Santa Clarita, Calif. – Six Flags Magic Mountain, the “Thrill Capital of the World,” lights up the season even brighter this year during its annual holiday extravaganza, Holiday in the Park. With more than two million lights and uniquely themed areas, the park transforms into a spectacularly lit winter wonderland for guests to enjoy this holiday season. The magic of the season takes over at 5:00pm.
Valencia, Calif. – Join the City of Santa Clarita for the 3rd annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Cube – Ice and Entertainment Center, Powered by FivePoint | Valencia on Friday, December 1, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Santa Clarita City Council along with Los Angeles Kings announcer Daryl Evans, will lead the community in a countdown as they flip the switch illuminating the stunning Christmas tree located directly on the ice!
This year, the event will feature holiday performances by local ice skaters who will be showcased in the upcoming Holiday Skate Show titled, “The Nightmare Before Christmas at The Cube.” Directly after the event, attendees are invited to join us for the public skate session from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. where they will have the opportunity to take photos with the Kings Crew and LA Kings mascot Bailey, as well as Santa Clarita’s own beloved mascot, Sammy Clarita. Children will also have the chance to get in the holiday spirit by sledding down a real snow hill right next to the Christmas tree. Sleds will be provided.
Attendees can enjoy hot chocolate and snacks from The Grille or they can visit The Top Shelf for a variety of holiday drinks on the second floor. We also invite the community to join us as we cheer on the UCLA Bruins as they face off against the University of California, Berkeley at 8:15 p.m., on the NHL Rink. Attendees are encouraged to bring teddy bears or other stuffed toys for a teddy bear toss, which will take place after the first UCLA goal. All of the teddy bears tossed onto the ice will be donated to a local non-profit.
Newhall, Calif. – It was a beautiful sight as Old Town Newhall light up amid a bustling of excitement and cheer on Saturday. The brightly colored festive lights showcased Newhall’s storied streets along Old Town’s Western Walk of Stars, shops and restaurants, along with the Theatre District that brings the community of Santa Clarita together for gatherings and entertainment. The lights will keep on shining throughout the holiday months of November and December.
Newhall, Calif. – When you think of the holiday season, do you imagine yourself in a Winter Wonderland? A pile of snow? Taking pictures with Santa? If so, then you’re in luck! The City of Santa Clarita is thrilled to welcome the community to Light Up Main Street presented by Drink PAK in Old Town Newhall on Saturday, November 18, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Attendees will enjoy holiday festivities with family, friends and neighbors during an evening out on Main Street in the City’s premiere Arts and Entertainment District.
Join the Santa Clarita City Council in front of the Santa Clarita Public Library Old Town Newhall Branch as they flip the switch and illuminate a giant Christmas tree, as well as thousands of lights along Main Street at 6:00 p.m. Following the tree lighting, make sure to stop at Veterans Historical Plaza, located at 24275 N. Walnut Street, to experience another special tree paying homage to our Veterans and active duty military.
Throughout the event, attendees can enjoy live music from various acts on the Main Stage (Main Street and Lyons Avenue) or relish the sounds and visual appeal of local performance groups on the Community Stage, which can be found between Market Street and 6th Street, in front of The MAIN.
There is sure to be an activity to delight everyone in your group. Don’t miss the Snow Zone, presented by Snow Orthodontics, live ice sculpting, presented by Re/MAX, Letters to Santa, presented by Henry Rodriguez State Farm, the Candy Cane Carnival, presented by TriStar Home Loans and SCVMVP and a Grinch-tacular Whoville Celebration, presented by Elevate Church.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with Santa Claus, jump, slide and play in the Polar Playground and create festive crafts. Be sure to stop by the Maker’s Marketplace or shop at local businesses to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts from local artisans. For those guests who are sensory sensitive, take a break at the Chill Zone, in partnership with Include Everyone Project. Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Logix Federal Credit Union will also be in attendance to help celebrate the holiday season.
If food and drink are the reason you attend, then prepare your taste buds for sweet and savory delights from food trucks located on Lyons Avenue and Main Street, between Market and 6th Street. In addition, consider supporting new and favorite local restaurants and drinking establishments that will be serving up their holiday best.
Residents are asked to be mindful of road closures that will be in effect for Light Up Main Street. Lyons Avenue will be closed between Walnut Street and Railroad Avenue and Main Street will be closed between Lyons Avenue and the roundabout. Residents are asked to use Railroad Avenue or Newhall Avenue as a detour. Closures on Main Street and Lyons Avenue will begin at 6:00 a.m. on November 18. All closures will be lifted by midnight.
Free public parking is available at the parking structure on 9th Street between Main Street and Railroad Avenue, the Newhall Community Center (22421 Market Street) and the lot at the corner of 6th Street and Main Street. Street parking is also available, but please be mindful of parking signs and blocking driveways of local residents. To find more information about Light Up Main Street, please visit OldTownNewhall.com.
SANDUSKY, Ohio & ARLINGTON, Texas – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Cedar Fair (NYSE: FUN) and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine in a merger of equals transaction. The combined company, with a pro forma enterprise value of approximately $8 billion based on both companies’ debt and equity values as of October 31, 2023, will be a leading amusement park operator in the highly competitive leisure space with an expanded and diversified footprint, a more robust operating model and a strong revenue and cash flow generation profile.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Cedar Fair unitholders will receive one share of common stock in the new combined company for each unit owned, and Six Flags shareholders will receive 0.5800 (the “Six Flags Exchange Ratio”) shares of common stock in the new combined company for each share owned. Following the close of the transaction, Cedar Fair unitholders will own approximately 51.2%, and Six Flags shareholders will own approximately 48.8%, of the combined company’s fully diluted share capital on a pro forma basis. One business day prior to the close of the transaction, Six Flags will declare a special cash dividend composed of: (i) a fixed amount of $1.00 per outstanding Six Flags share, totaling approximately $85 million in the aggregate, plus, (ii) an amount per outstanding Six Flags share equal to (a) the aggregate per unit distributions declared or paid by Cedar Fair to unitholders with a record date following today’s date and prior to the close of the transaction, multiplied by (b) the Six Flags Exchange Ratio, which special dividend will be payable to Six Flags shareholders of record as of one business day prior to the close of the transaction, contingent on the closing of the transaction.
“The combination of Six Flags and Cedar Fair will redefine our guests’ amusement park experience as we combine the best of both companies,” said Selim Bassoul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags. “Six Flags and Cedar Fair share a strong cultural alignment, operating philosophy, and steadfast commitment to providing consumers with thrilling experiences.”
“Our merger with Six Flags will bring together two of North America’s iconic amusement park companies to establish a highly diversified footprint and a more robust operating model to enhance park offerings and performance,” said Richard Zimmerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cedar Fair. “Together, we will have an expanded and complementary portfolio of attractive assets and intellectual property to deliver engaging entertainment experiences for guests. The combination also creates an enhanced financial profile with strong cash flow generation to accelerate investments in our parks to delight our guests, driving increased levels of demand and in-park value and spending. I have great respect for the Six Flags team and look forward to joining forces as we embark on this next chapter together.”
“Our merger with Six Flags will bring together two of North America’s iconic amusement park companies to establish a highly diversified footprint and a more robust operating model to enhance park offerings and performance,” said Richard Zimmerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cedar Fair.
“The combination of Six Flags and Cedar Fair will redefine our guests’ amusement park experience as we combine the best of both companies,” added Selim Bassoul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags. “Six Flags and Cedar Fair share a strong cultural alignment, operating philosophy, and steadfast commitment to providing consumers with thrilling experiences. By combining our operational models and technology platforms, we expect to accelerate our transformation activities and unlock new potential for our parks. We are excited to unite the Cedar Fair and Six Flags teams to capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities and operational efficiencies of our combined platform for the benefit of our guests, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders.”
Compelling Strategic and Financial Benefits
Leadership, Corporate Governance and Headquarters
The combined company will be led by a proven management team that reflects the strengths and capabilities of both organizations. Upon closing of the transaction, Richard Zimmerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cedar Fair, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Selim Bassoul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags, will serve as Executive Chairman of the combined company’s Board of Directors. Brian Witherow, Chief Financial Officer of Cedar Fair, will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the combined company and Gary Mick, CFO of Six Flags, will serve as Chief Integration Officer of the combined company.
Following closing of the transaction, the newly formed Board of Directors of the combined company will consist of 12 directors, six from the Cedar Fair Board and six from the Six Flags Board.
Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will operate under the name Six Flags and trade under the ticker symbol FUN on the NYSE and will be structured as a C Corporation. The combined company will be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will maintain significant finance and administrative operations in Sandusky, Ohio.
Approvals and Closing
The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024, following receipt of Six Flags shareholder approval, regulatory approvals, and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Approval by Cedar Fair unitholders is not required. Six Flags’ largest shareholder, which owns approximately 13.6% of Six Flags’ shares outstanding, has signed a voting and support agreement to vote in favor of the transaction. The transaction is not expected to trigger any change of control provision under Cedar Fair’s and Six Flags’ respective outstanding Notes. The companies expect to refinance their respective revolving credit facilities, and Six Flags expects to refinance the Six Flags Term Loan, ahead of transaction close.
Santa Clarita, CA – Completely redesigned and built in-house by the Information Services division, the City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce a brand-new website under the domain of SantaClarita.gov. The new website will launch on Monday, September 25.
The homepage of SantaClarita.gov has gone through a complete makeover, with a modern and easy-to-navigate, dashboard-style look and feel. Throughout the process of building the website, the City asked residents what they would like to be most accessible on the homepage. Utilities such as press releases, departments, services and signing up for Seasons classes are in plain sight and simple to locate.
SantaClarita.gov was designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Since most people browse and get their news on their cell phones, the site was built to be a “mobile-first” website, so it looks and runs smoothly on mobile devices and is just as easy to navigate as it would be on a computer.
Another popular feature is the integration of Artificial Intelligence in the chatbot Ask Sammy, where the City’s mascot, Sammy Clarita, goes digital in order to help residents find what they need. Ask Sammy will be there throughout your time on the website, equipped with the capability to search the entire site, whether it is information on reporting a pothole or any other assistance you may require. Ask Sammy is also available to interact via text messaging by texting +1 (844) 90-SAMMY. Message and data rates may apply.
With a .gov domain, residents can rest assured knowing they are navigating a secure website. Only the organization itself can own their .gov domain., so content is verified as coming directly from the City.
For more information about the City’s brand-new website redesign, visit SantaClarita.gov to navigate it and experience all of its features. There is also a suggestion box at the footer of the website to submit inquiries and requests. Being a City-built and operated government website, SantaClarita.gov will grow and evolve in line with our community. This season – fall in love with SantaClarita.gov.
Santa Clarita, CA – Cultural events, local history, incredible art, engaging programs for children – what would you like to see in a possible Santa Clarita Museum and Cultural Center? The City of Santa Clarita is exploring the possibility of developing a Museum and Cultural Center to showcase our community’s rich history, cultural heritage and celebrate the diversity of our City.
To kick off the planning process, the City is asking for your input. Santa Clarita has teamed up with a museum planning consultant to develop an outlook for what sorts of services and experiences the new Museum and Cultural Center should offer and what amenities visitors would like to experience.
“The City of Santa Clarita has long celebrated arts, culture and opportunities for lifelong learning,” said Mayor Jason Gibbs. “Our community has a rich history that should be experienced and diverse cultures that should be celebrated. We look forward to hearing from our residents about what they would like to see in a Santa Clarita Museum and Cultural Center.”
The Museum would offer displays focused on regional history and art, and work in tandem with the Cultural Center to serve as a hub for cultural events, presentations and organizations. The project is currently in the preliminary planning phase and a location has yet to be selected.
Residents are encouraged to take the survey by visiting SantaClaritaArts.com. All information will remain confidential and it will be used to help determine the future Museum and Cultural Center’s focus and priorities.
Los Angeles, Calif. – Coming to a theater near you, the Cinema Foundation welcomes moviegoers to celebrate a day at the movies with discounted admissions to on National Cinema Day, August 27, 2023. The one-day event, held at more than 3,000 participating locations with more than 30,000 screens, will bring together audiences of all ages to enjoy a day at the movies with exclusive previews and special in-theater promotions at a discounted admission of no more than $4. National Cinema Day celebrates a summer of record-breaking moviegoing with movies and a special sneak peek of upcoming titles.
“I think we developed a level of trust and credibility in our execution last year,” said Cinema Foundation president Jackie Brenneman. “I think the studio’s knew that we were really looking out for all partners,” Brenneman added.
For more details go to National Cinema Day, and look for more announcements on Twitter at #NationalCinemaDay and your local movie theater’s website. Join millions of other moviegoers and head to a theater near you.
Join your neighbors and friends for our concerts! All concerts are Friday Evenings 6:00-8:00 PM
VALENCIA, CA – Gin Blossoms is coming to the Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons on October 27, 2023. Formed in the quintessential college party town of Tempe, Arizona the iconic post- grunge, alternative rock band ruled the 90’s and the early aughts.
In the late 80’s, Gin Blossoms started to grow a huge following as the #1 local music draw in Phoenix and certainly were the hometown heroes of their favorite hang, Tempe, Arizona.
Gin Blossoms indelible jangle-pop sound was evolving during radio’s diverse mix of hair bands and grunge music superstars. They qualified to perform at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas in 1989. That same year College Music Journal dubbed them “The Best Unsigned Band In America” and added an invitation to perform on MTV’s New Music Awards in New York City. Their breakout record New Miserable Experience was where their rise to fame began. This album kept the band on the chart for almost 3 years with singles “Hey Jealousy,” “Allison Road,” Until I Fall Away,” “Mrs. Rita,” and “Found Out About You.” The crossover hits on New Miserable Experience played on 4 radio formats and, to date, have sold over 5 million records.
Those hits were followed up by “Til I Hear It From You” which rocketed to #1 and moved the Empire Records smash soundtrack to platinum status. The track also became Canada’s longest-running #1 hit of 1995, its #1 tenure lasting six weeks. This song was co-written with the great Marshall Crenshaw and Billboard described it as “the closest thing to a perfect pop song to hit radio in recent memory.” Their next gem “Follow You Down” spent ten weeks in the top 10, and “As Long As It Matters” earned the band a Grammy nomination for “Best Performance by a Duo or Group” making their Congratulations I’m Sorry record another multi radio format favorite and multi-platinum success.
Having dominated radio and MTV playlists for most of the 90s, Gin Blossoms took a brief turn of the century hiatus, a provisional parting of the ways that singer Robin Wilson chalks up to “personal dissatisfaction and the mistaken impression that we could perform at that same level with another group.” The brief break allowed guitarist Jesse Valenzuela and Wilson to re-energize via solo recordings, new combos, and production credits for an array of local Arizona acts. However, Gin Blossoms’ idiosyncratic magic proved impossible to ignore for long, and on New Years Eve 2001 in their hometown of Tempe, the band reconvened and never looked back.
“There’s a certain civility among us now,” Valenzuela says. “None of us are as brusque as we once were. We’re too old to have shouting matches.”
The revivified band hit the road hard, earning a well-deserved reputation as one of the busiest touring acts in the world, playing close to 150 shows a year. Those chops were readily apparent on 2006’s Major Lodge Victory – Gin Blossoms’ long awaited fourth album and first new recording in almost a decade. Rave reviews followed, as did a top 10 Triple A smash in the album’s lead single, “Learning The Hard Way.” The album’s second single, “Long Time Gone,” quickly became another favorite among both fans and the critics and Major Lodge Victory made Billboards Top 10 Independent Albums. Next, Gin Blossoms recorded “No Chocolate Cake” and released the single “Miss Disarray” which is now one of the most requested songs in the band’s live set and the album reached #1 on Amazon’s sales chart.
These talented tunesmiths promise the inevitable arrival of new material and as they approach their third decade, Gin Blossoms remain a rare breed – rock ‘n’ roll lifers, destined to continue creating, crafting, and performing for audiences ever rapt by their glorious catalog of material. “We’re entertaining and we have chops,” says Wilson, “but it really comes down to the songs. The reason we’re still here is that we have good songs. When young musicians ask me for advice, what’s the best thing to do to further my career, I always say, ‘Write good songs.’ It always comes down to that.”
The band’s fusion of Pop, Melodic Rock, Folk and Country elements took the airwaves by siege, making the band an MTV playlist hostage for almost a decade and the group a natural 90’s mainstay. From their breakout album through today, Robin, Jesse, Bill and Scotty have sold over 10 million records and are one of the most in demand 90’s live artists who began at the end of the grunge era. In 2017 the band went back in the studio recording a new album. Fans will get a taste of the new album as it works its way into their live set.
For more information visit: https://www.ginblossoms.net/tour
and https://pac.canyons.edu/shows/gin-blossoms.php
BILL LEEN
Bill enjoys reading, hiking, world class weightlifting, and putting down a couple of bad boys.
JESSE VALENZUELA
Jesse’s interests include golf, reading, and competitive sumo wrestling.
ROBIN WILSON
Robin enjoys describing himself, is like, really smart, and super-good at music, art, and science.
SCOTT JOHNSON
Scott enjoys the Miller High Life, hiking, and singing old Bob Wills songs. He also enjoys teacup collecting.
SCOTT HESSEL
“Hess” has been playing drums with the Gins since 2012. He is proudly endorsed by Tama Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks and Ultimate Ears. He takes his coffee with cream and sugar and loves to eat Wasabi-like ice cream.
Los Angeles, Calif. – Vonda Shepard will hit the stage with her stellar quartet, on July 11th at Belly Up, in Solana Beach with the release of her amazing new album, ‘Red Light, Green Light.’ Watch one of the most dynamic shows you’ll ever see, featuring Vonda’s original material from her 15 albums, including Shine Your Light, Maryland and Baby, Don’t You Break My Heart Slow, as well as the favorites from the Ally McBeal days. Vonda will also perform at the Vibrato Gill Jazz in Los Angeles on July 13.
Vonda has sold over twelve million albums, has won two Golden Globe Awards, two Emmys and two Screen Actor’s Guild Awards, and the Billboard Award for selling the most television sound track albums in history.
Come relax, laugh, sing along, yell out requests, reminisce in the intimate moments with Vonda at her piano, and get up and dance while Vonda and her band whip the room into a frenzy by the show’s end. James Ralston on guitar (Tina Turner, 22 years!), Jim Hanson on bass (Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen!), and Michael Urbano on drums (Lindsay Buckingham, John Hiatt!).
About Vonda:
Vonda Shepard was born in New York City in 1963. She has released fifteen albums, including nine solo albums, three live albums and four albums for Ally McBeal. Throughout her career she has played keyboards and sung with Jackson Browne, Al Jarreau and Rickie Lee Jones. While on Ally McBeal, Vonda was the “behind the scenes” music producer, producing over five hundred songs for the artists Sting, Robert Downey Jr., Gladys Knight, Chubby Checker, Al Green, Randy Newman and many more.
Photos/vondashepard.com
Vonda Shepard to Perform at Vibrato Grill Jazz on Thursday,
July 13, 2023
Cover: $45 // $25. Show: 7pm
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here
2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Los Angeles, CA, 90077
