Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park officially opens March 21, with the return of their Spring Fling event.

Guests who visit the park from March 21 to April 27 will enjoy Spring Fling from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Spring Fling is free with the price of admission and guests are treated to a spectacular display of spring flowers throughout the entry, a children's scavenger hunt, and an opportunity to meet "Gil" the garlic guy. Gil can be seen throughout the day in Sugar Plum Plaza and will be available for family photos to create a great Gilroy Gardens memory.

The Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt begins each day at Sugar Plum Plaza where children 12 and younger will receive a map to uncover locations throughout the park where they can collect cool "surprise" springtime gifts. Staff will be adding spring flowers throughout Dixie Cup Plaza and Sugar Plum Plaza. In addition, hanging floral baskets will be displayed along Sycamore Bridge. Event banners will be in place on light poles from the front gate to Sugar Plum Plaza, and guests will be invited to enjoy the Spring Fling Garden Sale. Hales Mercantile will be the site of a "sidewalk sale," where a variety of garden accents, supplies and flowers will be on sale.

Gilroy Gardens, a nonprofit organization and California's only horticultural theme park, was recently purchased by the city of Gilroy for $13.2 million.

Admission is $41.99. Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is located at 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy (Hwy 152), Gilroy, CA 95020.

For a complete operating calendar and information on the 2008 season visit its website at http://www.GilroyGardens.org.

MVCS choirs at Carnegie Hall

The Monte Vista Christian School choir and orchestra will perform in the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in New York at 8:30 p.m. March 16 as part of the Excellence in Education series. MVCS Conductors Tony Dehner and Shari McQueen will lead the ensemble. MVCS is located in Watsonville but serves many students from Gilroy and Morgan Hill.