Six Flags Great America will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a special Six Flags Great America 50th Anniversary Celebration event featuring new entertainment as well as numerous limited-time offerings and throwback guest experiences.
Since Six Flags Great America opened as Marriott’s Great America in 1976, the Chicagoland park has hosted generations of families, offering them a word-class lineup of attractions, from the Columbia Carousel to the record‑breaking new-for-2026 Wrath of Rakshasa dive coaster — and so many legendary roller coasters and other attractions in between. The event will celebrate all of the memorable moments, landmark attractions and historical milestones.
Here’s what guests can expect to see at Six Flags Great America in 2026 as the park celebrates its 50th anniversary:
- New nighttime spectacular parade and drone show
- Legacy Museum full of Great America artifacts and other history
- Anniversary brick program
- Exclusive 50th Anniversary merchandise
- Return of the Ice Cream Parlor
- “Through the Decades” live entertainment
- Specialty food and beverage offerings
- Themed photo opportunities
Here’s a more in-depth look at Six Flags Great America’s 50th Anniversary plans:
Six Flags Great America 50th Anniversary Nighttime Spectacular
To kick off the 50th Anniversary Celebration, Six Flags Great America will debut its most ambitious nighttime entertainment experience yet.
Each night will feature a high-energy stage show and parade, complete with brand-new parade floats.
The spectacular will also include a dazzling drone show Friday through Sunday nights, illuminating the night sky in honor of the park’s 50-year history.
Six Flags Great America Legacy Museum
The new Legacy Museum inside the Emporium will feature historic Six Flags Great America artifacts, archival photography, retired signage, memorabilia from park employees and fans and displays celebrating key moments from every decade.
Six Flags Great America 50th Anniversary Brick Program
Guests will have the opportunity to leave their mark on Six Flags Great America history through the Anniversary Brick Program, featuring personalized bricks installed along the new Great America Legacy Path in Carousel Plaza.
Designs include nods to favorite attractions, family traditions, and personal milestones, offering a unique way to leave a lasting mark. Anniversary Bricks can be purchased by visiting the Anniversary Brick website.
Exclusive Six Flags Great America 50th Anniversary Merchandise
Six Flags Great America will offer limited‑edition anniversary merchandise, available only at Emporium, a retail location exclusively for the 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Items will include apparel, collectibles, souvenirs and other nostalgic throwbacks.
Return of the Six Flags Great America Ice Cream Parlor
A fan‑favorite from the park’s opening year in 1976 will make a return with a reimagined Ice Cream Parlor in Hometown Square. Guests can enjoy classic scoops, nostalgic flavors, and sweet treats that honor the park’s earliest summers.
Entertainment Offerings Through the Decades
Live entertainment offerings throughout the park will pay tribute to each of Great America’s five decades, blending music, costumes, and performances inspired by the 1970s through today.
These nostalgic touches bring the park’s history to life in fun, high-energy ways for longtime fans and new visitors alike.
Specialty Food and Beverage Offerings
In celebration of its history, Six Flags Great America will introduce a variety of nostalgic food and beverage items, including classic root beer inspired by offerings from opening year in 1976, and limited-time treats and savory dishes available only during the anniversary celebration.
Themed Photo Opportunities
Finally, throughout the park, guests will experience themed photo displays inspired by eras from Great America’s history. These nostalgic photo opportunities are designed for families to recreate memories, celebrate return visits and capture new moments that honor 50 years of Six Flags Great America thrills.
“Fifty years of Six Flags Great America is a celebration of the millions of memories made in our park,” said Hardeep Lall, park manager of Six Flags Great America.
“This anniversary season is designed to honor our history while offering new ways for guests to experience the park they’ve loved for decades.”
Six Flags Great America opens for the 2026 season on April 25, 2026, and the 50th Anniversary Celebration event begins June 20, 2026, and will run through August 9, 2026.
To learn more about the park’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, visit the Six Flags Great America website.
See all of our Six Flags Great America coverage from over the years here.
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