Kings Island transformed into magical holiday experience

Even Ebenezer Scrooge and Old Man Potter would smile at Kings Island this winter, when the popular amusement park reopens Nov. 25 for its annual holiday celebration, WinterFest, featuring more than five million lights and gala entertainment for every member of the family.

Focal point of the festivities is a lavishly decorated International Street, with the 314-foot-tall Eiffel Tower transformed into one of the world’s largest Christmas tree displays. Its thousands of shimmering lights and giant star is visible for many miles around Kings Island.

The gigantic and magnificent tree overlooks Kings Island’s famous International Street and Royal Fountain, transformed into Snow Flake Lake for ice skating. International Street and the fountain are lined with hundreds of holiday decorations. There are also costumed characters strolling the streets, shops brimming with holiday gifts, and craftspeople from around the Midwest making and displaying their wares.

The entertainment stage is set the moment guests enter the magic of WinterFest with a plethora of live show offerings including the all-new Swingin’ Into Christmas and returning favorites like Tinker’s Toy Factory, Cool Yule Christmas, Jingle Jazz and Mistletones.

Kids love the Christmas crafting opportunities that are available at WinterFest like writing letters to Santa at the North Pole Post Office, creating a greeting card, decorating an ornament and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus.

No holiday event is complete without food, and WinterFest is known for its array of sips, sweets and savories like gourmet hot chocolate and cider, holiday-themed funnel cakes, beignets, soups, smoked turkey legs, turducken empanadas, and more.

A can’t-miss experience for guests of all ages is the WinterFest Wonderland Parade, which winds its way through the park each night of the event. Guests are treated to a stunning mix of dazzling displays and extravagantly decorated floats with classic themes such as toy boxes, gingerbread houses and choo-choo trains, along with the WinterFest singers, dancers, classic holiday characters and the big guy himself, Santa Claus. The nightly parade starts each evening at 8:30 p.m. in Coney Elf Village. Guests can line up along any of the parade route Show Stops for an opportunity to celebrate with the performers as they pass.

And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention there are up to 20 rides guests can enjoy during the holiday event too, including Mystic Timbers, Zephyr, Scrambler, Shake, Rattle & Roll, Kings Mills Antique Autos, Grand Carousel, and Woodstock Gliders.

WinterFest is a spectacular memory-making event with so much to see and do, that guests want to share with family and friends throughout the Midwest. It is the singular defining holiday event throughout the entire region, with the scope and quality of Christmas in New York and Rockefeller Center.

The winter celebration is the perfect topping to Kings Island’s memorable 50th anniversary year with the activities, entertainment, food, and shopping value offered. You don’t want to miss it!

WinterFest will be open to the public Nov. 25-27, Dec. 2-4, Dec. 9-11, Dec. 16-23, and Dec. 26-31.

Get unlimited visits and free parking to WinterFest this year and all next year when you purchase a 2023 Gold Season Pass. 

Save big off the front gate price when you buy your WinterFest tickets in advance online.