Winterfest

Winterfest is a seasonal event at Kings Island that occurs during the holiday season from late November through December 31.

History
In 1982 Kings Island introduced a Christmas event called Winterfest, which ran from Late November through December 31. The International Street fountain attraction was turned into an ice-skating rink, and for a few years a nightly laser light show was centered on the Eiffel Tower. Most rides were closed with the exception of a holiday-themed train ride, the Grand Carousel, hayrides, and the Enchanted Voyage (Now Boo Blasters on Boo Hill). Special shops, restaurants, and other holiday-themed activities were also available. There were live holiday shows at both the American Heritage Music Hall (now the Kings Island Theater) and Festhaus. The event ended after the 1992 season, but made one additional appearance in 2005 during Paramount era. A variety of reasons including low ticket sales prompted new owners Cedar Fair to shelve the idea. In 2016, it was announced that Winterfest would return in 2017 and beyond and would be free to all Gold and Platinum pass holders. In 2020, Winterfest was cancelled for that year due to COVID-19. It returned in 2021.

*** Fast Lane Not Available During Winterfest***

On New Years Eve

 * Tinker’s Early New Year’s Extravaganza • 7:30 – 9:30PM | Tinker’s Spielzeug Haus
 * Join the eager elves of Tinker’s Toy Factory for an early, family-friendly New Year’s Eve Countdown featuring character interactions and a giant balloon drop at 9:00PM. The countdown begins at 8:59PM.
 * Charlie Brown’s New Year’s Eve Celebration • 8:00PM – 11:30PM | PEANUTS™ Showplace
 * The New Year's Eve event continues with the PEANUTS gang in this interactive party zone including character meet & greets, oversized lawn games and fun, family-friendly music!
 * Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride • 5:00PM – 10:00PM
 * (Rides have to be cycled off and all paperwork finished before Midnight). Enjoy your final rides of the year on some of your favorite attractions. Ride operations subject to change due to weather.
 * Snoopy’s Rockin’ Countdown • 10:00PM – 1:00AM | International Street Bandstand
 * Join Snoopy and select Midway Merriment characters as they ring in the New Year like never before! Watch as our 314-ft. tall magical Christmas tree is transformed into a giant countdown. Leading up to Midnight, a live DJ will be spinning modern hits to get you moving and keep you warm.
 * New Year's Eve Lounge In The International Restaurant
 * Ring in the New Year at the New Year's Eve Lounge in the International Restaurant, a warm retreat for guests of all ages to gather and welcome the New Year. Enjoy a catered dining experience including assorted appetizers and hors d'oeuvres, a grand buffet and meat carving station, plus a delicious, all-you-can-eat dessert bar and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight paired with the best view of our fireworks spectacular. This unique experience also includes unlimited hot chocolate, Midway Merriment character encounters and other Winterfest surprises throughout the night. Your ticket grants come-and-go access to the New Year's Eve Lounge throughout the night. Doors will open at 530pm and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
 * The other attractions and shows of Winterfest will still happen this evening.

Shops

 * KI Collections (Located on left side, near entrance)(Indoors)
 * North Pole Mercantile (Located in Left Side of Emporium)(Located on left side)(Indoors)
 * Peanuts Holiday Gifts (Located in KI Essentials)(Located on right side, near entrance)(Indoors)
 * Trim A Tree (Located in Kings Island Trading Company)(Located on right side)(Indoors)
 * Christmas Collections (Located in Animal Fair)(Located on right side)(Indoors)
 * Build-A-Bear Workshop(Located on right side)(Indoors)
 * Candy Cane Café (Located in right side of Sweet Spot)(Located on right side)(Indoors)
 * Funpix(Located on left side)(All Season Only)
 * Hot Chocolate Mug Buying Stand(Located on Left Side in Fast Lane Buying Stand)

Attractions

 * Snow Flake Lake (Located on Royal Fountain)(Pay Per Skate)(Upcharge)
 * Skate Rental (Located in Homage) (Line starts in front of Viking Fury)(Located on left side)(Indoors)
 * Waver sign up's at Oktoberfest Bar
 * North Pole Post Office (Located in left side of Sweet Spot)(Located on right side)(Indoors)
 * Mrs. Claus' Kitchen (Located in Right side of Emporium)(Located on left side)(Upcharge)(Indoors)
 * Fischer Homes Family Care Center(Located across from Chick-fil-a)(Indoors)

Shows

 * Tinkers Toy Factory(Located in Festhaus)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * Charlie Brown's Christmas Spectacular (Located in Kings Island Theater)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * “Tree” Lighting Ceremony (Located on International Bandstand) (The Christmas Tree is the Eiffel Tower)
 * Cool Yule Christmas (Located on International Bandstand)
 * Four Drummers Drumming (Located near Festhaus and Wishbone Grill)

Dining

 * Chick Fa La(Located on right side near Great Pumpkin Coaster) (MP)
 * International Restaurant Winter Buffet (Located above Entrance)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * Blitzen's Hot Beverage Bar (Located in Greater's Ice Cream)(Has Indoor Seating)(Located on right side)
 * Cinnabon(Located on right side)
 * Prancer's Pizza (Located in LaRosa's Pizza)(Located on right side) (MP)
 * Wishbone Grill (Located on left side)
 * Starbucks (Located on left side)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * Café du Pere Noel(Located in French Corner)(Located on right side)(Has Indoor Seasting)
 * Skyline Chili (Located on left side)(Has Indoor Seating) (MP)
 * Auntie Anne's(Located on left side)
 * Sugar's Cake Factory (Located in International Street Funnel Cakes)(Located on left side)
 * Tinkers Spielzeug Haus(Located in Festhaus-LaRosa's Pizzeria)(Has Indoor Seating)(MP)
 * Drink Express Refill(Located in Tinkers Spielzeug Haus)
 * Panda Express (Located in Festhaus)(Has Indoor Seating)(MP)
 * Hot Chocolate Stand(Located in International Street Height Wall near Kings Island Theater)

Restrooms:

 * Mens- (Located to the right of the main entrance next to Trim a Tree)
 * Women's- Located to the right of the main entrance in the same building(when looking at the main entrance from the fountain it is on the left of the building next to PEANUTS Holiday Gifts)
 * Men’s(Located in Festhaus near Tinkers Spielzeug Haus)
 * Women’s(Located in Festhaus near Tinkers Spielzeug Haus)

Artisan Village
Located around the Christmas Tree (Eiffel Tower)

Shopping

 * Artisan Village Shopping

Attractions

 * Jack Frost's Igloo Village(VIP)(Located under Eiffel Tower) (Upcharge)

Candy Cane Lane
Located in the Tower Gardens to the left of the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Carousel.

Winterfest Way
Located on the pathway past the Eiffel Tower that connects International Street to Coney Elf Village, Tinsel Town and Rivertown Wonderland.

Restaurants

 * Toy Town Treats (Located in Paradise Island)

Tinsel Town
Located in the back of the Coney Mall in front of Kings Mills Antique Autos.

Attractions

 * Carriage Rides (Located in between Zephyr and Kings Mills Antique Autos)(Upcharge)
 * Kings Mills Antique Autos
 * Shake, Rattle, and, Roll

Restaurants

 * Tinsel Town Diner (Located in Juke Box Diner, across from Shake, Rattle, and, Roll) (MP)

Shows

 * The Mistletones (Located in front of Carriage Rides on Tinsel Town Stage, In the Goblet Toss Game Stand)

Coney Elf Village
Located in the Coney Mall section closer to the Front

Attractions

 * Scrambler
 * Grand Carousel
 * Dodgem
 * Zephyr

Games

 * Peach Basket Midway Game(Located Near Smokehouse Christmas)
 * Ring Toss Midway Game(Located Near Dodgem and Zephyr)
 * Coney Elf Village Arcade(Located Near Zephyr)(Indoors)

Restaurants

 * Skyline Chili (Located in between Scrambler and Dodgems) (MP)
 * Candy Cane Connections (Located in Coney Treats, near Dodgems)
 * Smokehouse Christmas (Located in Coney Bar-B-Que,Near Scrambler)(Has Indoor Seating) (MP)
 * Drink Express Refill(Located in Smokehouse Christmas)

Shopping:

 * NEW: Sugar Plum Sweets (Located in Coney Confections)(Located across from Classic Christmas Café)(Indoors)

Attractions

 * NEW: Flight of Cheer(Indoor Ride)(***No Bags allowed in queue***)
 * Single Rider Line available(Enter near exit)(Trough Fast Lane)
 * Funpix Exclusive

Coca-Cola Bear Plaza
Located in the Oktoberfest section of the park near Classic Christmas Café

Restaurants

 * Classic Christmas Café (Located in Hank's Mexican Grill)(Has Indoor Seating) (MP)
 * Jack Frosts Liquid Libations (Located in Bier Garden, behind, Classic Christmas Café)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * Coca Cola Freestyle(Located across from Classic Christmas Café)

Shows

 * Coke Polar Party (Located in front of Classic Christmas Café)
 * Holly's Holiday's String Along (Located at the Jack Frosts Liquid Libations patio)(Has Indoor Seating)

Shops

 * Custom Christmas Creations(Located in Airbrush, across from Classic Christmas Café)(Indoors)

Restrooms:

 * Mens- (Located across from Classic Christmas Café, to the right of Santa’s Invitation)
 * Women’s- (Located across from Classic Christmas Café, to the right of Santa’s Invitation)

Rivertown Wonderland
Located in the Rivertown section of the park.

Attractions

 * Mystic Timbers (***No Bags allowed in queue***)
 * Single Rider Line available(Enter near entrance)(Trough Fast Lane)
 * Funpix Exclusive
 * 12 Days Of Christmas Train Ride (Line starts at the entrance of White Water Canyon)
 * Saint Nick's Pics (Located in Diamondback Trading Post)(Indoors)
 * Antique Photo (Located in Rivertown Potato Works across from 12 Days of Christmas Train Ride)(Upcharge)(Indoors)

Games

 * Rivertown Wonderland Arcade and Midway Games(Located near 11 Pipers Piping Pizza)

Shows

 * Reindeer Roundup (Located in front of Mystic Timbers)
 * Holiday Sing-Along (Located in Snow Day Buffet)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * Jingle Jazz (Located near 11 Pipers Piping Pizza)

Restaurants

 * Old St. Nick's Potato Factory (Located in Rivertown Potato Works near 12 Days of Christmas Train Ride) (MP)
 * Auntie Anne's (Located across from 12 Days of Christmas Train Ride)
 * Snow Day Buffet (Located in Miami River Brew House near Mystic Timbers)(Has Indoor Seating) (MP+ $5 up-charge)
 * Claus Confectionery (Located in Rivertown Funnel Cakes across from 12 Days of Christmas Train Ride)
 * 11 Pipers Piping Pizza (Located in LaRosa's Pizzeria) (MP)
 * Hot Chocolate Refill(Located in Tom & Chee) (Located near Saint Nicks Pics)

Restrooms:

 * Mens- (Located to the right of Linus Launcher)
 * Women’s- (Located to the right of Linus Launcher)
 * Mens- (Located across from 11 Pipers Piping Pizza)
 * Women’s- (Located across from 11 Pipers Piping Pizza)
 * Mens- (Located in Snowday Buffet)
 * Women’s- (Located in Snowday Buffet)

Action Ice Zone
Located in the Action Zone section of the park.

Attractions

 * Snow Works (Located in front of Drop Tower, Line starts in Congo Falls queue and also uses Drop Towers queue)
 * Winterfest Snow Globe(Photo Op)(Located in front of Banshee)

Shows

 * Ice Carvers (Located in the Action Zone Pavilion Stage, near Snow Works)

Restaurants

 * Dasher's Diner (Located in Chicken Shack, near Snow Works)(Has Indoor Seating) (MP)

Restrooms:

 * Mens- (Located Next to Banshee near the entrance of the Bat)
 * Women’s- (Located Next to Banshee near the entrance of the Bat)

Charlie Brown's Christmas Town
Located in the Planet Snoopy section of the park.

Attractions

 * Sally's Christmas Crafts (Located in Snoopy Boutique, Near Character Carousel)(Indoors)
 * Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree Lot (Located across from Linus Launcher)
 * Sounds of the Nativity Manger(Petting Zoo) (Located in PEANUTS Playhouse, near Woodstock Gliders)
 * Boo Blasters on Boo Hill(Indoor Ride)
 * The Great Pumpkin Coaster
 * Charlie Brown's Wind Up
 * Joe Cool's Dodgem School
 * PEANUTS 500
 * Snoopy Vs. Red Baron
 * Character Carousel
 * Snoopy's Space Buggies
 * Woodstock Gliders
 * Sally's Sea Plane
 * Linus Launcher

Restaurants

 * NEW: Ghost of Restaurant Past (Located in Planet Snoopy Grill) (MP)
 * Tiny Tots Hot Chocolate (Located in Snoopy Treats, Near Woodstock Gliders and Sally's Sea Plane)
 * Mistletoe Munchies (Located in Snoopy's Snack Shack, Near Sounds of the Nativity and Woodstock Gliders)

Shows

 * A Peanuts Guide To Christmas (Located in PEANUTS Showplace behind the Great Pumpkin Coaster)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * What the Dickens?! (Located in PEANUTS Showplace behind the Great Pumpkin Coaster)(Has Indoor Seating)
 * Sounds of the Nativity (Located in PEANUTS Playhouse, near Woodstock Gliders)

Games

 * Midway Holiday Games (Located in front of Peanuts 500, Character Carousel, Sally's Sea Plane and Snoopy vs Red Baron)

Restrooms:

 * Mens- (Located to the left of Sally’s Sea Plane)
 * Women’s- (Located to the left of Sally’s Sea Plane)

Shows

 * Holly Jolly Trolley
 * Midway Merriment
 * Blitzen's Brass Band
 * NEW: Winterfest Winter Wonderland Parade(Starts In Coney Elf Village by Zephyr and goes down towards Classic Christmas Cafe, then goes towards the Front entrance down International Street and makes its way back up towards the International Street Bandstand, Celebrate the spirit of the holiday season as the WinterFest Wonderland Parade winds its way through the park each night of the event. Guests will be 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 at 8:30 p.m. in Coney Elf Village. Line up along any of the parade route Show Stops for an opportunity to celebrate with the performers as they pass.