Carowinds WinterFest

‘Tis the season! Now that Thanksgiving has come to a close, decorations are being placed, lights are being hung, and songs are being sung. The time to travel has arrived! If you are looking for an easy and fun excursion, Carowinds WinterFest is just the place! The annual WinterFest event at Carowinds contains lights, thrills, and entertainment for everyone!

Carowinds is an amusement park that is located right outside of Charlotte, NC. The park is on the border of NC and SC, containing rides on both sides of the state line. Whether you love thrill rides or only enjoy the mild rides, there is something for you at Carowinds. The park is home to many iconic coasters, featuring the Fury 325. The Fury 325 is currently the tallest and fastest giga roller coaster in the world and the winner of “Best New Ride'' from Amusement today in its opening year. Carowinds has constantly been highly reviewed for its family aspect and entertainment for people of all ages. Putting Carowinds above some other theme parks is the kid-themed zone known as “Planet Snoopy”. This zone is great for children to interact with characters, experience the thrill of rides on their comfort level, and play interactive games. 

Carowinds WinterFest is an annual event that takes place on select nights from November 17 to January 1st. This spectacular event transforms the typically closed for the cold season, Carowinds amusement park, into a winter wonderland that has attractions for guests of all ages! The lights, decorations, and atmosphere make it an amazing destination to bring the family!

Even in the off season, through the cold temperatures of the winter, the park keeps some of the rides in operation. However, if you’re looking for a polar bear plunge, the Carolina Harbour Water Park remains closed during the celebration of Carowinds WinterFest. Even though some of the attractions are closed during this festival, the park will still have attractions that are a fit for every person in your group. 

The holiday atmosphere is fantastic, but come prepared to fight the cold weather! The cold temperature can make people feel uncomfortable and frozen, especially on thrill rides. If you begin to be cold or you just want to add to your day of winter fun, go inside one of the theaters to catch a holiday themed show! These shows are interactive, original, and very entertaining for the entire family. The park is home to 7 different shows, parades, or live entertainment opportunities. With a range of comedy to festive to sing-alongs, everyone will be entertained! 

Walking around the park is enough to be amazed by the spectacular decorations and activities. Don’t leave before dark, so you can experience the sight of all of the lights along with the holiday parade that travels through the park. Many sections of the park have been modified to fit the theme of a winter wonderland. If you become tired of walking and need a place to rest, you can try out “Jack Frost’s Igloo Village”. Which once was a plaza, has been transformed to have heated igloo bubbles that can hold your entire group. Inside the igloo, you and your group can be served a menu of food, drinks, treats, and more. If you are looking to ramp up the action and get up from the igloo, you can travel to the “SnowFlake Lake Ice Skating” for an outdoor skating experience underneath thousands of lights. 

Not only has the scenery been updated for the holiday spirit, but the shops and restaurants have begun to serve festive plates of food along with festive treats! Many restaurants and dining halls throughout the park have modified their menu for the WinterFest event. Some limited-time treats from this event include the pecan pie funnel cake, deep-fried cornbread, pumpkin spice churros, gourmet hot chocolate, and more! There are also seasonal cocktails for the adults to enjoy. 

Many residents from all over North Carolina and South Carolina will make it a priority to not miss out on this annual event. With school out for winter break and family visiting for the holidays, this winter celebration can be a fantastic new activity to add to your winter bucket list!

          https://www.carowinds.com/events/winterfest