Winter Fest OC

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Erin

Winter Fest OC

By Erin

Southern California’s largest winter festival, Winter Fest OC is back in Costa Mesa and kicks off 26 days and nights of winter-themed fun at the OC Fair & Event Center on Friday, November 25th!

A popular destination for families, groups of friends and date nights, Winter Fest OC brings the community together this holiday season with tons of festive fun including live entertainment, outdoor ice skating under the stars, a nine-lane 150-foot-long ice tubing slide, ice bumper cars, LED mini golf, trackless train rides, snowboard simulator, carnival thrills, unique photo opportunities, visits with Santa, winter attractions, seasonal food and drinks, and so much more through January 1st.

Winter Fest OC transforms the OC Fair & Event Center into a magical winter wonderland with oversized holiday decor, more than a million lights, and endless opportunities for memory-making. New for 2022, and included in all admission tickets, is “North Pole Journey,” an immersive walk-through experience that guides guests to North Pole Village on an important mission to meet Santa Claus and save the holidays.

Enjoy the magic of the holiday season with past Winter Fest OC favorites as well as all-new activities, including outdoor ice skating under the stars, a nine-lane 150-foot-long ice tubing slide, ice bumper cars, LED mini golf, trackless train rides, snowboard simulator, and carnival thrills. Also returning are winter-themed bounce houses, an arts and crafts area, holiday market, and seasonal food and drinks. Winter Fest OC features a variety of stage and strolling entertainment, including a nightly Holiday celebration featuring snow flurries and Santa, meet and greets with kid’s favorite characters, tribute bands, and more. All this plus unique winter-themed photo opportunities with the 30-foot-tall giant walk-through ornament, numerous giant Christmas trees, and of course, meeting Santa himself.

Claus House Stage Entertainment

At the center of Winter Fest OC is the 40-foot-tall holiday celebration tree and The Claus House Stage, where live entertainment can be enjoyed as well as community acts, interactive kid activities, and even more holiday magic. Daily entertainment includes meet-and-greets with favorite Winter Fest OC characters such as Yowie the Yeti, Snowman and Polar Bear, plus the popular nightly parade, tree lighting and live show with snow fall. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and winter treats and enjoy a variety of entertainment at The Claus House Stage to celebrate the holiday season.

North Pole Journey Immersive Walk-Through Experience

Included in all general admission tickets, the new North Pole Journey walk-through experience immerses guests in the sights, sounds and smells of five magical lands on an important mission from Santa. Enjoy dazzling lights, music, unique photo opportunities, and a wide range of free entertainment and interactive activities in each of the five pavilions. Keep an eye out for “Journey Guides” along the way to help gather the three elements of the Holidays that will help Santa! North Pole Journey highlights include:

Forest of Light: A kid’s hedge maze, wisteria tunnel, giant waterfall, and unique 360-degree free photo booth!
Winter Wonderland: Meet-and-greets with your favorite winter characters, plus Dance of the Snow Fairies performances daily.
Holiday Town: Remote-controlled model train exhibits plus an intimate movie theater with holiday classics.
Toyland Circus: Special appearances by PJ Masks (Nov. 25 – 27), Peppa Pig (Dec. 1 – 4), Paw Patrol (Dec. 8 – 11) and more of your favorite cartoon show characters! Plus Toyland Soldiers Assembly performances daily.
Santa Send Off: Tree ornament decorating, Santa Elves Dance Party performances, plus free meet-and-greets and photos with Santa (through Dec. 24)!

Seasonal Food & Drinks

Indulge in seasonal drinks and treats at Winter Fest OC including hot cocoa, hot apple cider, Mom’s Bake Shoppe cookies and brownies, Old Tyme Ice Cream, churros, popcorn, lemonade and kettle corn. All this plus meal options from BBQ ribs or chicken to pizza, hot dogs, sausages, fries and more! Seasonal adult beverages including beer, wine and holiday-inspired craft cocktails are also available for purchase.

VIP Experiences & Large Party Reservations

VIP Fireside Lounge: Enjoy an exclusive VIP fireside lounge area with comfortable seating, fire pits roasting s’mores and an exquisite view of the nightly parade and stage entertainment from The Claus House Stage. With a private bar with craft cocktails, beer and wine, then Fireside Lounge is perfect for groups and holiday corporate parties, and can be reserved in advance to accommodate up to 300 people.

Rink-Side VIP Private Cabanas: Private, ice rink-side VIP cabanas for up to 10 people are available to rent for 2-3 hour timeblocks, creating the ultimate premium lounge for intimate holiday gatherings and other special occasion celebrations. A private server is available for the purchase of specially themed food and drinks including craft cocktails. Rink-Side VIP Private Cabanas can also be adjoined to accommodate up to 150 people for memorable office parties.

Holidays Experiences

New Year’s Eve Orange Ball Celebration: Ring in the New Year not once, but twice, with a special countdown, Orange Ball drop, fireworks and an unforgettable balloon drop at both 6pm and midnight. Live bands will be playing to commemorate the end of the year, and the start of 2023! Awarded by Reader’s Digest as one of the top New Year’s Celebrations in the U.S.

Military & Veteran Discount Days

Every Thursday, Winter Fest OC will honor local military members and veterans with a special $5 off online coupon code. Eligible guests can use the code “HERO” to purchase tickets in advance online and bring their relevant ID for onsite verification.

Season Passes for Unlimited Fun

Enjoy holiday magic all season long with a Winter Fest OC season pass, providing unlimited entry for all 26 days, access to the “North Pole Journey” immersive walk-through experience, daily live entertainment, the crowd-favorite evening tree lighting parade and show, dazzling light displays, winter photo ops and the opportunity to meet Santa in-person.

Lowest Prices of the Season

Don’t miss the lowest prices of the season with limited time early bird specials. General admission tickets include the all-new “North Pole Journey” immersive walk-through experience, stage and strolling entertainment, nightly Holiday celebration, plus unique photo opportunities throughout Winter Fest OC. Other select attractions require an add-on ticket or reservation. Visit WinterFestOC.com to see all pricing information, including season passes for 26 unlimited days and nights of family fun, friend outings or date nights.

Discounts will be offered on select days to honor our community heroes: First Responders, Nurses, Teachers, and Military/Veterans with proof of ID.

For the latest updates on ticket promotions, entertainment, food and fun, follow Winter Fest on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube or with #WinterFestOC. See you at Winter Fest OC! Happy Holidays!

It’s Almost that Time of Year! Winter Fest OC is Near! + Giveaway!

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Erin

Winter Fest OC + Giveaway

By Erin

Winter Fest OC Begins December 20th With 40,000 Square Feet of All-New Winter Fun Attractions!

We don’t have real snow here in Southern California, but that does not mean we don’t know how to have some winter fun! There is NO shortage of fun holiday adventures to experience! Winter Fest OC is coming back to the OC but with even more holiday experiences for all to enjoy from December 20th-January 6th. Located at the OC Fairgrounds, get into the holiday spirit as Winter Fest features 40,000 square feet of new attractions and brings back popular activities including an outdoor ice-skating rink, ice tubing at Snowflake Summit, real Snow Play, and so much more. *PLUS* enter for a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to experience it all for yourself below! Even though we don’t get real snow here, doesn’t mean we cannot bring the snow to us to enjoy all the snowy winter fun with ice skating, hot chocolate and more!

With a record-breaking attendance in 2017, Winter Fest OC will debut its fourth consecutive year with new entertainment and attractions including SoCal Dicken’s Village, Candy and Snowflake Wonderland, and an expanded Festival of Lights tunnel.

Here are a few things I am looking forward to most about this years Winter Fest!

New to Winter Fest This Year:

SoCal Dicken’s Village – Take a trip down memory lane through the 1800’s with holidays past, present, and future. Decorate Christmas cookies, listen to holiday storytelling, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus (through Christmas Eve), take a pony ride, and visit the new Victorian holiday shops.

Candy and Snowflake Wonderland – Step into an interactive wonderland full of candy and snowflakes with a new selfie experience that is sure to delight visitors and capture the picture-perfect Instagram moment.

Orange Ball New Year’s Eve Celebration – Ring in the New Year not once, but twice, with a special countdown, Orange Ball drop, fireworks and an unforgettable balloon drop at both 6pm and midnight. Multiple live bands will be playing to commemorate the end of the year, and the start of a new one.

Club Winter Fest – Private, ice rink-side VIP cabanas are available nightly starting at only $69 per session, creating the ultimate destination for holiday office parties, family retreats or date nights. Enjoy the all-new lounge area with exquisite views of the nightly Christmas tree lighting ceremony featuring fireworks, snow flurries and a free drink upon entry. Tickets are limited.

Festival of Lights – Stroll through Winter Fest’s 100-foot-tunnel of two million lights to explore five lands with animated displays. For additional fun for the kids, make sure to ride through the Festival of Lights on the trackless train.

Back by Popular Demand:

Snowflake Summit – Visit Snowflake Summit for unlimited ice-tube racing down the 150 foot, eight lane slide. Fast Pass wristbands are available starting at only $10 to skip the general admission line.

Flying Santa and his Reindeer – Don’t miss the magic of the North Pole as Santa and his reindeer fly over the fairgrounds December 20th – December 24th. This spectacle takes place during the nightly Christmas Tree Lighting celebration and features fireworks and snow flurries.

Penny’s Snow Play – Fresh snow blown in daily to make SoCal’s largest snow play attraction with two snow arenas: one caters to toddlers and the other to kids (and kids at heart.)

Also returning are the world’s largest rocking horse, wintery-themed bounce houses for kids, a giant walk-through ornament, strolling carolers, petting zoo, character meet and greets, crafts, arcade games, more than 30 carnival rides and games, and seasonal food and beverages. Families are also invited to celebrate El Dia de los Reyes or Three Kings’ Day on January 6th where Winter Fest will honor the tradition of the Three Kings with a parade and live camel.

Select discounts are offered for First Responders, Teachers, and Military/Veterans with proof of ID. First Responders are guaranteed free admission on Wednesday, December 26th and January 2nd, Teacher Appreciation Days are Friday, December 21st, 28th, and January 4th, and Military/Veterans are guaranteed free admission on Thursday, December 20th, 27th, and January 3rd.

Tickets and select value packages are available now starting at only $10. For more information on Winter Fest OC, visit www.WinterFestOC.com and for the latest updates on entertainment, food and fun follows Winter Fest OC at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTubeor with #WinterFestOC.

Now it’s time to spread some Holiday Cheer! We are giving away a pack of 4 GA tickets +ICE SKATING! Please enter below and good-luck! *See all rules below* Happy Holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****US Residents Only +18 years to enter. No purchase necessary to enter. Ends 12/18 at 12AM PST. All readers have an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win. Winner will be selected at random via RaffleCopter and notified via email. If the winner cannot be reached by email within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected the same way. There are several different ways to enter. Prizes are not transferable or refundable and must be accepted as awarded. The winner is responsible for any and all other costs and expenses not listed above. Horsing Around In LA is not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment of the prize.*****

Winter Fest OC Returns December 16th-January 1st!

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Erin

Winter Fest OC!

By Erin

This is a sponsored post written by me for GigaSavvy.

We may not get any snow here in Southern California, but that does not mean there is a shortage of fun holiday adventures to go on! Winter Fest is coming back to the OC next month, but with even more holiday experiences for all to enjoy. Located at the OC Fairgrounds, new this year is a Festival of Lights with 10 holiday themed lands, a Snow Play area with real snow blown in daily, live mini cartoon shows with meet-and-greets, World’s Largest Rocking Horse rides, an outdoor skating rink, a New Years Eve celebration, and more! *PLUS* enter for a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to experience it all for yourself below! Even though we don’t get real snow here, doesn’t mean we cannot bring the snow to us to enjoy all the snowy winter fun with ice skating, and hot chocolate!

Here are a few things I am looking forward to most about this years Winter Fest!

Festival of Lights

*Some of the cool lights from last years Winter Fest!*

Stroll through a 2 million light illuminated pathway and explore 10 holiday themed lands that you and your family can walk through. It will be a great, memorable time for all!