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CONTACT: Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park PR Team

Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park offers a variety of special events and entertainment that families can enjoy together during our 2005 season. Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park allows guests of all ages to learn and appreciate the beauty of horticulture in a family theme park setting. All events are FREE with park admission unless otherwise noted.

Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park Opens for 2005 Season – Friday, March 25
Bonfante Gardens, California’s only horticultural theme park, opens for its 5th season on Friday, March 25 and includes more than 40 rides and attractions, stunning gardens and the intriguing Circus Trees. This year, Bonfante Gardens will add Bonfante’s Splash Garden™, an interactive water playground with five water play stations giving children of all ages a fun-filled day of splishing, splashing and learning. The new Splash Garden will open in June 2005. Attractions are designed to educate guests about the importance of horticulture in society. The park is located in Gilroy, Calif. Take Hwy. 101 to Hwy. 152 (West) and follow signs. General admission pricing is $34.99 for adults (ages 7-64), $24.99 for children (ages 3-6) and $24.99 for seniors (ages 65+). Discount tickets and additional information are available online at www.bonfantegardens.org.

Easter Egg Hunt in the Gardens – March 27
Friends and families can spend Easter Sunday at Bonfante Gardens for a breathtaking day in the vibrant gardens. Children ages 12 and under will make their way through the park, stopping at each of the nine Circus Trees to receive a special holiday treat. The event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm. and is free with park admission. For more information, visit www.bonfantegardens.org or call 408-840-7100.

Spring Break at Bonfante Gardens – March 30 – April 3
Spend Spring Break enjoying 19 rides and 22 attractions, geared toward families with young children and garden lovers. Rides include a restored 1927 Illions Carousel, the Quicksilver Express, a thrilling mine train coaster and a monorail that travels through the beautiful Monarch Garden greenhouse where exotic plant life, waterfalls, and greenery flourish. Bonfante Gardens brings to life the essence of California agriculture in the mid-20th Century with wholesome family entertainment. In addition to rides, Bonfante Gardens is a horticultural wonderland of uniquely manicured trees, plants and flowers. The park is located in Gilroy, Calif. Take Hwy. 101 to Hwy. 152 (West) and follow signs. General admission pricing is $34.99 for adults (ages 7-64), $24.99 for children (ages 3-6) and $24.99 for seniors (ages 65+). Discount tickets and additional information are available online at www.bonfantegardens.org.

Labor Day Weekend at Bonfante Gardens – September 4-6
Make this a Labor Day weekend the whole family will remember! Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Purchase discount admission tickets online at www.bonfantegardens.org or at participating Raley’s and Nob Hill locations.

Red Hat Society Day – April 23
Red Hat Society members and their families can enjoy a fun filled day at the park including special docent-lead tours of the gardens, an all-you-can-eat picnic lunch in the shaded Events Plaza and afternoon tea overlooking the lake. Special discounts are offered for this program. For registration materials and information, please call (408) 986-5862.

Girl Scout Camp Night – April 30, May 13 and June 23
Calling all Girl Scout campers! Experience camping in a unique environment -- a family theme park! Guests stay in the beautiful Bonfante Garden Grove, and camping facilities include; maintained restrooms, covered picnic area, well-lit walkways, and close parking. All guests will receive a catered lunch and dinner, a special garden tour, educational packets with horticulture-related material and complimentary admission to the park the next day. Each participant also receives a Bonfante Gardens patch! One-night camping is available for $40 per person. For information about booking a group or to request additional dates, please call 408-986-5862.

American Camp Association’s Camp Preview Day – April 30
Bonfante Gardens hosts the American Camp Association’s Camp Preview Day, where parents and their children can learn about summer camp options. Camps from all over Northern California will be available to answer questions and will provide special entertainment showcasing camp activities, games and songs. Children are encouraged to wear their summer camp tee shirts. For more information, visit www.bonfantegardens.org or call 408-840-7100.

Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk – May 7
Bonfante Gardens partners with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the second annual Great Strides Walk inside the theme park. Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. By participating in this walk, guests will help in the efforts of finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Participants receive a continental breakfast and complimentary admission to Bonfante Gardens valid the day of the walk. For more information on how to participate, visit www.cff.org/great_strides or call 408-723-3525.

Boy Scout Camp Night – May 14 and June 16
Calling all Boy Scout campers! Experience camping in a unique environment -- a family theme park! Guests stay in the beautiful Bonfante Garden Grove, and camping facilities include: maintained restrooms, covered picnic area, well-lighted walkways, and close parking. All guests will receive a catered lunch and dinner, a special garden tour, educational packets with horticulture related material and complimentary admission to the park the next day. Each participant also receives a Bonfante gardens patch! One-night camping is available for $40 per person. For more information to book a group or to request additional dates, please call 408-986-5862.

Home, Garden and Culinary Show – May 21-22
Northern California’s most beautiful Home, Garden and Culinary show returns to Bonfante Gardens on May 21 and 22 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Get tips on home decorating and gardening, attend informative gardening workshops throughout the day and shop for gardening and repair supplies and interior-decorating products. This year’s featured guest speaker is Lee Snijders from Home and Garden Television’s Design on a Dime. Snijders will be giving two 45-minute talks about "Breaking the rules of design" with meet-and-greet opportunities after his presentations. For more information please call 408-682-4700 or visit http://www.svshows.com.

Natural Sciences Days – June 9 & 10
Kindergarten through sixth grade students can learn more about nature firsthand during Natural Sciences Days. Students learn the importance of trees, the environment, water preservation, the life cycle of plants, local history and agriculture while enjoying the appeal and excitement of a traditional family theme park. Educator-designed support materials are provided with each ticket order. For more information or to book your group, please call 408-986-5862.

Reek Run – June 25
Bonfante Gardens is teaming up with Theater Angels Art League for a 5k and 10k race and walk to benefit the planned Arts Center in Gilroy. The course leads participants through the park and into the woods surrounding the park. Participants will receive complimentary admission to Bonfante Gardens valid on the day of the run. For more information, email theaterangels@yahoo.com or visit www.bonfantegardens.org.

All events and dates are subject to change without notice.

Bonfante Gardens is managed 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.