Six Flags Great America to mark 50th anniversary with a summer-long party

Since opening as Marriott’s Great America in 1976, millions of visitors over generations have seen the theme park in Gurnee evolve and expand.

Known for most of its existence as Six Flags Great America, the 300-acre park has become renowned for heart-thumping roller coasters and many other attractions. To mark its 50th anniversary, the park is throwing a summer-long party.

The special celebration, from June 20 through Aug. 9, will feature new entertainment, limited-time offerings and guest appearances.

Anniversary-themed décor will be in place throughout the park, including special touches honoring original attractions and nostalgia-themed photo opportunities inspired by eras of Great America’s history.

“This anniversary season is designed to honor our history while offering new ways for guests to experience the park they’ve loved for decades,” park manager Hardeep Lall said in announcing the festivities.

Among the highlights:

• Nighttime spectacular: An all new nighttime entertainment experience featuring a high-energy stage show and parade with new floats. Drone shows will illuminate the sky Friday through Sunday nights.

• Legacy museum: Historical artifacts, archived photos, retired signage, memorabilia from employees and fans, and displays celebrating key moments from every decade.

• Anniversary brick program: Personalized bricks available for purchase to be installed along the Great America Legacy Path in Carousel Plaza. Designs offer nods to favorite attractions, family traditions and more.

• Exclusive merchandise: Limited edition anniversary merchandise available only at Emporium, a retail location exclusively for the 50th anniversary celebration including apparel, collectibles, souvenirs and nostalgic throwbacks.

• Return of the ice cream parlor: A reimagined original feature returns in Hometown Square.

• Entertainment through the decades: Blend of music, costumes, and performances inspired by the 1970s through today.

• Specialty food and beverages: Variety of nostalgic food and beverages, including classic root beer, limited-time treats and savory dishes.

Acquired by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in 1984, the self-described “Thrill Capital of the Midwest” is bigger and faster than the early days and has become a tourism driver for Lake County.

The current lineup features 17 roller coasters, including the 180-foot-tall Wrath of Rakshasa, which opened last year as the steepest and most-inverted dive coaster in the world.

However, there is room for nostalgia as the double-decker Columbia Carousel, original to the park, still stands inside the park entrance.

Six Flags Great America opens for the season April 25.