Nice that The Racer and SSBR are running again this year! Although, everything is always subject to change

The Racer is also listed as "Both Sides" this year.

I will go ahead and list the available rides during WinterFest:

• Beagle Scout Acres
• Cargo Loco
• Character Carousel
• Charlie Brown's™ Wind Up
• Dodgem
• Flight of Cheer
• Franklin's Flyers
• Grand Carousel
• Great Pumpkin Coaster
• Joe Cool's Dodgem School
• K.I and Miami Valley Railroad
• Kings Mills Antique Autos
• Linus' Beetle Bugs
• Linus Launcher
• Mystic Timbers
• Peanuts™ Off-Road Rally
• The Racer (Both Sides)
• Sally's Sea Plane
• Scrambler
• Shake, Rattle and Roll
• Snoopy's™ Soap Box Racers
• Snoopy's™ Space Buggies
• Snow Works
• Sol Spin
• Zephyr

*Ride availability subject to change.

10 minutes ago, Timchat2 said:

The Racer is also listed as "Both Sides" this year.

It was both sides last year. It just ran one train on both sides. 

7 hours ago, Orion-XL200 said:

No thanks on the white lights....I need color with Christmas lights!

They can still have all of the colorful lights! I'm just talking about a few little shows where they could go from colorful to warm white to cool white back to colorful  I think the current sets of lights (maybe besides the ones in the trees) should be able to change colors so it shouldn't be too hard.

If the park ever has to shrink the ice skating rink or can't offer it one year for some reason, I'd be all for bringing back the Winter Garden that I think they had one year during Winterfest 1.0 or just having a more substantial pre-ice platform (like in the photo above).

Double posting to note that "Valley" for KI&MV RR is misspelled on KI's website. Hopefully someone there will see that and fix it soon!

20 hours ago, super7 said:

A show with dedicated, choreographed dancers like Yuletide Follies or even the previous Cool Yule (after the split the cast into dancers and vocalists) belongs in doors for the sake of the dancers well being.    The KI Theatre should host something that’s more of a total Christmas production like an expanded version of the Follies.     

Totally agree. Tinkers  back to FestHaus, swinging in showplace (or follies) and cool Yule back on the bandstand-shortened and more performances- would be ideal. 

^ I understand what you both are saying.  But a dialog-heavy show like Tinkers needs to be in KIT so people can hear it.  Festhaus has a terrible venue for this show.

An off season park improvement should be the International Showplace.  While a complete indoor venue would be impossible, a tiered seating arrangement with be ideal, along with firepits or heat lamps for a shorter show.  You could even have two shows, 15 minutes each, at the top and bottom of the hour to take care of the cast better.

KI really needs another climate controlled venue.  If they ever get rid of The Junkyard Coaster, a complete revamp of this area with an pleasant looking venue, new restaurant, restrooms, etc would be ideal.

I doubt that the current iteration of ownership would value this.

As some of you may know the first thing I do every morning is check the webcams at CP and KI.  This season has been interesting watching the transformation of Snowflake Lake on the Towercam.  It has been left on so everything can be seen.  Since Monday I've seen at least 10 people working every day, 11-12 hour days including this morning getting it ready.  As of this am they are almost done with the 1st layer of plywood.  Not sure how many layers there are (I would guess 2 along with the "cooler" layer of panels.  Also of note, looks like the 2x2's and plywood are all new this year or at least they all look like they came packaged from a lumber company.  Not sure if they use new every year (seems like they would re-use every couple of seasons) and if it's true they re-use the lumber that may point to Snowflake Lake returning for the next couple of season.
Either way kudo's to those working on the project along with the rest of the team, looks like most halloween stuff was down by mid-day on Monday.  It's been interesting seeing the transformation in real time and it certainly looks like they aren't "cutting costs" in this aspect of the transformation.

Well done by all involved and can't wait to see the park for the first time in the 2nd week of November today.

It seems they're still actively building it today as well. I'm looking forward to the chance to watch them build in person for the first time ever day. Hoping to grab some Grain & Grill shrimp and watch the best live entertainment offered on I-Street this week 

 

But also as mentioned above, it's been impressive to watch. They seem to work 8:30-8:30 most days, including the weekends, so seems like quite the process.

WinterFest preparations around the park:

On 11/8/2025 at 6:05 AM, BeeastFarmer said:

^ I understand what you both are saying.  But a dialog-heavy show like Tinkers needs to be in KIT so people can hear it.  Festhaus has a terrible venue for this show.

An off season park improvement should be the International Showplace.  While a complete indoor venue would be impossible, a tiered seating arrangement with be ideal, along with firepits or heat lamps for a shorter show.  You could even have two shows, 15 minutes each, at the top and bottom of the hour to take care of the cast better.

KI really needs another climate controlled venue.  If they ever get rid of The Junkyard Coaster, a complete revamp of this area with an pleasant looking venue, new restaurant, restrooms, etc would be ideal.

I doubt that the current iteration of ownership would value this.

I guess the easy solution would be (crazy idea here) heaters and seating at all outdoor entertainment venues so at least the outdoor shows are tolerable and get the crowds the performers deserve. And yes to the Showplace renovation- I’ve said that for years, then a show like swinging or follies could go there instead of bandstand. 

On 11/7/2025 at 2:22 PM, IndyGuy4KI said:

I will go ahead and list the available rides during WinterFest:

• Beagle Scout Acres
• Cargo Loco
• Character Carousel
• Charlie Brown's™ Wind Up
• Dodgem
• Flight of Cheer
• Franklin's Flyers
• Grand Carousel
• Great Pumpkin Coaster
• Joe Cool's Dodgem School
• K.I and Miami Valley Railroad
• Kings Mills Antique Autos
• Linus' Beetle Bugs
• Linus Launcher
• Mystic Timbers
• Peanuts™ Off-Road Rally
• The Racer (Both Sides)
• Sally's Sea Plane
• Scrambler
• Shake, Rattle and Roll
• Snoopy's™ Soap Box Racers
• Snoopy's™ Space Buggies
• Snow Works
• Sol Spin
• Zephyr

*Ride availability subject to change.

In 1991, when Smurf's Enchanted Voyage closed for Phantom Theater construction, the park opened two additional rides for Winterfest to compensate for the dark ride being closed (Dodgem and Antique Cars). It would have been nice for the park to go the extra mile and open something new that isn't usually open since Boo Blasters is offline this year. 

42 minutes ago, KIghostguy said:

In 1991, when Smurf's Enchanted Voyage closed for Phantom Theater construction, the park opened two additional rides for Winterfest to compensate for the dark ride being closed (Dodgem and Antique Cars). It would have been nice for the park to go the extra mile and open something new that isn't usually open since Boo Blasters is offline this year. 

You didn't hear about The Beast being open for WinterFest?  For the three trains that could run once, it would the The Thrill of a Lifetime!

Here's a pic from the KI International Street webcam, getting ready for Winterfest with some snow coming down. 

Did they run Sol Spin during Winterfest last year?

23 minutes ago, johnjniehaus said:

Did they run Sol Spin during Winterfest last year?

Yes it did.

The Holiday Meatloaf Burger is back for WinterFest. It’s moving from Miami River Brewhouse to Juke Box Diner. 

The webpage for the  NYE celebration is up. No info yet on whether or not they will be offering the party in the international restaurant.

https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/events/new-years-eve-celebration

Another sign WinterFest is getting closer, the Eiffel Tower Christmas Tree is all lit up now! 

https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/shows/what-the-dickens

17 hours ago, Orion-XL200 said:

https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/shows/what-the-dickens

At last, my conspiracy theory that the joke in What The Dickens at the expense of Six Flags was what got it axed from last year’s lineup. Looks like theyre going all in. They must be really be banking on Winterfest to succeed.

The app is showing Songs of the Nativity near the carousel pavilion, which might explain the rigging that appeared there near the end of Haunt:

Has anyone actually paid the ticket price for the International Restaurant NYE dinner celebration? If so, was it worth it?

7 minutes ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

Has anyone actually paid the ticket price for the International Restaurant NYE dinner celebration? If so, was it worth it?

Yes my girlfriend and I went last year. It sold out. We are hoping to attend again this season.

 

2 hours ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

Has anyone actually paid the ticket price for the International Restaurant NYE dinner celebration? If so, was it worth it?

The first time it was offered....didn't like it as much. I thought I'd rather be out in the park (at that point it was as if you left, you lost your spot and iirc you may have had to pay for admission again). 

The first time it was offered....didn't like it as much. I thought I'd rather be out in the park (at that point it was as if you left, you lost your spot and iirc you may have had to pay for admission again). 

You pay for you seat for the entire evening of the event. We have done it every year it's been offered. You are free to come and go as you please. You receive a wrist band when you check in. We are planning on doing it again.

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10 hours ago, PKIVortex said:

You pay for you seat for the entire evening of the event. We have done it every year it's been offered. You are free to come and go as you please. You receive a wrist band when you check in. We are planning on doing it again.

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When I did it in 2019, the messaging was definitely not clear and it was more like you would lose guaranteed access if you left to go into the park. I remember asking someone working what happened if I left and they basically said if the room gets full, I couldn't get back in. 

Thanks for everyone's input. Its something I am considering so I appreciate the feedback!

More info on the New Year’s Eve Dinner Party at International Restaurant:

Tickets will be going on sale wednesday December 10th. Price is $130 without passholder discount. (Park admission not included.)

https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/events/new-years-eve-celebration