Disney is continuing its Happiest Celebration on Earth through the end of this year at all of its theme parks in honor of Disneyland's 50th anniversary. On a much smaller scale, Six Flags will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of its original park, Six Flags Over Texas, with chain-wide events throughout the 2006 season. Among the biggest and boldest of the events slated to mark the occasion, Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey is giving away 45,000 tickets for its opening weekend, March 31 to April 2, to the first 45,000 people who request them online at Six Flags' contest page. (Actually, I guess it will be the first 22,500 people, since each winner will receive two tickets.) The contest begins today (Wednesday, March 15) and concludes when all the tickets have been awarded, so get clicking if you want in on the freebies. As part of the contest, Six Flags is also asking entrants to submit photos and stories about past visits to Great Adventure (although submissions are optional and will not affect ticket eligibility). In part, the massive ticket giveaway may be a way to generate some excitement for the New Jersey park's opening weekend, since it appears that this season's new featured attraction, the El Toro wood coaster, will not be ready in time. Last year's marquee ride, the record-breaking Kingda Ka rocket coaster, malfunctioned soon after it opened and was down for most of the season, but should be up and running when Six Flags Great Adventure opens for 2006 on Friday, March 31.
Six Flags Parks 2006 Ride Guide