Three years ago California’s Great America launched Winterfest, and the explosion of tinsel has yet to settle. In 2018, the event now includes the entire park plus a brand New Years Eve celebration. With decor galore, a holiday take on an opening day ride, eight different live music shows, a tree lighting, and returning activities like letters to Santa and skating; it’s really more than can be done in the five hours the park is open for Winterfest, and that’s before riding any coasters, plus we haven’t eaten yet. I truly entered feeling overwhelmed.
Once again guests are greeted by Snowflake Lake, the frozen version of the fountain at the base of the Columbia Carousel with skating for an additional fee.
I, however, scooted to the back of the park where their version of Autopia, the Barney Oldfield Speedway, has been converted into the 12 Days of Christmas, borrowing an idea from Gilroy Gardens. It’s a nice variation complete with the song.
Riding in my motor car meant missing the Tree Lighting. But that was just the start of a night with a different show starting somewhere pretty much every 15 minutes. Cool Yule Christmas, an upbeat song and dance troupe held court beside the aforementioned evergreen.
This is the place to be for hearing folks sing Christmas tunes with performances throughout. The three Mistletones sang to a backing track, like most of these acts, in the area christened Tinsel Town. The exception was from the a capella vocalizing from Jingle Jazz in their Hometown Square Gazebo near bell ringers – required viewing for those that have longed to hear a co-ed Dapper Dans with Daniels and Danielles. The Jolly Holy Trolley is a traveling show with scheduled times but not locations, so it takes a bit of luck to see them. The new Arctic Alley in the shadow of the equally new RailBlazer hosted the Four Drummers Drumming and what must be some sort of beard progression demonstration.
Time constraints prohibited your humble narrator from attending It’s Christmas, Snoopy in the Great America Theater, but the returning show is an excellent production that has anchored Winterfest from its inception. The decidedly low key A Peanuts Guide to Christmas is a more intimate affair in Planet Snoopy with Charles Schultz’s characters sharing their tips with the current, younger generation.
The other large production is Tinker’s Toy Factory in Theater Royale with the tale of an elf caught between the Christmas of Technology and the old fashioned Christmas for which he yearns.
Great America is really going all in with Winterfest, with the entire park showing spirit. Stores and eateries have been given holiday monikers, lights twinkle everywhere and there are plenty of photo locations. Characters from elves to snow queens to gingerbread men or America’s favorite beagle can be found waiting to meet new friends. The scary locations of Jack the Ripper’s London from Haunt have been transformed into the London of Charles Dickens with the scary locations of the Ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Just strolling about will make one appreciate sipping a hot cocoa in a comfy chair beside the fire, or even in an Igloo, the Christmas variation of a waterpark cabana at Jack Frost’s Igloo Village for an additional fee. And when I say everything is in the mood, that includes everything from game prizes to merchandise with anything from warm clothing to ornaments to wreaths with a design limited only by one’s own creativity. It joyously includes the tasty sweets and treats in the finally opened new candy shop, temporarily known as the Candy Cane Cafe, in Orleans Place.
Winterfest continues on select nights through December 31; tickets are available at the gate for $38, but only rookies will buy at the park. Bring the price down with an advance purchase, or better yet, make fringes with a Gold Passholder and enter for $19.99.
Time will tell if Winterfest will become a beloved tradition for holiday family outings ’round these parts, but Cedar Fair is certainly doing their part to make it happen. We’ll see you again soon on our next Day by The Bay as we take a look at what’s in store at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s Holiday in the Park!
