Greer's OC

Winter Fest OC, Southern California’s largest winter experience, returns to the OC Fair & Event Center with its Opening Night Celebration on Winter Solstice on Thursday, Dec. 21 from 5 to 11 p.m. This year’s wonderland of wintry fun features an all-new Alpine Village area with OC’s largest snow play and slide area with real snow blown in daily, plus a stroll-through Festival of Lights display with three new themes: the North Pole, Christmas Under the Sea and Celebration Town U.S.A., and a 100’ animated tunnel.  

Winter Fest OC is held December 21 – January 7^.

Be sure to not miss Santa and his reindeer as they fly over the fairgrounds each night through Christmas Eve before returning to the North Pole.

Alpine Village is the destination of not-to-miss activities at Winter Fest OC. With an expanded snow play area and a dedicated space for toddlers to play, it will be snowing for 18 days straight at Winter Fest OC. Make sure to satisfy your sweet tooth with all-new food and beverage options, including hot chocolate, and a signature Winter Fest dessert created by the infamous Afters Ice Cream. “The Winter Fest” dessert features frozen hot cocoa ice cream with a crushed Oreo topping, all enclosed in a cinnamon sugar sweet bun. Hot on the outside but cold on the inside, it’s the perfect combination for the holiday season!

To add to the fun in Alpine Village, a new Snowmazing inflatable maze and additional bounce houses are available for kids, and a large stage area with new character meet and greets. Kids can enjoy meeting their favorite characters on various days, including Thomas the Train, PJ Masks, Rusty Rivets, and PAW Patrol.

Also, the model train exhibit is back from Del Oro Train Association, where kids and adults alike can marvel at trains as they zip through small Christmas villages.

Families are invited to join Winter Fest OC on New Year’s Eve to ring in the New Year not once, but twice, with celebrations beginning at 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. Winter Fest OC will light up the sky with fireworks, a countdown, and an unforgettable 3,000 balloon-drop during both celebrations.

For more information on Winter Fest visit WinterFestOC.com.

OC Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa,