Six Flags Holiday Events Light Up Parks And Resorts

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation will roll out a full slate of holiday celebrations across ten parks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting November 15, 2025, combining WinterFest, Holiday in the Park, Knott's Merry Farm, and Christmas in the Park lineups under one umbrella. The company says guests can expect more than 25 million lights, live entertainment, Santa meet and greets, and seasonal menus, with four resort hotels adding bundled winter stay experiences near the parks.

For travelers and advisors, the staggered start dates, varied climates, and range of ticket and resort offers turn this into a flexible set of winter getaway options, from cold weather park nights in Ontario and Ohio to milder evenings in Texas and central Mexico.

Six Flags Holiday Lineup Across Ten Parks

The core of the program is a network of park events that run on select dates from mid November through early January. At Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, WinterFest is scheduled from November 15, 2025 through January 3, 2026, setting the tone as one of the earliest openings in the group.

In Southern California, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park will switch to its Knott's Merry Farm holiday overlay from November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026, blending the park's legacy Peanuts theming with Christmas markets, shows, and décor. Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, will offer Holiday in the Park from November 22 through December 23, 2025, then pivot into New Year focused programming from December 26, 2025 through January 4, 2026, which gives Texas based travelers a broad window that stretches across both Christmas and New Year's Eve weeks.

In the Dallas, Fort Worth region, Six Flags Over Texas will host Holiday in the Park from November 23 through December 31, 2025, making it a straightforward option for families who want a holiday outing before New Year's Day without needing to travel far. On the West Coast, Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles will also run Holiday in the Park from November 27, 2025 through January 4, 2026, pairing the park's high intensity coaster lineup with seasonal light displays and entertainment.

The combined company is leaning heavily on its former Cedar Fair properties in the Great Lakes and Southeast regions as well. Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, will run WinterFest from November 28 through December 31, 2025, while Carowinds on the border of North and South Carolina plans WinterFest from November 28, 2025 through January 3, 2026. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, will debut its own WinterFest program from November 28, 2025 through January 4, 2026, signaling that the merged portfolio is now pushing a consistent line of winter offerings on both coasts.

In Latin America, Six Flags Mexico in Mexico City will run Christmas in the Park from November 27, 2025 through January 18, 2026, the longest of the announced schedules, while Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec in Morelos will operate Christmas in the Park from December 20, 2025 through January 4, 2026, adding a waterpark centric holiday option for visitors who prefer warmer weather.

These ten parks now operate under the expanded Six Flags Entertainment umbrella created when Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags completed their merger on July 1, 2024, a deal that formed North America's largest regional amusement park and resort operator, trading under the ticker FUN.

Latest Developments

Across the network, Six Flags says guests will be immersed in millions of lights, with midways, trees, and architectural features wrapped and synchronized to music in some zones. The company describes a mix of tree lighting ceremonies, live bands, and stage shows with vocalists, dancers, and aerial elements, plus appearances by Santa and other holiday characters, although the exact show packages will vary by park.

The events will also lean into food and beverage as a differentiator. Six Flags highlights regional menus such as holiday poutine and blueberry cobbler hot apple cider in Canada, turkey inspired comfort dishes in the Great Lakes region, roasted chicken tortilla soup and seasonal cocktails in California, and items like country fried feast cones and snickerdoodle sundaes in Texas. In Mexico, specialty items will include treats like Christmas turkey tortas, Rosca de Reyes, and ginger horchata.

Travelers can also add paid experiences to their visit. The company is promoting photo sessions in an immersive Santa setting, an unlimited hot chocolate program with souvenir mugs, interactive bubble wands and ornaments that respond to show triggers, reserved igloos, timed ice skating, cookie decorating stations, and bundled s'mores kits for fire pits, plus priority ride access products that shorten wait times. Availability and pricing for these add ons will differ from park to park, so advance planning is important.

Resorts Turn Day Trips Into Holiday Getaways

Four resort hotels in the Six Flags portfolio will reinforce the park events with winter themed stays. In Lake George, New York, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge will host Holiday in the Lodge from November 28 through December 24, 2025, combining festive décor, themed activities, live entertainment, and access to the indoor waterpark, with promotional rates advertised as low as $ 99.00 (USD) plus tax per night for bookings made by December 7 for stays through April 30, 2026.

In Sandusky, Ohio, Castaway Bay will offer holiday activities, Santa meet and greets, and indoor waterpark access from November 21 through December 31, 2025, an appealing option for families who want a warm water environment alongside or instead of outdoor park time. Knott's Hotel in Buena Park, California, will run its seasonal package from November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026, including all day drink wristbands, parking, admission to Knott's Merry Farm, and optional breakfast buffet add ons, bringing the park experience directly into the hotel stay.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort in New Braunfels, Texas, will not operate the waterpark in winter but will present itself as a decorated base for Hill Country holiday trips, including convenient access to Fiesta Texas and other regional attractions. For many travelers, these resort options simplify logistics by eliminating late night drives after park closing and bundling entertainment with lodging under one booking.

Analysis

Background: After the 2024 merger, the new Six Flags Entertainment Corporation began coordinating seasonal programs across previously separate Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks, and this holiday rollout is one of the clearest examples of that strategy so far. For travelers, that means more consistent branding, overlapping date ranges, and similar upgrade products, even though each park still retains its own name and character.

From a planning perspective, the first step is to match destination and climate. WinterFest at Canada's Wonderland, Kings Island, Carowinds, and the newly added Discovery Kingdom will offer a classic cold weather holiday park feel, likely with chilly evenings and potential snow or rain at some locations. Six Flags Mexico and Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec will skew warmer and can double as late season sun breaks, while Texas parks sit somewhere in between, with cool evenings but fewer hard freezes.

Next, travelers should look at calendar fit and crowd patterns. Early event dates, such as Canada's Wonderland opening on November 15 and Knott's Merry Farm starting November 21, will usually see lower crowds than the core Christmas to New Year stretch, although weekend evenings can still be busy. Families tied to school schedules may find that the extended January operating windows at Carowinds, Discovery Kingdom, Magic Mountain, and Six Flags Mexico give them a chance to visit after the December rush.

Tickets and passes deserve careful comparison, especially in a year when the company is under pressure to drive attendance and per guest spending across its expanded network. Single day admission can work for a one off local night, but many parks are packaging season passes or limited time offers that bundle 2025 entry with early 2026 access and free parking, which may offer better value for repeat visitors. Advisors should also keep an eye on bundled resort deals, which can combine lodging, park admission, and waterpark access at price points that compete well with standalone hotel stays.

Finally, practical details still matter in the middle of the holiday spectacle. Guests should bring warm, layered clothing for evening visits, even in California and Texas, and plan for rain at coastal or Great Lakes parks. Pre purchasing parking, checking park apps for showtimes and ride availability, and building in a quiet midday break, especially if staying at a nearby resort, can make the difference between a tiring scramble and a smooth, memory focused outing.

Final Thoughts

Six Flags holiday events at parks and resorts give travelers a wide range of ways to turn theme park thrills into end of year traditions, from WinterFest nights under cold stars to warmer evenings at Christmas in the Park. With ten parks, four resorts, and a deep lineup of food, entertainment, and add ons, the combined Six Flags and Cedar Fair network is betting that coordinated seasonal experiences will keep its parks busy well past the typical fall closing dates, and travelers who plan carefully can turn that bet into a well timed winter getaway.

Sources

• Millions of Lights, Magical Nights: Six Flags Entertainment Unwraps Dazzling Holiday Experiences Beginning Nov. 15
• Six Flags Unveils Holiday Experiences at Parks and Resorts
• Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Investor Overview
• Cedar Fair and Six Flags Merger of Equals Successfully Completed
• Six Flags