Get into the holiday spirit with WinterFest at Canada’s Wonderland

The best holiday themed event in Ontario is on now, and it’s my favourite way to get into the spirit of the season.

WinterFest at Canada’s Wonderland is on now until December 31, and it’s one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen for Christmas and the holidays with more than 5 million lights, hundreds of trees, and three 50-foot Christmas trees.

Some of the fun at WinterFest include skating, live shows, a special seasonal menu, rides, characters, and there’s nowhere else to see so many lights.

New this year, Canada’s Wonderland is offering private igloos with concierge service at Jack Frost’s Igloo Village, and that includes four drink mugs for hot chocolate. The igloos are a great, cozy spot to warm up and enjoy a bite to eat or a break after skating.

Lazy Bear Lodge restaurant is another new spot to grab a bite to eat this year, and try some of the new food items. The rustic-style lodge offers smoked turkey, ham, or roast beef, with a savoury side and a biscuit. Other meals available this year include an herb-marinated pork chop, brisket burnt ends poutine, tempura vegetable tacos, and a seafood chowder bread bowl.

You can also find special cocktails at locations around the park, like non-alcoholic gourmet hot chocolate, a s’mores hot chocolate with a shot for the adults, as well as The Scrooge, Warm Snickerdoodle Cookie Cider, warm mulled wine, and Holiday Limeade.

Here are some of the other highlights to check out:

• Tinker’s Toy Factory: An indoor musical at Canterbury Theatre with acrobatics featuring elf hijinks in Santa’s Workshop.
• WinterFest rides: There are 23 rides to enjoy this year including the children’s rides in Charlie Brown’s
  Christmas Town, and others like Thunder Run, Klockwerks, Psyclone, and
  Sledge Hammer.
• Ice Skating on Snow Flake Lake: Book your 30-minute skating session on the shimmering, frozen lake in front of
  the iconic Wonder Mountain and surrounded by beautifully lit trees and holiday light
  projections.
• Nightly tree-lighting ceremony: Don’t miss the lighting of the 50-foot-tall Christmas trees on International
  Street at 5:30 PM.
• Cool Yule Christmas: This high-energy, fun-filled show covers all your favourite Christmas pop
  songs.
• A Peanuts Guide to Christmas: Join Charlie Brown and the gang in this enjoyable sing-along
  celebrating the most wonderful time of the year!
• Plus photo ops, Midway Merriment characters, Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus, and photos with St. Nick.

When you’re planning your trip, be sure to book skating when you order your event tickets on the Canada’s Wonderland website, and note that some activities like skating and cookie decorating are an additional charge.

WinterFest is on select dates, and depending on the day the hours are either 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, or 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM on weekends.

If you’re thinking about a Canada’s Wonderland pass for the next year, keep in mind that you can visit WinterFest as many times as you like with a 2023 Gold Pass.

Watch my video from the media preview of WinterFest below, and scroll down for more photos from the event.

Visit The GATE’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guides for more giveaways & holiday features.

All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.