WinterFest at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, is the park’s holiday event, and the 2026 edition runs select nights from November 27 to December 31, 2026. The official park page describes festive light displays with millions of shimmering lights, family activities, live entertainment, holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages, and select attractions. The park has not published a 2026 show lineup on the pages we checked, so what is new for 2026 is not yet announced.
WinterFest suits families, couples and anyone who wants an evening of lights and seasonal treats rather than a full summer-style ride day. Because it runs on select nights, check the park calendar before you pick a date. The park’s season pass comparison chart lists admission to Halloween Haunt and WinterFest for the 2027 Silver, Gold and Prestige Passes, marked as 2026 only. Everyone else needs a WinterFest ticket, and the park pages we checked did not list a price.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
- Dates: Select nights, November 27 to December 31, 2026
- Event nights: Select nights (check the park calendar)
- Highlights: Millions of lights, live entertainment, holiday food and drinks
- New for 2026: Not announced
- Ticket: Included with 2027 Silver, Gold and Prestige Passes (2026 only); separate ticket otherwise
What’s new for 2026
The official WinterFest page lists live entertainment, but it does not name any 2026 shows or new zones, so nothing new is confirmed yet. If the park adds details later, they will appear on the Kings Island events page on the Six Flags site.
For context, the 2025 event introduced two shows, Tinker’s Jingle Bell Ball and It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown!, and also featured The Mistletones, according to a December 2025 Local 12 report. Whether any of them return in 2026 is not confirmed, so treat them as possibilities rather than promises. The park also adds a new interactive dark ride, Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, in 2026, but that is a summer-season debut and not a WinterFest item.
Lights, shows and holiday entertainment
The park’s own description centers on millions of shimmering lights across the grounds after dark. It also lists family activities and live entertainment as part of the event.
Local 12 reported that the 2025 event included a tree lighting on the Eiffel Tower replica, a WinterFest Wonderland Parade, and a New Year’s Eve party with a live DJ and fireworks. The park has not confirmed the same schedule for 2026, so check the park calendar and app for show times and any character appearances before you go.
Rides and attractions open
The park says WinterFest includes select attractions. It has not published a 2026 ride list on the pages we reviewed, and winter operation depends on the weather, so the lineup can change from night to night.
In 2025, the reported lineup included ice skating on Snow Flake Lake. Look for a 2026 confirmation of skating, and of which rides run, on the park’s event page or app before you plan around any single attraction.
Holiday food and treats
The official page promises holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages. It does not list the 2026 menu.
The 2025 menu, per Local 12, included It’s a Wonderful Chop, holiday dinner fries and peppermint bark brownies. Some of these may return, but the 2026 menu is not confirmed, so do not count on any one dish.
Tickets, passes and upgrades
Kings Island’s season pass comparison chart lists admission to Halloween Haunt and WinterFest for the 2027 Silver, Gold and Prestige Passes, labeled 2026 only. Passholders on those tiers should not need a separate WinterFest ticket, although the pass page carries a footnote, so check the terms for your tier before you go.
If you do not have one of those passes, you will need a WinterFest ticket. The pages we checked did not show a standalone price, so buy from the official Kings Island site on the Six Flags domain and compare your date against the event calendar first.
Tips for your visit
Because WinterFest runs on select nights, confirm your date on the park calendar first. Hours also vary by night, so verify the opening and closing times on the official site before you go.
Dress in layers, with gloves and a hat, since you will spend most of the night outdoors. Arrive early enough to park and see the lights at their best, and check the park’s weather notices on the day in case attractions or shows change. If you want a New Year’s Eve celebration, look for the park’s 2026 announcement, since the 2025 program included a DJ and fireworks but the 2026 plan is not confirmed.
Explore more: every theme park holiday event for 2026, by state.
WinterFest 2026 at Kings Island FAQs
When does WinterFest 2026 start and end?
Kings Island lists WinterFest 2026 as select nights from November 27 to December 31, 2026. Check the park calendar for the exact nights it is open.
Is WinterFest included with park admission?
Holders of the 2027 Silver, Gold and Prestige Passes get WinterFest admission for 2026, according to the park’s pass comparison chart. Other guests need a WinterFest ticket, and the park pages we reviewed did not show a price.
Do rides run during WinterFest?
The park says WinterFest includes select attractions. The 2026 ride list has not been published, and operations depend on the weather, so check the park app or website on the day.
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Photo: Eli Duke from Portland, OR, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.