If you have been waiting for this all year, you are not alone. Winter Fest is coming back to the OC Fair & Event Center for the 3rd year! With or without kids, this is the place to be.
Running for 18 days, from December 21st to January 7th, there is plenty of time to gather your kids, friends, spouses or co-workers and experience a re-imagined Southern California winter.
With tickets starting at $15 online ($10 for kids) you can bring the whole family and enjoy unlimited ice tubing down a 150-foot, 8 lane mountain of ice, experience and play with real snow (blown in daily), make crafts and play games in Santa’s workshop, stop by Santa’s petting zoo, get your jump on at the bounce houses and slides, and test your skills at the snowboard simulator.
Walk around and enjoy the two-million-light strong Festival of Lights, live character shows and meet and greets from your kids favorite cartoons. Adults, never fear, Winter Fest has you covered too with live bands and strolling carolers, sweet treats and the Mistletoe Lounge, perfect for a romantic date night.
There will be nightly tree lighting festivities with snow flurries and fireworks, and for 4 nights you can see . . . WAIT FOR IT . . . Santa and his reindeer FLYING over the fairgrounds (until he has to return to the North Pole of course, runs Dec. 21st-Dec. 24th).
For an additional fee, try ice skating on a full outdoor rink, take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their Cabin, or drop by the Candy Cane carnival for rides and games.
Want to make it a party? Check out the VIP Cabana and Party opportunities HERE. With private seating for couples or groups of 10, the cabanas adjacent to and overlooking the outdoor ice rink make for an intimate gathering. Parties are adaptable to 100 people, with special holiday menus and cocktails available. Don’t wait to book your party – there is limited availability. Please note, cabana reservations do not include event admission or tickets to the ice skating rink. Those tickets must be purchased separately.
If you haven’t made your New Year’s Eve plans yet, look no further. Ring in the New Year at Winter Fest with fireworks and a 3000 balloon drop at midnight. If you can’t hang that late or have kids with you, join the special countdown, balloon drop and firework show at 6pm. Seriously – they have thought of EVERYTHING!
Click HERE for more information and hours of operation for Winter Fest 2017, which will remain open Christmas and New Year’s Day. Click HERE to buy your tickets ahead of time for a reduced price. Season passes are available, and be sure to check out select nights of Free Admission for US Military, Nurses, Teachers and First Responders (with valid ID).
**Want to WIN your tickets? To be entered into our drawing for a family 4-pack of general admission tickets to Winter Fest 2017, sign up for our monthly newsletter at www.NewportMesaMoms.com. Want an extra chance to win? Head over to our Facebook and/or Instagram page @NewportMesaMoms, find the Winter Fest post and tag a friend. The drawing will be held on December 6th! ***Congratulations to our Winner – Karen Child***
Happy Holidays!
Photos courtesy of Winter Fest OC