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Paramount's Kings Island Announces the Return of Winterfest

Kings Island: Paramount's Kings Island brings back a long missed holiday tradition.

From Derek Potter
Posted July 26, 2005 at 6:43 PM
The worst kept secret in recent theme park history is finally officially out. After a 13 year absence, the long awaited return of Winterfest will finally happen at Paramount's Kings Island. The event starts on November 25th, running on weekends through December 18th. Nightly operation will then go from December 19th to the 23rd, and also after Christmas from the 26th to the 31st. Attractions include...

International Street- PKI will transform International Street into a winter wonderland...decorating the Eiffel Tower as the world's largest Christmas tree. The streets will be lined with shops selling holiday crafts, sweets, and gifts. Also, the International Street Fountain will be open for ice skating. Look for the Nickelodeon characters to be out on the ice as well. Each night the park will select one lucky family to kick things of with the lighting of the tower.

The White Christmas Express- Kings Island will transform the steam engines into a Christmas train ride circa 1940, taking guests through numerous scenes and into a snow covered village.

Holiday Illuminations- A light show on Swan Lake in Rivertown, set to everyone's favorite holiday tunes.

Toy Factory Musical- A stage show depicting Santa's toy workshop

WinterfestHaus- offering a king size holiday meal, and live entertainment from international performers doing christmas song and dance from other cultures.

Santas ChristmasTown- no winter event would be complete without a visit to Santa Claus.

Nickelodeon Holiday Tree Lot- Guests can visit and get a photo with... all of the Nickelodeon characters in this tree lot themed attraction. PKI promises snowfall every night here.

Bubba Gumps Yuletide Feast- Serving shrimp, holiday music of the rock variety, and Mardi Gras style Christmas theming.

Scrooges House- look for him on International Street.

Christmas Parade- old time hometown style parade.


Tickets go on sale July 25th. Specific day tickets are available on a limited basis through November 6th for $17.99. General admission gate tickets, if applicable... will be $24.99.

My advice, if you wish to go, I would reserve your tickets for a specific day, and do it soon. This event is sure to be immensely popular with the locals, and it's likely that many days may sell out. Because about only half the park being used for the event, PKI is only allowing a certain number of people in for the evening. Anyone making any kind of lengthy trip would be well advised to make reservations in advance.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Derek Potter
Posted July 26, 2005 at 7:05 PM
Forgot to mention, the event will happen at Carowinds as well.

From Jason Jackson
Posted July 27, 2005 at 7:13 PM
I wish Busch Gardens Williamsburg would do that as well. The English Village lends itself to a holiday season and the train station is nearby as is Ireland and a theatre there!

From Cameron Rust
Posted July 28, 2005 at 11:04 AM
Busch Gardens has been hinting that they may do this, but someone said that the land is too hilly, and the likely-hood of injury would be too great.

We can only dream for now...

From Cameron Rust
Posted July 28, 2005 at 11:05 AM
Why can't PKD do that as well???

From Pete Brecht
Posted July 28, 2005 at 11:38 AM
Derek, which rides (if any) are likely to be open during Winterfest?

From Derek Potter
Posted July 28, 2005 at 3:58 PM
Unfortunately, the only ride that will be open at Kings Island is the railroad...which is rethemed for Christmas. All the other rides, even the indoor ones, are scheduled to be closed. I wouldn't be surprised to see that change, but most of the open area of PKI for Winterfest contains few or no rides, except for Nick Central and Hanna Barbera. The only ride I could really see opening would be Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle, but somehow I doubt it because it won't fit with the theme. All the rest of the rides in the vicinity are outdoor, and believe me, nobody will want to ride outside in that kind of cold. They've never opened any other rides in the past, but if it's anything like it was, than it won't matter anyway. There will be plenty of good stuff to see and do for the family.

As for Carowinds, I really can't say if any rides will run or not. I would be inclined to say possibly some....weather permitting, because usually Charlotte gets a lot milder December than Cincinnatti, but somehow I doubt that Carowinds will run any rides not themed for Winterfest. Don't hold me to that particular statement, but I don't think it will happen.

From Robert Niles
Posted November 22, 2005 at 12:25 AM
We have a staff column here:

WinterFest Returns to Paramount's Kings Island
By Katie McGuire
November 19, 2005: The Cincinnati-area tradition, gone for more than a decade, shows theme park fans that a cold-weather park can deliver holiday cheer, too.

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