Great America is offering patrons an opportunity to get a nice kosher lunch — and an amusement park full of roller coasters to churn it up.
On Sunday, Sept. 10, the park will be holding its first Jewish Heritage Day.
Perhaps someone ought to slip the news to Kofi Annan, because it seems roller coasters and park employees dressed as Nickelodeon characters (including the one who lives in a pineapple under the sea) can do things the U.N. secretary general can’t: capture the hearts and minds of conflicted groups. Great America has already held a Muslim Unity Day and Sikh Youth Day, as well as days aimed at the Latino and Asian communities.
Kristin Salway, the Santa Clara park’s special interest group manager, had her interest piqued by the possibility of a Jewish night when the San Francisco Giants had their first one last year. She hopes several thousand Jews take advantage of tickets marked down to $27 (normal entry price for the park is more than 50 bucks per person).
In addition to food from Oakland Kosher Foods, parkgoers have the opportunity to be serenaded by the Shtetlblasters klezmer band, the Shir HaSharim choir or Jewish-themed karaoke. Also, Bay Area Jewish organizations will pitch their tents in the park’s main plaza and hand out materials.
Jewish heritage participants, incidentally, will not be the sole parkgoers. Not only would that not be economically viable, it would ruin a good chance for people to unexpectedly enjoy a Jewish moment.
“People come into the park and they get to experience other people’s faith and culture,” said Salway.
To buy tickets (they’re cheaper bought beforehand, online), visit www.pgathrills.com/jewish or call (408) 986-5853.