The cancellation, confirmed by WWBT-TV, comes after the event mysteriously did not appear on the park’s annual event schedule, which was released on Wednesday, January 29. Initially, Kings Dominion promised that admission to WinterFest would be included with the purchase of a 2025 season pass. The sudden absence of the event raised concerns among fans, prompting the park to address the matter publicly.
Kings Dominion will open for its regular season on March 29, 2025, and will kick off its 50th anniversary celebrations. The park will highlight milestone attractions, including the debut of Rapterra, a new roller coaster, and host events such as A Golden Summerbration, Halloween Haunt, Oktoberfest, and Tricks and Treats. These events are designed to provide thrilling and memorable experiences for all ages.
Following the announcement, angry customers flocked to Kings Dominion’s Facebook page to vent their frustrations over the cancellation. Many season pass holders expressed disappointment about the park not fulfilling its promise of WinterFest, with some demanding compensation.
Here are some of the comments from Facebook users:
- “When can we expect the partial refund on our season pass renewals and all-season add-ons since you canceled Winterfest after they were purchased?”
- “Canceling Winterfest is an extremely poor decision. Most season passholders expect Winterfest to be a part of what we paid for considering it has been in existence for a very long time. Attending Winterfest is a holiday tradition for many local families. My kids will be absolutely devastated. I hope those responsible for making decisions for Kings Dominion read all of these comments regarding Winterfest and reconsider as there is plenty of time to make adjustments to include Winterfest in the schedule.”
For more details, you can view the video where customers share their concerns: Watch here.
Kings Dominion offers season passes ranging from $95 to $260, depending on the desired benefits level.
Kings Dominion is now under new ownership following the merger of Six Flags and Cedar Fair Entertainment Corporation, which had managed the park before the merger. The merger created the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, North America’s largest regional amusement resort operator, with 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and nine resort properties across 17 U.S., Canada, and Mexico states.
Kings Dominion has assured season pass holders that they will be contacted regarding alternative benefits or compensation related to the cancellation of WinterFest.
During the park’s Halloween Haunt event on Saturday, September 21, 2024, a large group of juveniles caused a disturbance at Kings Dominion. Deputies from the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene about 9 p.m. after receiving reports of the disruptive group.
When deputies attempted to remove the juveniles from the park, many ran and hid inside park restaurants. At one point, some juveniles were reportedly throwing chairs inside one of the dining establishments. Several fights broke out as deputies worked to control the situation, but by 11 p.m., they successfully removed the group from the park, according to Hanover County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steven Willis.
No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made during the incident. The Halloween Haunt event, known for its live entertainment, costumed characters, and haunted mazes, continued as planned, with the park closing at midnight.
This incident comes as Busch Gardens Williamsburg has implemented a chaperone policy for guests 15 years old and younger during its Howl-O-Scream event, following safety concerns after recent incidents. On September 14, a teen was stabbed in the park, with an employee reporting a fight just before 10 p.m. that night. The previous week, police were called to Busch Gardens due to a verbal altercation between two large groups, primarily involving juveniles and young adults, during the second night of Howl-O-Scream, which began on September 6.
Kings Dominion introduced a chaperone policy in April 2023, requiring all guests 15 years old or younger to be accompanied by someone at least 21.
The star of the show will be the park’s new winged rollercoaster, Rapterra. It will soar 145 feet into the sky, travel at 65 mph, and feature a dive loop, flat spin corkscrew, and heartline roll (the park calls it a raptor roll).
The celebration will also feature various special events, entertainment, and attractions. Visitors can expect new live shows at the Kings Dominion Theater, a high-energy roaming street party, and the return of the famous Clown Band. A standout feature will be the park’s Eiffel Tower, lit with special effects synchronized to a golden anniversary soundtrack.
In addition, the beloved Singing Mushrooms will debut an all-new playlist, while interactive displays will highlight the park’s rich history. Guests will also be treated to limited-time food and drink offerings inspired by Kings Dominion’s past, present, and future.
Don Helbig, who spent 17 seasons managing media relations at King’s Dominion’s sister park, King’s Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, including its 50th-anniversary celebration in 2022, reflected on the significance of the upcoming anniversary. “It’s going to be a big deal,” said Helbig. Anytime you have a significant anniversary, there’s a lot of history and traditions to celebrate.”
“For a lot of people, King’s Dominion is where they had their first job, met their significant other, or spent time with family. The 50th anniversary is going to rekindle a lot of those memories.”
King’s Dominion took inspiration from its planned street party on Kings Island’s 50th anniversary, which included nightly fireworks and a parade-like event. “Kings Island had a cavalcade with floats representing iconic parts of the park. King’s Dominion could do something similar to make it a season-long celebration.”
The “singing mushrooms” in the Candy Apple Grover section of the park date back to the park’s opening. The attraction was restored in 2014 to mark the park’s last milestone. “When they brought those back for the 40th anniversary, it was a big hit.”
Additionally, Helbig remembered Dick Van Dyke, the movie and TV star who was once an unofficial spokesperson for King’s Dominion. Van Dyke, now 98, remains active, and Helbig suggested he could be part of the festivities. “Why not incorporate Dick Van Dyke? If there’s a nighttime show, he could do a voiceover or be involved in some way.”
Helbig also proposed creating a temporary museum or walkthrough exhibit highlighting milestones from 1975 to the present. “They could have stones marking what was new each year from 1975 through today. It’s a way to recognize the history of the park in a meaningful way.”
Rapterra
Kings Dominion is set to debut Rapterra during its 50th anniversary season, its first newly-constructed roller coaster built from the ground up since Intimidator 305 opened in 2010. While Twisted Timbers launched in 2018, it was a conversion of the old Hurler roller coaster from 1994. Rapterra represents the park’s first entirely new roller coaster in over a decade.
“It’s a game changer,” said Don Helbig, speaking about the new ride. “This coaster will bring visitors from all over to experience it.” Rapterra will be the world’s tallest and longest-launched wing coaster, with nearly 3,100 feet of track. Helbig noted that Rapterra marks a significant moment for the park after years of limited new coaster additions. “For those who’ve grown up visiting Kings Dominion, you’ve seen other parks get new coasters while Kings Dominion didn’t. That’s changing now.”
Rapterra offers a distinct experience as a wing coaster, with riders seated outside the track. “You’re not riding along or under the track like on traditional coasters,” Helbig explained. He also addressed the park’s competition with Busch Gardens, emphasizing that Kings Dominion has always excelled in thrill rides.
“Busch Gardens is known for its shows and atmosphere, but if you’re after thrills, Kings Dominion has always been the better option,” he said.
Rapterra will open in the Jungle Expedition area, where Volcano: The Blast Coaster once stood before its removal in 2018. Helbig pointed to ongoing improvements in the area, such as installing cooler stone pathways.
King’s Dominion just wrapped up its summer operating season and will begin its popular Halloween “Haunt” on weekend evenings starting Friday, September 20, 2024. The event features actors dressed up like ghouls and goblins throughout the park, haunted houses, and live musical entertainment. During the day on Saturday and Sunday, the park will hold “Tricks and Treats” for children, where they can decorate pumpkins, collect candy, and play games in the park’s Planet Snoopy area.
The park will also hold an Ocktoberfest on weekends from September 21 to November 3, offering food, beer, and live entertainment.
More about Don Helbig
Don Helbig’s journey into the theme park industry is unique. It all began at Kings Island in Ohio, where his love for the park, notably the iconic “The Racer” roller coaster, would eventually lead to a record-setting streak of rides. In 1979, Don was caught in the middle of a baseball strike, and instead of waiting idly, he decided to visit Kings Island frequently.
On a remarkable day, he rode the Racer 97 times, breaking a previous record. From there, his obsession with the ride grew, culminating in 1,000 rides in one year and an incredible 10,000 rides by 1990. His deep passion for the amusement park world sparked an interest in public relations, a field in which Kings Island had already used him to generate media buzz.
His storytelling abilities shone through, particularly with the launch of the Kings Island blog in 2017, where he told stories about the park’s history and shared updates with the media. In 2019 alone, Don published over 245 stories about the park. Today, he continues his love for the industry through his blog, Theme Parks by Don, and his podcast, The Attractions Group, where he interviews key figures in the amusement industry.
“Last year, these three Cedar Fair parks generated quite a buzz when they announced their decision to remain open on weekends during what was formerly their off-season.”
The park, at 16000 Theme Park Way in Doswell, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
The Soak City water park inside Kings Dominion is open on weekends from noon until 7 p.m. The daily hours for both parks expand on June 10, when Soak City opens for daily summer operation.
New this year is the restored Grizzly rollercoaster, a 41-year-old wooden rollercoaster that the Gravity Group replaced two-thirds of its track.
Kings Dominion: “The Gravity Group has created an alternative track system that is being utilized in the retracking of The Grizzly. The new track system from The Gravity Group is entirely made of wood – preserving the integrity of a wooden roller coaster. The newly engineered precut track is by design up to thirty times stronger than the traditional wooden roller coaster track. The track is precut at The Gravity Group facility by precision equipment to the exact shape determined by the ride design.”
The fan-favorite show which debuted in the park’s Jungle X-Pedition area last year, “Let’s Get Wild,” will also return this year.
In April, Coaster 101 readers named Kings Dominion the best theme park in the U.S.
Coaster101: “We started with 70+ parks from across North America. After more than 56,000 individual votes cast, we’re ready to crown our 2023 Champion: Kings Dominion!”
“Kings Dominion proceeded to knock off SeaWorld Orlando in Round Two and their neighbors to the east, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, in Round Three, before taking down a pair of past Park Mania champions in Kings Island (2018) and Hersheypark (2019) to match up with Cedar Point in the finals.”
“Kings Dominion was able to ride their social media wave all the way to the Championship and the much coveted Park Mania Trophy!”
The park in Doswell, Virginia, will open from 5 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., with rides closing at 10 p.m. as the New Year’s countdown party begins under the Eiffel Tower and concludes with a fantastic firework show planned at the stroke of midnight.
The New Year’s Eve celebration is also one of the last two operating days for the WinterFest event at the park for 2022. WinterFest has millions of Christmas lights, nearly 1,000 Christmas trees, and festive dĂ©cor displayed throughout the 400-acre park. The iconic Eiffel Tower is transformed into a 300-foot-tall Christmas tree, and the well-known International Street fountains are turned into an ice-skating plaza known as Snowflake Lake.
This New Year’s celebration will feature all the activities, rides, and attractions of WinterFest, including more than 20 rides, live entertainment on stages throughout the park, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, and the WinterFest Wonderland Parade at 9 pm. In addition, guests can enjoy a special menu of WinterFest treats and specialty cocktails. The event also will feature a party deejay and dancing under the Eiffel Tower.
A complete listing of WinterFest shows, attractions, dining, and advance-purchase tickets for $33 are available at kingsdominion.com.
The iconic 315-tall Eiffel Tower will be transformed into a 300-foot-tall Christmas tree, and the well-known International Street fountains will become a large, ice-skating plaza known as Snowflake Lake.
Each night of the event, the WinterFest Wonderland Parade will provide an experience brimming with displays, performances, and decorated holiday floats with themes such as gingerbread houses, wrapped gift boxes, and toy trains. More than 100 singers and dancers will join the procession to perform on the parade route, and Santa Claus will join the Christmas festivities.
Children can take pictures with Santa or decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus. Guests can also ice skate on the park’s transformed International Street Fountain and reserve horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the park. In addition, more than 20 rides will be open, including Twisted Timber and Dominator rollercoasters, the 105-year-old carousel, the Americana Ferris Wheel, and several attractions in the Planet Snoopy area of the park.
There will be Christmas-themed shows throughout the park. These include Four Drummers Drumming, Jingle Jazz, Cool Yule Christmas, The Mistletones, The Kris Kringles, Tinker’s Toy Factory, and a Peanuts’ Guide to Christmas.
There will be festive flavors, including gingerbread and peppermint funnel cake, cranberry orange turkey legs, stuffed cupcakes, and pumpkin pie. Shoppers can hunt for gifts crafted by local artists at Artisan Alley and browse for unique finds at the North Pole Mercantile and Sugar Plum Sweets.
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2022, a family-friendly celebration will feature live entertainment, fireworks at midnight, and more. New Year’s Eve is included with WinterFest admission or a 2022 or 2023 gold season pass.
Daily admission tickets to Kings Dominion’s Winterfest are $30 each. The event is included at no additional charge for gold season pass holders.
Kings Dominion is at 16000 Theme Park Way in Doswell, Va.
