Six Flags Parks Recognized in USA Today’s 10 Best Holiday Event Awards 2025

Kings Island, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Fiesta Texas Voted Top 10 Holiday Destinations for 2025!

The votes are in — we're thrilled to announce that Six Flags Entertainment has received remarkable recognition in the USA Today 10 Best Reader's Choice Awards for Best Theme Park Holiday Events! Three of our premier winter events earned spots in the top 10, and seven more parks across North America are lighting up the night with their own award-worthy holiday celebrations.

WinterFest at Kings Island leads the way (almost as well as Rudolph) with an impressive No. 2 national ranking, while Knott’s Merry Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm and Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in the nation, respectively.

The USA Today 10 Best Reader's Choice Awards follow a two-step process: industry experts nominate the best attractions and experiences across the country, then readers vote to determine the final top 10 in each category. This means our rankings aren't just professional opinions: they reflect the unforgettable experiences of people who actually went to the park to enjoy the coziest time of the year!

Our winter events blend heartwarming holiday traditions with high-flying thrills that only Six Flags can deliver. With millions of twinkling lights, festive entertainment and activities, and delightfully delicious favorites like hot chocolate, these holiday events offer something for everyone.

Ready to experience award-worthy holiday magic for yourself? Visit sixflags.com or your local park’s webpage to buy your tickets now!

WinterFest at Kings Island Ranked #2 Overall Holiday Event

With 13 live shows, including Tinker’s Jingle Bell Ball and It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown!, WinterFest at Kings Island has become one of the go-to events of the holiday season. WinterFest continues at Kings Island on select days through Dec. 31.

Why WinterFest at Kings Island is a Must See:

• Over seven million dazzling lights, including a 300-foot Eiffel Tower Christmas tree
• Ice skating at Snow Flake Lake, nightly parades, and holiday-themed rides
• A New Year’s Eve bash with fireworks, balloon drop, and a DJ party

Knott’s Merry Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm – Ranked No. 7 Overall

The holiday season doesn’t get much brighter than at Knott’s Merry Farm. On select days from now through Jan. 4, 2026 (closed on Christmas Day), Knott’s Merry Farm has a little Christmas magic for kids 1 to 92!

Why Knott’s Merry Farm is a Must See:

• Ghost Town blanketed in holiday décor, snowfall effects, and thousands of twinkling lights.
• Signature shows like Snoopy’s Night Before Christmas Ice Show and Home for the Holidays.
• Christmas Crafts Village, seasonal treats, and Santa’s Christmas Cabin
• Carolers and live music for a nostalgic holiday vibe

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas – Ranked No. 8 Overall

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and the holiday celebration at Six Flags Fiesta Texas is no exception! Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas features millions of lights, decorations in the thousands, and 14 live shows guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit!

Why Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a Must See:

• 2.5 million lights, 75,000 decorations, and a towering 70-foot Christmas tree
• 14 live shows including A Christmas Carol, The Majesty of Christmas, and Looney Tunes® holiday fun
• Snowfall effects, light shows, tree lighting ceremonies, and festive character greetings
• Seasonal favorites like stuffed turkey legs and s’mores funnel cakes
• Rockin’ New Year’s Celebration event runs Dec. 26 – Jan. 4 with fireworks on New Year’s Eve

Other Six Flags Parks Celebrating the Holidays in 2025

From coast to coast, Six Flags has your holidays covered for you and your family! Dazzling winter celebrations are in full swing.

Ten parks offer magical events that blend heartwarming traditions with high-energy thrills at WinterFest, Holiday in the Park, Knott’s Merry Farm, and Six Flags Mexico’s Christmas in the Park. Twenty-five million twinkling lights, photos with Santa, festive décor, live entertainment, seasonal gifts, and a limited-time menu of unique feasts and treats will join the parks’ iconic array of roller coasters and family rides to transform them into winter wonderlands of fun.

• Canada’s Wonderland: WinterFest – Through Jan. 3, 2026
• Knott’s Berry Farm: Knott’s Merry Farm – Through Jan. 4, 2026
• Six Flags Mexico: Christmas in the Park – Through Jan. 18, 2026
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas: Holiday in the Park – Through Dec. 23, 2025; plus New Year’s celebrations Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026.
• Six Flags Over Texas: Holiday in the Park – Through Dec. 31, 2025
• Six Flags Magic Mountain: Holiday in the Park – Through Jan 4, 2026
• Kings Island: WinterFest – Through Dec. 31, 2025
• Carowinds: WinterFest – Through Jan 3, 2026
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: NEW! WinterFest (a 2025 Best Theme Park Holiday Event nominee) – Through Jan. 4, 2026
• Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec: Christmas in the Park – Dec. 20, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026

In addition, four of the company’s resort hotels offer special winter stay experiences ranging from festive getaways to fully immersive holiday escapes with exclusive entertainment and magical surprises around every corner.

• Six Flags Great Escape Lodge (Lake George,NY): Holiday in the Lodge – Through Dec. 24, visit Six Flags Great Escape Lodge in the Adirondack Mountains for festive décor, themed activities, live entertainment, and unlimited access to the indoor waterpark.
• Castaway Bay (Sandusky, OH): Through Dec. 31, Castaway Bay near the southern shore of Lake Erie includes themed activities, meet and greets with Santa, and admission to the indoor waterpark.
• Knott’s Hotel (Buena Park, CA): Through Jan 4, 2026, Knott’s Hotel, located between Los Angeles and San Diego, has special holiday packages that include all-day drink wristbands, hotel parking, admission to Knott’s Merry Farm, and a breakfast buffet option.
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort (New Braunfels, TX): This resort in the San Antonio metropolitan area is perfectly positioned for great getaways to the Texas Hill Country, beautifully decorated for the holidays. The resort is open daily, although the waterpark is closed for the season.

For a complete listing of event dates, links to tickets and more, visit sixflags.com or each park and resort’s website.

Ring in the New Year With Six Flags!

Ring in the new year at Six Flags! With Winterfest and Holiday in the Park in full swing, you’ll step into a world of holiday fun complete with festive decorations, delicious treats, and holly-jolly activities galore. Grab some drinks when the sun goes down and toast to New Year’s resolutions as the night unfolds.

Throughout the evening you can dance to the music, embrace the electric atmosphere, and maybe hit a high-flying coaster! Then, as midnight approaches, join the celebration beneath dazzling lights for a thrilling countdown to 2026. It’s bound to be a New Year’s Eve bash for the ages!

Be sure to kick off 2026 the right way at Six Flags!