Theme park holiday events 2026
Most Halloween events end Nov. 1, and the holiday events start Nov. 6. Here's each one at the parks Ride Ready covers: dates, hours, what your ticket covers and which rides run.
At a glance
Every event, with dates and admission
| Event | Dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Smoky Mountain Christmas Dollywood | Nov. 6 to Jan. 3 | No separate ticket; Silver pass blackouts Dec. 13 to Jan. 3 |
| Christmas Celebration SeaWorld Orlando | Nov. 6 to Jan. 4 | Included with admission and Annual Pass |
| Christmas Town Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Nov. 13 to Jan. 3 | Separate ticket, Fun Card $89.99; members included |
| Christmas Town Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Nov. 13 to Jan. 4 | Included with park admission |
| Holidays Universal Orlando | Nov. 14 to Jan. 3 | Included with park ticket or pass; Holiday Tour extra |
| WinterFest Canada's Wonderland | Nov. 21 to Jan. 3 | 2027 Silver Pass; public tickets not posted yet |
| WinterFest Kings Island | Nov. 27 to Dec. 31 | 2027 season passes; public tickets not posted yet |
| WinterFest Carowinds | Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, hours through Dec. 31 | Included with park admission; food and extras cost more |
| Holiday in the Park Six Flags Great Adventure | Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, select nights | Gold passes and memberships; public tickets not posted |
| Holiday in the Park Six Flags Over Georgia | Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, select days | Gold and Prestige memberships; public tickets not posted |
The guides
Pick your park
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood
Over 6 million lights, dozens of trees and holiday shows, open every day except Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando
Millions of lights, the Sea of Trees, a new Christmas Market and the Miracles orca show, with rides open.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
More than 10 million lights, a new Queens of Christmas show and 25 rides, including Verbolten: Forbidden Turn.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
41 select dates of lights, entertainment and seasonal food, running every day from Dec. 11 to Jan. 4.
Holidays at Universal Orlando
A Macy's parade, Grinchmas, Wizarding World Christmas and New Year's Eve at Epic Universe, across three parks.
WinterFest at Canada's Wonderland
Select days of lights, comfort food and 25 listed rides, including Psyclone and Thunder Run.
WinterFest at Kings Island
25 select nights of lights, holiday food and 25 rides, including The Racer and Mystic Timbers.
WinterFest at Carowinds
19 select days of live shows, Santa visits and light displays, with 29 rides on the park's list.
Details still coming
Holiday in the Park returns at two Six Flags parks
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure. Six Flags is relaunching it with three new themed lands. The park's calendar shows 22 dates from Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, but the show lineup, ride list and public ticket price aren't posted yet. Six Flags Great Adventure crowd calendar
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia. Also relaunched for 2026 with three new themed lands, on 26 dates from Nov. 21 to Jan. 3. The lineup, ride list and public prices aren't posted yet. Six Flags Over Georgia crowd calendar
No winter event
Parks that close for the winter
Cedar Point. No winter event. The 2026 season ends with HalloWeekends on Sunday, Nov. 1, and the park hasn't posted its 2027 opening day yet. Cedar Point crowd calendar
Six Flags Great America. No Holiday in the Park listed for 2026. The last day on the park's calendar is Sunday, Nov. 1. Six Flags Great America crowd calendar
Kings Dominion. No WinterFest announced for 2026. The park's calendar has weekend days through Nov. 29 and nothing in December. Kings Dominion crowd calendar
Live waits, whichever night you go
Most of these events keep coasters and family rides running. When the park posts waits, Ride Ready shows them live, free, and pings you when a line drops.
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Holiday events FAQ
When do theme park holiday events start in 2026?
Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas and SeaWorld Orlando's Christmas Celebration start first, on Nov. 6. Christmas Town opens Nov. 13 at both Busch Gardens parks, the holidays at Universal Orlando start Nov. 14, and WinterFest starts Nov. 21 at Canada's Wonderland and Nov. 27 at Kings Island and Carowinds.
Which holiday events are included with regular park admission?
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando, the holidays at Universal Orlando and WinterFest at Carowinds come with a regular park day. Busch Gardens Williamsburg sells Christmas Town separately. Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland include WinterFest with some season passes and haven't posted public tickets yet.
Which parks close for the winter?
Cedar Point and Six Flags Great America end their seasons on Nov. 1, and Kings Dominion has no WinterFest on its 2026 calendar.
Do rides run during the holiday events?
Yes at most of them. Kings Island, Canada's Wonderland, Carowinds and Busch Gardens Williamsburg each publish a list of rides that run, and SeaWorld Orlando's FAQ says its rides are open. At Universal Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay the holidays are part of a regular park day. Cold weather can close some rides, so check the park's list the day you go.
Dates and details checked against each park's official pages on Oct. 11, 2026.