ATHOL — Special anniversary admission prices of $38 for general tickets and $19.88 for seniors and kids ages 3-7 will mark the first day of Silverwood Theme Park's 38th season when the gates open at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Main Street will welcome visitors at 10:30 a.m. before the park officially opens.

Entering the first full season under the ownership of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation since the acquisition of the park was complete earlier this year, "Silverwood is still Silverwood," the theme park's Director of Marketing and Communications, Jordan Carter, said Thursday.

"All the same experiences people have come to know and love are still the same for this year," Carter said.

He said the Silverwood team is excited to have Herschend's support.

The Georgia-based company owns more than 40 entertainment and amusement brands, including Dollywood Theme Park and the Harlem Globetrotters.

"It’s really awesome to have such a company that has a strong legacy of building and developing and keeping with that family side," Carter said. "They've been family owned for more than 75 years. They have the same values that Silverwood has."

Silverwood will hire about 2,000 employees to keep the park running through the season, which will close after the last weekend in September. About 1,200 of those employees will be operating the park ahead of Boulder Beach's opening day, June 6, when Silverwood transitions from weekend-only to seven days a week.

"We are always looking to hire, especially as we get into prime season," Carter said.

No new additions will join the park's more than 70 attractions, rides and shows this season, but trips on the historic Engine No. 7 train will be a bit shorter and will feature a mix of live and voiceover performances.

"Thrillusionist" David DaVinci will return with a Vegas-style magic show. 

ParrotFX will swoop back into the park in early June with a fast-paced, family-friendly bird show.

Carter, who is celebrating his 15th anniversary with Silverwood this year, said he always looks forward to seeing the park once again filled with people.

"It never gets old," he said. "After a long winter of nobody in the park, to see those smiling faces come back and experience new memories, that is a passion for everyone here."

Silverwood's 2026 season theme is "Real memories. Real connections."

"We see that every day here," Carter said. "It's people experiencing the park together and the memories that are worth repeating, that they talk about at the dinner table years down the road."

    Silverwood Theme Park will celebrate its 38th season this year. Park gates open for the season at 11 a.m. Saturday with Main Street opening at 10:30 a.m. Silverwood will be open weekends until Boulder Beach opens June 6, then the park will be in full swing seven days a week.