardens Cherry Jubilee! Check back in spring for more details about our 2026 event.

Start the Fun NOW!

Get 2026 Premium Memberships for Unlimited Visits through 2026

The Fun ReturnsMarch 2026!

Gilroy Gardens reopens for the year on March 28, 2026

The Fun ReturnsMarch 2026!

Gilroy Gardens reopens for the year on March 28, 2026

Join us for Natural Science Days!

2026 Registration Now Open • Select Fridays in May

The Fun ReturnsMarch 2026!

Gilroy Gardens reopens for the year on March 28, 2026

Presidents' Day Sale

Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 1: ABCD

B is for Banana Split

C is for Circus Trees

D is for Dinosaur

Science is in Full Bloom!

Explore Our Natural Science Day Learning Stations

Learning Station #1: Create a Food Chain

Try This at Home: Food Chain Mobile Craft

Steps:

Learning Station #2: Plant Parts

Try This at Home: “Drink Up!” Celery Experiment

Steps

Learning Station #3: You Rock!

Keep the Learning Growing

Goodbye 2025—and Hello 2026!

Our 25th Anniversary Year in Review

Counting Down to 2026

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #1: Prepare Some Tasty Treats

Instructions

Notes

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #2: Get Your Groove On

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #3: Make Every Minute Count

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #4: Make a Magnificent Mess at Midnight

Fun Family New Year’s Eve Tip #5: Discover Science with a Spark

Fireworks in a Glass

Thank You for 25 Years of Love, Learning and Laughter

10 Ways to Make the Holidays More Magical

1. Visit North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens

2. Write a Letter to Santa

3. Make a Handprint Christmas Tree

4. Bake Cookies for Santa

Instructions

5. Find More Festive Fun in and Around Gilroy

6. Find Fun & Educational Gifts Under $20

7. Make Cranberries Dance

8. Go to a Holiday Show

9. Look at Christmas Lights

10. Help Make Someone Else’s Wishes Come True

About North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens

The BOO Crew Loves Halloween!

A Fun Popcorn Craft from Wolfgang Werewolf

Vinnie the Vampire’s Best Ways to Stay Safe in the Dark

Pumpkin Fingerprint Art from Sammy Jo Scarecrow

Halloween Costume Ideas from Princess Priscilla

Cranium’s Candy Color-Mixing Potions

A Pumpkin Roll Recipe from Wendella the Witch

Items Needed:

Cake Ingredients:

Filling Ingredients:

Stay and Play for More than Just One Day

Let’s Learn About Cherries!

1. Cherries have been grown in Gilroy even longer than garlic.

2. There are still a lot of cherries grown in Gilroy.

3. Farmers really have tried using monkeys to harvest their fruit!

4. Cherries can be sweet or tart—or somewhere in between.

5. Cherries that are grown in California are enjoyed by people all over the world.

6. You can get thousands of cherries from just one tree.

7. Many farmers today use machines to pick their cherries.

8. Cherries got their start long, long ago and far, far away.

9. Cherries have some interesting relatives.

10. Cherries are good for you!

Get 2026 Premium Memberships
for Unlimited Visits through 2026

The Fun Returns
March 2026!

Gilroy Gardens reopens
for the year on March 28, 2026

The Fun Returns
March 2026!

Gilroy Gardens reopens
for the year on March 28, 2026

The Fun Returns
March 2026!

Gilroy Gardens reopens
for the year on March 28, 2026

Presidents'
Day Sale

Learning Station #1:
Create a Food Chain