8 Theme Parks That Go All Out for Halloween and Christmas

Amusement parks may be a staple of summer, but there are drawbacks to visiting when everyone is on vacation: long lines, crowded restaurants, and heat that doesn’t seem to let up, even when those water misters are on full blast. But while some parks shut for the season, once temperatures dip, others take a cue from Christmas markets and festivals around the country and deck the halls, er, rides, for the holidays. And not just the winter ones either. From an Eiffel Tower-turned-Christmas tree to Knotts Scary Farm, these are the best theme parks to visit during the holidays. 

Carlsbad, California & Winter Haven, Florida

Given the mild climate of both states, visiting the LEGOLAND parks means you get to unleash your inner bricklayer without a bulky parka getting in the way.

Halloween: Brick-or-Treat Monster Party is perfect for kicking off Halloween season at Legoland in California. Enjoy attractions available just for the fall season, such as the Disco Dragon Coaster, and come face-to-face with the more haunting parts of the LEGO universe with a meet-and-greet with LEGO monsters including Lord Vampyre and Monster Frankenstein. Plus, LEGOLAND California boasts a costume contest for visitors 12 or younger. (Sorry, mom!) A visit to LEGOLAND New York this fall includes a Brick-or-Treating inside the park at 10 different candy-giving locations.

Winter holidays: Bring polar vibes to warmer climates with a Holiday Village Postal Service where you can send letters to LEGO Santa and see a 30-foot-tall Christmas trees made of, yep, LEGOs. If a mountain of colorful plastic isn’t enticing enough, then go for the 360-degree light show or nightly snowfall, especially if you don’t live in a place where winter means snow and gray skies 24/7. More for the kids, there’s also a holiday character crew that comprises LEGO Santa and LEGO Gingerbread, plus holiday shows. But even the most ardent Grinch—who's actually associated with a different theme park on this list, but bear with us—should consider winter a prime time to ride the rides (without standing in lines all day) and walk among the block cities. Both parks are open year-round, ensuring that, even in the middle of February, you’ll find entertainment.

Buena Park, California

One of the most exciting parts about winter is the comfort food, and what better place to spend your time eating than California’s very first theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm? What started as a roadside berry stand and chicken dinner restaurant almost a century ago is now one of Southern California’s most popular theme parks, complete with coasters and water slides.

Halloween: Visit the longest-running Halloween theme park event in Southern California at Knott’s Scary Farm. The theme park is transformed into a nightmarish landscape complete with haunted mazes, one-of-a-kind shows, more than 1,000 creatures that go bump in the night wandering around the grounds. These events are available on select nights between September 19 and November 2 this year.

Winter Holidays: A wintertime trip to Knott’s means gracious helpings of Tinseltown’s turkey, bacon, and alfredo tater bites, funnel cakes, and Santa’s apple pie cupcakes. Time your visit with the holiday ice skating show, which features Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang (this year marks the 40th anniversary of Snoopy on Ice!). Holiday music comes in the form of a capella singers serenading with Christmas carols and a bluegrass duo crooning classic and new hits. And there’s plenty of family entertainment in the form of cookies in Mrs. Claus’ kitchen and photos in Santa’s Christmas cabin.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

If you’re planning a mountain getaway in the South, one of the best escapes for the holidays is the Great Smoky Mountains, where you can spend your days at one of the most-visited theme parks in the world—Dollywood. Dolly Parton's amusement-filled monument to, well, Dolly Parton, has appeal beyond fans of country and bluegrass—though those people are more or less guaranteed an experience similar to finding out heaven is covered in rhinestones.

Harvest Festival: Although it has less to do with the scarier side of the fall holiday season, Dollywood offers its share of special celebrations. The Dollywood Harvest Festival is a chance to experience nights teeming with autumnal splendor while walking amidst a sea of creatively carved pumpkins ranging from gargantuan to bite-sized. Take a ride on the Big Bear Mountain coaster or the Mystery Mine. And Dollywood wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of live music—all of these harvest experiences will be set to the tune of live bluegrass and country music. 

Winter holidays: Up until New Year’s Day, Dollywood features parades, plus several award-winning live shows like musical revue Christmas in the Smokies and classics like 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. The park is closed from early January through mid-March, so plan accordingly if you want to spin on the Dizzy Disk—essentially a giant spinning saucer—or walk through Chasing Rainbows, an interactive museum filled with many of Parton’s dazzling gowns and awards, plus a hologram of Dolly herself.

Doswell, Virginia

There are many reasons to go to Kings Dominion, like testing your bravery on the Berserker, a viking ship replica that swings in a 360-degree loop, or flying at 67 miles per hour on the Dominator, the world’s longest, floor-less steel roller coaster. But, for the fall and winter holiday season there are distinctly seasonal benefits.

Halloween: Have an evening of fang-tastic fun at the Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt. When the daytime kid’s-favorite Planet Snoopy closes its Charlie-Brown-themed doors at 6 pm you know you’re in for a night of frights. Run away to the circus at the Cleaver Brothers Carnival where an eerie night of costumed clownery with an otherworldly edge takes center stage. Or, if you’re interested in the more traditional All Hallow’s Eve frights, head over to the Grimwoods for a real-life look at the hair-raising literary creations of the Brothers Grimm.

Winter holidays: During the Winter holidays, it comes down to three words: spiked hot chocolate. While many kid-centered amusement parks prohibit the selling and drinking of alcohol, you need not worry at Kings Dominion. During WinterFest—which takes place select nights through New Year’s Day—there are multiple spots to grab a nice cup of this spiked treat, along with a range of local craft beers, wine, and another adult Christmas classic, spiked eggnog. Of course, there’s more to do than just drink here, as the Eiffel Tower transforms into a 300-foot-tall Christmas tree and the fountain on International Street turns into an ice-skating rink, letting you live out all your Rockefeller Center holiday fantasies in a place—dare we say it—that’s much more magical.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Halloween: The Carowinds transform into the Scarowinds between September 13 and October 27 this year—a place where a bloodthirsty vampire or brain-hungry zombie could be around each bend. Stop by the live Conjure The Night performances to be hypnotized by towers of fire and the night air filled with pink smoke. Formerly a separately ticketed event, the Scarowinds now exists within the original ground of this North Carolina amusement park.

Winter holidays: There’s so much happening at Carowinds WinterFest that it would take the rest of winter just to tell you about it all. Just know there will be many lights (millions, if you want us to be more precise) and live performances, including jingles from Carowinds’ musical acts Christmas Bluegrass, Cool Yule, and the Yule Logs. Hop on any of the numerous rides that’ll be operating, like the Scream Weaver (the name is accurate) and the Electro-Spin, which we don’t suggest going on right after eating a full plate of roasted pork mac and cheese. WinterFest lasts until January 1, after which the park closes for the winter, but feel free to stay a few hours later for the New Year’s Eve at WinterFest celebration, where you can count down to the fireworks at the largest party on the state line.

Anaheim, California and Orlando, Florida

Halloween: The Halloween season kicks off early at Disneyland, where fall vibes and decor spring up as early as August 23. Take a tour of the Haunted Mansion, which becomes The Nightmare Before Christmas themed for the season, and say season's screamings to residents of Halloween Town including Sally, and Oogie Boogie. Or, check out some familiar characters in their spooky new looks. Head over to "Radiator Screams” to see Tow Mater dressed in his very best vampiric get-up. At Walt Disney World, you’re invited to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. See some of the characters you know and love in Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, and Daisy Duck will wave hello dressed as the sinister Sanderson Sisters. And, of course, a selection of Disney’s most alarming villains will also be in tow.

Winter holidays: The Disney parks are often cited as the happiest places on Earth, and their winter makeovers—particularly during Magic Kingdom’s beloved Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party—seriously amp up the cheer. The usual suspects are present—weekend fireworks extravaganzas, nightly parades, iconic characters in costume—but everything is given a winter twist, from the occasional puff of cinnamon wafting through the air to holiday-themed shows and It's a Small World's snowy makeover. The food—which some people actually visit the park for—also gets a makeover, while the characters get into the spirit of the holidays with new costumes. Oh, and of course Santa's at the parade, along with Anna and Elsa. Just the sight of that iconic magic castle dripping with icicle lights and a nice dusting of fake frost is enough to make a Disney trip during the holidays.

Jackson Township, New Jersey

Halloween: Six Flag Great Adventure hosts its annual Fright Fest Extreme. These homes of horror take on different themes, from spooky movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre to a circus-themed Big Top Terror. Fright Fest runs from 6 pm to 11 pm on select nights until November 3. Experience frights inspired by Stranger Things—the Demogorgon or Mind Flayer are probably invited to the Fest as well—or walk around a couple bends and find yourself immersed in TCU (The Conjuring Universe).

Winter holidays: Sure, there are tons of Six Flags across the country, and they put on pretty cool holiday events, but when’s the last time you got to ride a “hypercoaster” at 80 miles per hour in New Jersey’s frigid temps? Never, that’s when. But no worries, that can all change after you conquer your fears and hop on one of the world’s top steel coasters, Nitro. Its name is just as intense as the first hill you’ll go up—which is a casual 233 feet high. For something more winter-themed, Holiday in the Park is on until January 1, and that’s just enough time for you to go on every ride in the park—or you can try to ride all 36 of them in one day. And don’t miss any of the cheerful singing and holiday shows, then wind down the day in S’mores Village (pretty obvious what you’ll find here)—or snag a gingerbread or peppermint funnel cake—and warm up your hands at the fire pits. You can also pick up last-minute gifts at the North Pole Village, in case you still have a few to check off your list.

Los Angeles, California and Orlando, Florida

Halloween: Halloweenseason comes to Universal Studios in a big way. Whether you’re celebrating the wizarding world’s holiday or the muggle version, you can take part in Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. At Universal Studios Orlando you can explore 10 different haunted houses and five “scare zones” where “scare actors” will try to catch you unaware. This experience isn’t recommended for children younger than 13, so maybe prioritize filling them with Christmas cheer over Halloween fear. Winter holidays: Both coasts are in for a treat as Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando are decking their parks with holiday decor, food, music, and enough Harry Potter to get you through 2023. If you’re in Orlando, start your day by having breakfast with the Grinch. Then, get lost in the magic of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as you walk the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.California friends, check out theholiday takeover of Universal CityWalk, where you can take photos by the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree lit with 200,000 music-synced lights at the 5 Towers Stage. 

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