Our family loves all things Christmas and there’s plenty of festive fun to be had at California’s Great America. Now through December 31st you can experience all the holiday magic at the Bay Area’s favorite theme park. Keep reading for all our WinterFest tips for California’s Great America in Santa Clara, California. This post is in partnership with California’s Great America, a Cedar Fair park. All opinions of WinterFest at California’s Great America are my own.

what is WinterFest?

WinterFest is the holiday takeover that happens at select Cedar Fair parks across the country. California’s Great America, Carowinds in the Carolinas, and Kings Island in Ohio are among the amusement parks that host a WinterFest. At California’s Great America WinterFest transforms the park into a magical holiday spectacle. From the moment you walk through the front gates, twinkling lights greet you all around Snow Flake Lake. Families can indulge in seasonal treats, from steaming cups of cocoa to delectable holiday sweets. Christmas music plays over the park speakers and live entertainment is ready to wish you a Merry Christmas. It should be noted that the hours are also limited, not opening until 4:00 pm on operating days and closing at 10:00 pm (except for New Years Eve when the park closes at 12:30 am).

| Read: Why you Should Visit California’s Great America |

WinterFest tips

There is so much to do at WinterFest we couldn’t even do it all in one evening. California’s Great America was actually the first Cedar Fair park to host WinterFest back in 2016! In this blog post I’ll be sharing some of our favorite activities and best tips for your visit.

seasonal shows

There are a handful of shows not to miss at WinterFest at California’s Great America. The show you can’t miss that kicks off the evening is the tree lighting ceremony, every night at 5:30 pm at the Celebration Plaza Stage. During the rest of your visit to WinterFest you can choose between musical groups throughout the park, or stage productions both big and small. The It’s Christmas, Snoopy! ice show takes place in the Great America Theater and shouldn’t be missed. Check your app for showtimes and arrive to the theater early for the best seats! Meanwhile, your little ones will love A Peanuts Guide to Christmas at the Peanuts Showplace in Planet Snoopy.

festive foods

Our family always loves trying the seasonal food at theme parks and Cedar Fair does a delicious job. For entrees we loved the smoked turkey dinner at Maggie Brown’s Festive Feast and the French Dip Burger from the American Corners Christmas Cafe. For sweet treats we couldn’t get enough of the Apple Cider Funnel Cake and the Eggnog Beignets, both from French Quarter Funnel Cakes & Churros. Note that most items are not eligible for dining plans.

exciting extras

Besides the shows, food, characters, and decor, there are lots of magical moments happening at WinterFest. Ice Skating is available on Snow Flake Lake right at the park entrance. This is an additional fee but was such a fun experience for my older kids! We recommend purchasing this online and filling out your waivers ahead of time. The line gets quite long and they can sell out, so skate first and then head out to the rest of the park! We were able to check in before the park had technically opened and were first on the ice rink! You can stay as long as you want, but there are no in and out privileges. My kids were done skating after about an hour.

| Read: Tips for Knott’s Merry Farm |

Another fun extra during WinterFest at California’s Great America is decorating cookies. You can head to Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen in Orleans Place to decorate four of your own sugar cookies. Again, you can purchase this experience ahead of time to guarantee your spot and save some money! Want to meet the big man himself? Pictures with Santa are also available through December 23rd Hometown Square, for an additional fee.

One of my biggest WinterFest tips is don’t forget about all the fun included in your admission ticket! You can write a letter to Santa at the North Pole Post Master. An elf will even help you mail it off! My kids also loved making cute Christmas Crafts in Charlie Brown’s Christmas Town (aka. Planet Snoopy).

Visit WinterFest for free with the purchase of a 2024 Gold Pass.

Have you ever been to WinterFest at a Cedar Fair park?