Kings Island Seasonal Events: What to Know Before You Go

Kings Island extends its season well beyond summer with two major events: Halloween Haunt, running select nights from late September through October 31, and WinterFest, which runs from late November into early January. Haunted mazes at Haunt require a separate pass, and WinterFest admission is free for season passholders.

Kings Island runs the park through a seasonal event calendar that extends well past the standard summer operating window. Halloween Haunt and WinterFest are the two anchor events, each with their own ticket structure, crowd profile, and experience focus. Knowing what each one actually includes before you buy a ticket prevents the frustration of paying for something you did not expect.

Halloween Haunt

Halloween Haunt is Kings Island's premier seasonal event and one of the largest Halloween events in the Midwest. It transforms the park after dark starting in late September.

2026 dates: Select nights from September 25 through October 31, 2026. The event does not run every night, so check the calendar at visitkingsisland.com before purchasing.

Hours: Generally 6 PM to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with earlier closing hours on select weeknights.

What is included with regular Haunt admission:
- Full park access (all regular rides operate)
- Scare zones throughout the park (roaming actors, fog, themed environments)
- Live entertainment including Dr. Nightmare's Game Show and Nytewalkers performances

What costs extra:
The haunted house mazes are not included in standard Haunt admission and require a separate purchase.

• Haunted Attractions Pass ($10 to $30): Unlimited access to all mazes for a single night. Pricing is dynamic and varies by date.
• Haunted Attractions Express Pass ($29 to $59): Priority access to haunted mazes plus a single entry to The Conjuring: Beyond Fear. Worth it on peak nights when maze lines run 60+ minutes.
• The Conjuring: Beyond Fear ($15 to $25 single entry): A 20-minute immersive walkthrough experience based on the Conjuring film franchise, featuring the Nun and Annabelle. This upcharge experience returned for 2026 and has a separate ticket from the standard maze pass.

2026 maze lineup:
- Order of the Dragon (new for 2026)
- Slaughter House
- Hotel St. Michelle
- Alien Abyss
- KillMart
- Cornered

Scare zones:
- Pumpkin Eater
- Abandoned
- Hooked
- International Street Fear
- Coney Maul

Who it is for: Adults and older teens. The event is not family guide by design, scare actors engage guests in the scare zones and the overall atmosphere is intended to be frightening. Children under 12 are technically admitted but the experience is designed for an older audience.

Crowd impact: Haunt Fridays and Saturdays in October are among the highest-attendance nights of the year. Expect waits on popular coasters. If you come primarily for the mazes, the Haunted Attractions Express Pass becomes more valuable on those nights.

WinterFest

WinterFest is a holiday event that transforms the park with millions of lights, seasonal entertainment, and a winter atmosphere. It is family-friendly and operates at a lower intensity than Halloween Haunt.

2025-2026 dates: November 28, 2025 through December 31, 2025, with select operating dates. The event does not run every day during that window.

Specific 2025 dates: November 28, 29, 30; December 5, 6, 7; December 12 through 23; December 26 through 31. New Year's Eve runs until midnight.

Hours: Generally 5 PM to 10 PM on weekdays and Sundays; 4 PM to 10 PM on Saturdays; 5 PM to 11 PM on December 31 (rides close at 11 PM; the park hosts a midnight fireworks countdown).

What is included:
- Holiday light displays throughout the park
- WinterFest Wonderland Parade
- Live seasonal shows
- Most park rides operating (note: not all rides run during WinterFest)

What costs extra:
- Parking is separate from admission
- Ice skating is a separate upcharge
- Cookie decorating is a separate upcharge
- Food, beverages, and merchandise are all additional

Ticket pricing: WinterFest tickets start around $32 online (plus processing fees) versus $55 at the gate. Children under 48 inches or ages 62 and older have a reduced price around $19.99. Children 2 and under enter free.

Season pass holders: Most season pass tiers include WinterFest at no additional cost. If you have a pass, check your specific tier's benefits, when this is one of the better season pass perks since WinterFest tickets otherwise cost $32 to $55 per visit.

Who it is for: Families with young children, couples looking for a holiday outing, and season passholders who want to get full value from their passes in the off-season. The atmosphere is genuinely nice, Kings Island puts serious resources into the light displays and the park has a different character under holiday decoration than during the regular season.

Summer Events

Kings Island runs several in-season events during the summer months:

Tricks and Treats (fall weekends before Haunt): A family-friendly Halloween event on select September weekends before the full Haunt experience begins. Kids in costume get candy, themed activities, and crafts. This is the family alternative to the adult-oriented Haunt event, starting September 27 and running select dates.

Fireworks and Drone Shows: On most summer evenings the park runs a post-dark fireworks and drone light show. Included with regular admission, no separate ticket required. Times vary, so check the daily entertainment schedule at the park entrance.

Summer concerts: Kings Island has hosted summer concert events in previous seasons. Check the 2026 event calendar at visitkingsisland.com for current bookings, specific acts are announced on a rolling basis throughout the season.

Buying Tickets for Seasonal Events

For both Haunt and WinterFest, the difference between online pricing and gate pricing is substantial, often $20 to $25 per ticket. Purchase online before you arrive. Haunt maze passes and The Conjuring upcharge experience are also available online in advance, and some dates sell out.

For Haunt specifically, Friday and Saturday nights in October sell out the most frequently. If you have a specific date in mind, book early.