Maximize your visit to Kings Island during WinterFest by crossing off these activities and adventures off of your holiday bucket list.
I’m a Kings Island Ambassador and this article is written in partnership with Kings Island.
A big part of making the most of your holiday visit to WinterFest is being prepared ahead of time so that you make the most of your visit.
I’m sharing more about what you can do and what you need to plan ahead for so that you and your loved ones make memories and have a great time.
Start by Downloading the Kings Island App
I highly recommend downloading the Kings Island free mobile app before your visit.
With the Kings Island app, you can easily find everything in the park and stay up to date on activities, showtimes, and ride wait times during your visit.
Kings Island WinterFest Bucket List
Attend the Tree Lighting Ceremony
Starts at 5:30 pm each evening
Make sure that you allow plenty of time for parking and entry into the park so that you don’t miss it.
Experience the Seasonal WinterFest Attractions
During WinterFest you can enjoy seasonal activities and attractions that are not available any other time of the year.
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- Go Ice Skating (Advance purchase is highly recommended to reserve your skate session)
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- Go on the Sledding Hill (Action Ice Zone)
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- Shop at the Artisan Village
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- Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
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- Enjoy the VIP treatment at Jack Frost’s Igloo Village (reservation required)
Photo Opps at WinterFest
WinterFest, in general, is Instagram worthy but there are also plenty of places throughout the park that are designed with photos in mind.
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- Take a picture with a character
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- Insert yourself in a three-dimensional scene in Planet Snoopy
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- Take a picture with Santa
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- Take a picture in from of the WinterFest Sign
Activities That Little Kids will Love
If you are attending WinterFest with younger children, make sure that you check these activities out.
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- Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen Cookie Decorating
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- Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree Lot
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- Write a letter to Santa at the North Pole Post Office
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- Sally’s Christmas Crafts
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- Seasonal Build-A-Bears
Attend All of the Seasonal Shows at WinterFest
The live entertainment at WinterFest really adds the value to your admission. I highly recommend seeing as many shows as possible during your visit.
There are several shows that are indoors if you need a break from the cold and want to warm up.
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- Watch an ice carving demo (Action Ice Zone)
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- A PEANUTS Guide to Christmas
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- Blitzen’s Brass Band
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- Charlie Brown’s Christmas Spectacular (Inside Kings Island Theater)
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- Cool Yule Christmas
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- Four Drummers Drumming
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- Holly Holiday’s String-a-Long
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- Holiday Sing-Along
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- Holly Jolly Trolley
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- Jingle Jazz
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- Midway Merriment
- Reindeer Roundup
- Sounds of the Nativity
- The Mistletones
- Tinker’s Toy Factory: The Christmas Fever (Inside the Festhaus)
- What the Dickens?!
Seasonal Treats
During WinterFest there are several seasonal treats and restaurants that you will want to check out.
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- Drink a Blue Hot Chocolate from Blitzens Hot Beverage Bar
- Drink a Blue Hot Chocolate from Blitzens Hot Beverage Bar
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- Eat at the Snow Day Buffet
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- Enjoy a fantastic view of the park while you dine at the International Restaurant Dinner Buffet
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- Jack Frost’s Liquid Libations (21+)
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- Beast Hot Chocolate at Candy Cane Café on International Street
Go on a Ride
There are still plenty of rides open throughout the park during WinterFest.
Bundle up and enjoy rides ranging from kid-friendly to thrill with plenty of family-friendly options in between.
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- Mystic Timbers (the only roller coaster open)
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- Grand Carousel
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- Zephyr
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- Shake, Rattle, and Roll
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- Scrambler
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- Dodgem
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- K.I. & Miami Valley Railroad
- Kings Mills Antique Autos
Rides Open for Kids in Planet Snoopy
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- Boo Blasters on Boo Hill (indoor ride)
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- Character Carousel
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- Charlie Brown’s Wind Up
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- Joe Cool’s Dodgem School
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- Linus’ Launcher
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- The Great Pumpkin Coaster
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- Woodstock Gliders
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- Snoopy’s Space Buggies
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- Snoopy vs. Red Baron
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- Peanuts 500
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- Sally’s Sea Plane
Dates for WinterFest at Kings Island
Evenings of November 22, 23, 24, 29, 30
Evenings of December 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
I’m giving away 4 tickets to WinterFest at Kings Island
Additional Kings Island Articles
What You Need to Know About Winterfest at Kings Island
What to Look Forward to at Winterfest This Year
How to Visit Kings Island with a Special Needs Guest
What You Need to Know About Fall Daytime Events and Haunt at Kings Island
How to Make the Most of Your Grand Carnivale Experience at Kings Island
Everything You Need to Know About Dining at Kings Island
10 Fun Things for Non-Riders to Do at Kings Island
Why I Bought the All Season Dining Plan at Kings Island
Non Scary Adventures for Families at King Island in the Fall
Overnight Adventures for Families in the TriState
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I want to have a blue hot chocolate!
My younger kids have never been to Kings Island, would love to take them to Winterfest.
Even living in NKY we have never gone to Winterfest. It sounds like a fun time. I would like to see the excited faces of my little ones on the rides.
We would love to ice skate for the first time at Winter fest! We would drink hot chocolate after and admire the lights!
It’s been a few years, since I’ve attended WinterFest. The lights are spectacular and brings back fond childhood memories. I would love to enjoy all the beautiful lights!
I would love to make this a special evening and treat for my family. It has been 15 years since we have been able to go!
I’m excited to watch my nephew enjoy Kings Island for the first time!!!
I would love to attend WinterFest & experience all that it has to offer !
I’ve never taken my kids to Kings Island because I don’t like rides, but this would be a great way for all of us to have fun there!
I want to ride more rides.
Your pictures look amazing! I have never been, but it looks like a ton of fun!
We’ve never been, sounds like a blast!
I would love to take the kids ice skating. They’ve never been and would love to try it.
I would love to go and try the blue hot chocolate and tibe with the kids
I’ve never taken my family to Winterfest and we’d love to go!
I want to ride the antique cars
Hopefully the long break will give us the time to go!
This also would be such an exceptional experience for our big family!!!
We would love to do the cookie decorating because we haven’t done that yet!! My daughter’s birthday is December 28th and she would love to go on her birthday!!
I’ve never been…would love to go!
I’ve never been but the lights look amazing!
Riding mystic timbers!
Never been but it looks amazing!
We love Winterfest. Would love to check out the new lights this year!
Awesome list. Thanks!
We have never been to Winterfest so we would love to check it all out!
We have never been so it all looks like fun to check off the list
I want to see the lights! And drink hot chocolate.
I would love to go on the sledding hill at Kings Island!
We have never been to Winterfest and would love to see Kings Island lit up for Christmas!
My family has always wanted to go. This sounds like a lot of fun!
I’ve never been to Winter fest! Would love to take my kids!
I just want to go for the nostalgia of it all. I grew up going there every winter.