Final Winterfest Thoughts

[super7]

IMO this edition of Winterfest was the best yet.     It had the most lights, a solid ride lineup, plenty of live entertainment.  snowy nights, and (surprising) no major cutbacks to the event despite what is going on elsewhere in the company.     

The only things that have been lost over the years for this event are 4 Drummers, Holly Jolly Trolley, the music-synchorinzed lights, and upcharge carriage rides.  (Cool Yule and Charlie Brown's Spectacular were replaced)   While coasters have been added since the 2017 edition where only Mystic Timbers operated.   

This is probably the most creative of all the theme park Christmas events, with the roaming characters, holiday activities and re-branding just about every shop and restaurant in the park.   

The weather was the coldest it has been in a while, and it seems to have affected the crowds this year.  There were only 6 "warm" days with high attendance.   Is that enough for survival of the event?

The park did a great job operating on the colder days with low attendance. They reduced operations on those days but kept the park open as advertised.   That is the best way to handle this kind of situation.

There is a LOT of labor in the park decoration for only 24 operating days (which ended up being 21 2/3) this year.   It seems to be an odd decision not to operate the 2 weekends before Thanksgiving when the weather is warmer.  I understand that ride permits cause the Dec 31 closure.   However, the Columbus Zoo is operating 2 rides at their Christmas event through Jan 4, so wondering what the difference is.  It would seem that maximum operating days to recuperate the labor costs would be beneficial.    

This event would probably be more successful if the park had the indoor infrastructure for the event.   At least another indoor theater, dark rides (1 coming soon!), another indoor restaurant etc     There are 2 big former attraction buildings sitting empty that could accommodate if renovated.

This event deserved the #2 award this year.   Better quality live entertainment, continued increases in the lighting and more indoor options would push it to #1 IMO.

 

 

 

[Orion-XL200]

1 hour ago, super7 said:

IMO this edition of Winterfest was the best yet.     It had the most lights, a solid ride lineup, plenty of live entertainment.  snowy nights, and (surprising) no major cutbacks to the event despite what is going on elsewhere in the company.     

The only things that have been lost over the years for this event are 4 Drummers, Holly Jolly Trolley, the music-synchorinzed lights, and upcharge carriage rides.  (Cool Yule and Charlie Brown's Spectacular were replaced)   While coasters have been added since the 2017 edition where only Mystic Timbers operated.   

This is probably the most creative of all the theme park Christmas events, with the roaming characters, holiday activities and re-branding just about every shop and restaurant in the park.   

The weather was the coldest it has been in a while, and it seems to have affected the crowds this year.  There were only 6 "warm" days with high attendance.   Is that enough for survival of the event?

The park did a great job operating on the colder days with low attendance. They reduced operations on those days but kept the park open as advertised.   That is the best way to handle this kind of situation.

There is a LOT of labor in the park decoration for only 24 operating days (which ended up being 21 2/3) this year.   It seems to be an odd decision not to operate the 2 weekends before Thanksgiving when the weather is warmer.  I understand that ride permits cause the Dec 31 closure.   However, the Columbus Zoo is operating 2 rides at their Christmas event through Jan 4, so wondering what the difference is.  It would seem that maximum operating days to recuperate the labor costs would be beneficial.    

This event would probably be more successful if the park had the indoor infrastructure for the event.   At least another indoor theater, dark rides (1 coming soon!), another indoor restaurant etc     There are 2 big former attraction buildings sitting empty that could accommodate if renovated.

This event deserved the #2 award this year.   Better quality live entertainment, continued increases in the lighting and more indoor options would push it to #1 IMO.

 

 

 

The poor Holly Jolly Trolley essentially died...entertainment was kind of a bust on it, as no one ever knew where it would be or when.....but then it turned into a ride....well the trolley ended up being more mechanically a headache than it was worth. May it RIP.

 

Guessing the Columbus Zoo is a bit different because they operate those two rides generally year round. 

My first visit to Winterfest this year was not a great one, however my 2nd and final was (all minus the lights around the train route).

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Winterfest has been one of the best holiday events in the US and delightfully maintained that status this year. I'd like to point out that there was another show that only ran in 2017 called "Twas the Plight Before Christmas". It was housed in the Skyline Pavilion and had a cast of at least 4-6. That structure feels like it might be an easy option to add the temporary walls and heaters to, especially if they can find an easy way to hang the walls and heaters during the quick transition. 

More indoor spaces would be very welcome at the park in general. If the Action Theater was ever brought back (either as two theaters or a new dark ride entirely) they could use it again — although I'd advocate for WindSeeker's removal first to bring back the plaza. My current idea is for a dark ride themed to a runaway trolley to pay homage to the historical Trolley Parks that led the way for modern amusement parks. Rivertown could also use an indoor/covered theater. It'd be nice if they could find a spot for an extra indoor warming station like Canada's Wonderland has for their Winterfest. The only idea I won't entertain is that Krampus-themed Winterfest haunt maze people keep suggesting in the Facebook groups.

I particularly enjoyed the shows this year. Tinker's Jingle Bell Ball was simply amazing and brought us a new story. What the Dickens returned even better than ever! Despite my questions about the odd change with the costumes, Swingin' Into Christmas remained in my top 3 shows. Jingle Jazz definitely needs either a new setup in that area of Rivertown or to be turned 90 degrees counterclockwise so the audience isn't all in the pathway. The other shows (being Songs of the Nativity, Yuletide Follies, and It's Christmas, Charlie Brown) were all good from what I was able to see. They do need to turn the string lights on in the Carousel Pavilion, though. It was so dark and cold under that canopy throughout the entire event. I feel like the Holly Jolly Trolley would do better if they could have ensured that it would be at certain spots at certain times. I really just wish it would be used during the regular season for scheduled roaming shows (like happened with the Clown Band, except on a trolley).

Most of my visits this Winterfest season turned out really well. I think the only bad things I experienced were a couple of bad/ugly dining experiences. I was able to dine at the Brewhouse, enjoy shows with my food at the Festhaus, and have some really good fries at Rivertown Potato Works. I love that both Tricks and Treats and Winterfest have specialty food items available throughout the park. 

If I had to pick something to change about the event, it would be to update the experience on the K.I & M.V. Railroad and take it away from being primarily based on light displays. Even adding some lights into the trees around the track would be an improvement. I'd also try to see if there were an easier way to switch between using the organ and the track with a button on the Grand Carousel, but I'm just glad they were manually going in and switching between the two during the Fall season.

Overall I had a really good time at Winterfest this year. It sounds like it was much better than what Carowinds experienced with all of their changes. I'm also glad Kings Island was able to keep it after Kings Dominion, Great Adventure, and Six Flags Over Georgia lost their winter holiday events. Here's to the return of Winterfest in 2026 and its continued success in a time when we all need more light in our lives!

[Timchat2]

Guests of Kings Island appear to embrace WinterFest at a level that makes the Six Flags chain happy enough to allow Kings Island's WinterFest to remain at this scale, considering the cuts at Carowinds and the altogether cancellation at Kings Dominion. Kings Island has received two large new productions in the last two seasons with Yuletide Follies and Tinker's Jingle Bell Ball while nearly all of the other Six Flags parks continue to have the same and/or reduced shows at their holiday events. 

 

 

[IndyGuy4KI]

I enjoyed WinterFest this year and agree with @super7on his assessment. I enjoyed my visits and it really is a special event that needs to remain. 

[Imperial79]

Only went once this year, since I am 2 hours away, but had a great time, even though it was very cold on New Years Eve, they had a great fireworks show, and everyone seemed to be more pumped this year than last year, and I think this year was colder than last year. I tried the Holiday Turkey Ball, it was good, but half of it was just room temperature and the other half hot, if it was all hot, I'd give it a 10/10. I hope they bring back the International Restaurant WinterFest Buffet for 2026, and there were lights almost everywhere you looked, they did a great job with that! 

[Orion-XL200]

On 1/4/2026 at 4:16 AM, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Winterfest has been one of the best holiday events in the US and delightfully maintained that status this year. I'd like to point out that there was another show that only ran in 2017 called "Twas the Plight Before Christmas". It was housed in the Skyline Pavilion and had a cast of at least 4-6. That structure feels like it might be an easy option to add the temporary walls and heaters to, especially if they can find an easy way to hang the walls and heaters during the quick transition. 

More indoor spaces would be very welcome at the park in general. If the Action Theater was ever brought back (either as two theaters or a new dark ride entirely) they could use it again — although I'd advocate for WindSeeker's removal first to bring back the plaza. My current idea is for a dark ride themed to a runaway trolley to pay homage to the historical Trolley Parks that led the way for modern amusement parks. Rivertown could also use an indoor/covered theater. It'd be nice if they could find a spot for an extra indoor warming station like Canada's Wonderland has for their Winterfest. The only idea I won't entertain is that Krampus-themed Winterfest haunt maze people keep suggesting in the Facebook groups.

I particularly enjoyed the shows this year. Tinker's Jingle Bell Ball was simply amazing and brought us a new story. What the Dickens returned even better than ever! Despite my questions about the odd change with the costumes, Swingin' Into Christmas remained in my top 3 shows. Jingle Jazz definitely needs either a new setup in that area of Rivertown or to be turned 90 degrees counterclockwise so the audience isn't all in the pathway. The other shows (being Songs of the Nativity, Yuletide Follies, and It's Christmas, Charlie Brown) were all good from what I was able to see. They do need to turn the string lights on in the Carousel Pavilion, though. It was so dark and cold under that canopy throughout the entire event. I feel like the Holly Jolly Trolley would do better if they could have ensured that it would be at certain spots at certain times. I really just wish it would be used during the regular season for scheduled roaming shows (like happened with the Clown Band, except on a trolley).

Most of my visits this Winterfest season turned out really well. I think the only bad things I experienced were a couple of bad/ugly dining experiences. I was able to dine at the Brewhouse, enjoy shows with my food at the Festhaus, and have some really good fries at Rivertown Potato Works. I love that both Tricks and Treats and Winterfest have specialty food items available throughout the park. 

If I had to pick something to change about the event, it would be to update the experience on the K.I & M.V. Railroad and take it away from being primarily based on light displays. Even adding some lights into the trees around the track would be an improvement. I'd also try to see if there were an easier way to switch between using the organ and the track with a button on the Grand Carousel, but I'm just glad they were manually going in and switching between the two during the Fall season.

Overall I had a really good time at Winterfest this year. It sounds like it was much better than what Carowinds experienced with all of their changes. I'm also glad Kings Island was able to keep it after Kings Dominion, Great Adventure, and Six Flags Over Georgia lost their winter holiday events. Here's to the return of Winterfest in 2026 and its continued success in a time when we all need more light in our lives!

The Skyline Patio is not a good place for a show, unfortunately. The show that was there, "Twas The Plight Before Christmas" while a great/fun show suffered from bad sight lines with the various poles holding the roof of the structure up. Then you also have the issue of seating being limited with the round tables with some seats not there (handicap spots). I would have loved for this show to find a new space, but sadly it didn't. 

Part of the issue of ensuring that it would be at certain spots at certain times was that the trolley itself suffered the issue of not wanting to start/move/stay on/etc. The other part of the issue was that they didn't have any notice of "the trolley show will be by Diamondback entrance at X:XX" other than at that spot on a sign that were often off the main path or in spots that weren't really visible. 

[DJSkyFoxx]

I only attended WF twice this season, however, both times I really enjoyed it. I felt like it was more flushed out throughout the park this year. Of course, there is always room for improvement and growth as is with any event, but my overall takeaway is that the park did a wonderful job this year and I am grateful that we have this event in a time when other parks have lost their WF or never had one to begin with.

I hope that we can continue to enjoy WF in the years to come and see more improvements and experiences added along the way. 

Also I want to add that the two holiday meals that my partner and I had were really good and we enjoyed the offerings. 

[SonofBaconator]

I felt like something was missing, but then again we were down a ride with the Phantom Theater revival. Overall I don’t feel like much was different which was somewhat of a negative for me personally. The train ride needs to be worked on for next season- they continue to do the bare minimum and it’s gotten increasingly stale….

[Klabergian Empire]

I think WinterFest 2025 was great!

As far as rides, pretty decent lineup. I had a rare opportunity to marathon FoF a few times on slow nights. Because of that, I've ridden FoF more times during this WinterFest than at any other point period. Racer being open is an absolute win. Some of my best rides on Racer have been taken during WinterFest. And it runs amazing! Mystic Timbers is always a blast. I absolutely love our train, but going with what @SonofBaconator said, they really either need to retheme the experience or add , like, a lot more lights.

As far as food, I was able to get quite a bit of the seasonal meals. Per the advise of @DonHelbig, I was finally able to try the much acclaimed Holiday Meatloaf Burger. And it really did live up to the hype! The Meatloaf Burger is a top 10 food item at Kings Island. I also tried the Honey Ham & Cheese fries from Potato Works and they were pretty good. The Mac & Cheese bar at Enrique's is always awesome and hope it sticks around.

As far as lights, the park looked amazing as it always does! Kudos to everyone involved with setting up all the lights and decorations.

On the subject of the Holly Jolly Trolly, good riddance! Yes it was something to do. But on busy nights it would crazy walking through Coney Mall and trying to avoid the path of the trolly.

Overall, WinterFest was great and I can't wait for April!