Winter Fest OC, described as Southern California’s largest winter festival, is scheduled to return to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on November 27. The event marks its twelfth year of operation since its 2014 debut, showcasing over 40 attractions for residents and visitors. PSQ Productions, an Irvine-based event production and management company, organizes the festival. Mark Entner, CEO of PSQ Productions, noted in a press release that the holiday season focuses on "creating special moments with the people you love."
The festival has become a beloved seasonal staple in Orange County, recognized for its array of classic activities. These include the 150-foot-long Snowflake Summit tubing slide and dedicated snow play zones, which offer real snow for sledding and snowball tossing. An outdoor ice skating rink, holiday light displays, and a music-synchronized light show are also returning. Attendees will again have opportunities for meet-and-greets with Santa, nightly tree lighting ceremonies, and live music performances, though specific performers for this season have not yet been announced.
This year, the event will expand its offerings with three major brand-new attractions. Among these is a seven-zone holiday light trail, which, according to PSQ Production’s press release, will guide visitors through "themed areas" such as Peppermint Tunnel, Singing Forest, and Aurora Snowfall Walk. Another new feature, The Grand Cove, will showcase green and red illuminated trees, a plaza adorned with ornaments, a forest of real pine trees, and a starfield backdrop. A 20,000-square-foot Bounce Land and a nine-hole mini golf experience are also new additions, accessible with specific ticket tiers.
For residents considering attendance, various ticket options are available. The base Snow Pass is priced at an Early Bird online ticket cost of $25.99 and includes access to the holiday light trail and returning attractions. For those wishing to visit multiple times, the Season Pass costs $47.99, allowing unlimited visits on eligible dates. The Winter Pass, identified as the most popular ticket option, is $45.99. This tier offers unlimited ice skating, Bounce Pass access to the new Bounce Land and mini golf, and priority gate entry.
The Platinum Pass represents the festival’s most costly ticket option at $101.99. It builds upon the Winter Pass benefits by adding unlimited carnival rides, access to a brand-new VIP lounge, and Fast Pass access for the Snowflake Summit. All ticket options, including the Platinum Pass, are currently available for purchase on the Winter Fest OC website. Parking at the OC Fair & Event Center will cost $15 per vehicle, a fee consistent across all ticket tiers.
Early Bird ticket pricing, which is advertised as a 48% discount from regular prices, will remain in effect until November 10, after which in-season pricing will apply. All Winter Fest OC passes for this year are Flex passes, meaning visitors can purchase tickets without needing to declare a specific attendance date. The event will operate on a cashless system, accepting only credit and debit cards for payment. The festival is scheduled to run from November 27 through January 3, 2027, on select dates and times.
