Kings Island is a 364-acre amusement park in Mason, Ohio, a drive north of downtown Cincinnati, and for most of the year it is a thrill-ride day out with roller coasters and family rides. Visitors in November and December get a different park. Instead of closing for winter, Kings Island reopens on selected days as WinterFest, with holiday light displays, live entertainment, Santa visits and family activities, and a ticket that covers entry plus access to select rides and attractions. In past years the event has featured more than five million lights, an Eiffel Tower dressed as a Christmas tree and ice skating by the park's fountain, though the lineup changes, so treat those as typical rather than guaranteed. The ticket here is a one-day admission ticket that works for the date you choose.
Season and dates
Outside the holiday event the park runs its regular calendar, which the park publishes on its own site. For the 2026 season regular park hours were set for 6 and 7 November, then WinterFest on 27 to 29 November, 4 to 6 December, 11 to 23 December and 26 to 31 December.
The park is therefore not open every day in winter, and a date outside those windows will not have availability. Daily opening and closing times are not set out here, so check the park's calendar before you plan arrival around a parade or a show.
What the ticket covers
Entry on the day you select, access to select rides and attractions, live entertainment, the holiday light displays, Santa visits and family activities. It does not cover parking, midway games, food and drink, souvenirs, ice skating, cookie decorating or select holiday experiences, and optional all-day dining and drinks packages can be added at checkout. The ticket is nonrefundable and cannot be rescheduled, so be sure of your date. Cold, wind, rain or ice can close rides or shorten hours, which matters more in a winter event than on a summer day.
Making it count
Kings Island is a cashless park, so bring a card or phone wallet, and cash-to-card kiosks are available if you only have notes. Dress in warm layers and waterproof shoes, because most of the day is outdoors and the walk between areas is long. Arrive early on the weekends before Christmas, which draw the largest crowds.
The park is in Mason, so a car or rideshare is the realistic way to reach it, and many visitors stay in downtown or the Kentucky riverfront and drive up for the day. Pair it with the zoo's Festival of Lights on another evening if you want two very different takes on a Cincinnati Christmas.
Who it suits
Families with children of almost any age, teenagers who want rides even in cold weather, and couples who like seasonal lights and do not mind a crowd. Travellers who dislike queues and cold should consider the zoo or the museum center instead. One more planning note: because WinterFest runs only on the dates above, it pays to decide first whether Kings Island is the centerpiece of your trip or a bonus day, then build the rest of the itinerary around it.
A winter weekend in Cincinnati can easily hold the park on one day, the Festival of Lights at the zoo on a second evening and a museum on a third, with the Museum Center's holiday trains as the indoor fallback if the weather turns. If the forecast is bad, remember that the ticket cannot be moved, so look at the forecast a few days ahead and book as late as availability allows.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided day at a large theme park, run in winter as WinterFest on selected dates with lights, entertainment and Santa visits.
Best time
A WinterFest weekday date in December if you can find one, since the weekends before Christmas are the busiest.
How long
Plan on most of a day, since the park is large and the walks between areas are long.
Tips
Check the park's calendar for open dates, bring a card because the park is cashless, and dress for the cold and for closed rides in bad weather.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families, teenagers and anyone who wants rides and lights in the same day.
- Families
- Santa visits, light displays and family rides give younger children plenty to do.
- Couples
- The lights after dark are the draw, though weekends are crowded.
- Pair with
- The zoo's Festival of Lights on another evening.
- Time needed
- A full day.
Good questions
When is Kings Island open in winter 2026?+
WinterFest runs on 27 to 29 November, 4 to 6 December, 11 to 23 December and 26 to 31 December. It is not open on every other winter day, so check the park's calendar.
Does the ticket include parking?+
No. Parking, midway games, food, drink, souvenirs, ice skating and cookie decorating are extra.
Can I change or cancel a Kings Island ticket?+
The ticket is nonrefundable and cannot be rescheduled, so choose your date carefully.
Is Kings Island cashless?+
Yes. Cards and mobile wallets are accepted, and cash-to-card kiosks are available.
Where is Kings Island?+
It is at 6300 Kings Island Drive in Mason, Ohio, a drive north of downtown Cincinnati.
