Kennywood Park’s Holiday Lights event is up for USA Today’s “10 Best” theme parks with holiday events.
What makes Holiday Lights awesome? Well, let me tell you.
Kennywood Park already is a regional (and national) treasure, with its roller coasters, old rides and Potato Patch fries.
Now add the festive feeling of the holidays, twinkling lights, Santa, and you’ve hit the holiday mecca.
The park celebrates the holidays with more than 2 million (!!) lights, including a twinkling lights show synchronized to a great holiday music playlist, the state’s tallest Christmas tree and so much more!
The lagoon offers two different 10-minute holiday lights shows. Plus, area high schools and other groups perform at the Garden Stage.
As for rides, the park offers Thomas Town (including the train), Auto Race, Ghostwood Estate, Kangaroo, Merry-Go-Round, Noah’s Ark, Paratrooper, Pirate and and up to 10 Kiddieland rides. (Ride availability is weather dependent.)
The park offers two different extra add-ons for kids: Dinner with Santa and the Thomas & Friends Party Experience.
Kennywood Park is a magical place in the summer. But the holidays give it an extra special magical feeling.
There’s something amazing about eating Potato Patch fries in crisp, seasonal temperatures as thousands of lights twinkle all around.
Along with some rides and Potato Patch fries, the park offers plenty of holiday-themed fun, including a huge model train display set up inside Penny Arcade. There always are so many fun, little things to check out in the display. Look closely for animated people, and be sure to spot the tiny amusement park!
Each night, a different Pittsburgh “celebrity” reads “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” including Sally Wiggin and Rick Sebak. The park usually provides a calendar of readers on its site, but nothing is available as of this posting.
New this year, the park’s 4D theater will show “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The show is a condensed version of the popular holiday classic and, of course, in 4D!
Plus … the park usually offers Parker’s Dance Party and a magic show of some sort at Kennyville Stage. (Parker is Kennywood’s arrow mascot, and it’s joined by mascots from sister parks: Sandcastle’s Dunkin, Idlewild’s Ricky Raccoon and Duke from Dutch Wonderland.)
More details
Kennywood Park’s Holiday Lights begins Nov. 22. It is held Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Dec. 22 and is open nightly from Dec. 26-30.
As of this posting, admission – if purchased online in most cases below – is as follows, based on “sale” prices:
- General admission: $19.49 (valid any night of Holiday Lights)
- Friday or Sunday admission: $18.49
- Holiday Lights season pass: $28 (valid for unlimited visits to Kennywood Park during the 2019 Holiday Lights season)
- Select Passholder Nights: Free! Active season passholders receive free admission on select Holiday Lights dates. Kennywood’s site indicates that 2019/2020 Silver, Premium, Ride & Slide, and Senior passholders can show their pass at the main gate for complimentary admission on Nov. 22, 24, 29; and Dec. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, as well as 26-30.
- 412 Food Rescue: $14.99 with personal care item: Kennywood is partnering with 412 Food Rescue to collect personal care items (such as oral care products, diapers and feminine hygiene products, soap, deodorant and toilet paper). These items will be distributed to 412 Food Rescue’s clients. Kennywood guests who donate a personal care item when they visit between Nov. 22 and Dec. 8 receive a coupon for $6 off admission on up to four tickets.
It's Christmas 365 