If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
Don’t let the holiday season come and go without heading to Kennywood’s Holiday Lights Event! We’ll go over why this such a great event in this blog entry.
What is Holiday Lights at Kennywood?
Holiday Lights at Kennywood is the holiday season event at Kennywood. Holiday Lights is a popular event, having been voted one of the USA Today 10Best Theme Park Holiday Event.
Kennywood is a wonderful theme park in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. We tell you all about it in our Kennywood Travel Guide.
When is Holiday Lights at Kennywood?
Holiday Lights takes place at Kennywood on on select dates from November 14th, 2025, through January 4th, 2026.
Why is Holiday Lights at Kennywood So Great?
So what makes Holiday Lights so great? It would have to be all the amazing holiday activities you can do and the sights you can see.
Holiday Lights
Well, given the name, you had to figure there will be holiday lights, right? And there are: more than 3 million holiday lights decorating the park, actually! This will make visiting Kennywood a completely new experience from what you are used to during the summer!
Holiday Lights Show
You can watch these beautiful Christmas lights really come to life during the Holiday Lights Show. Head to the area surrounding the Lagoon. Then you can watch the lights twinkle to the tune of your favorite holiday songs! The Holiday Reflections Light Show takes place every half hour starting at 5:30 PM.
Christmas Tree
If you love Christmas trees, you will love Holiday Lights at Kennywood! Because at Holiday Lights, you can see an impressive 100 foot Christmas tree!
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Each night, you’ll be able to watch this amazing Christmas tree come to life with holiday lights during the Tree Lighting Ceremony! It takes place near Kiddieland at 5:45 PM.
Gingerbread Junction
Kennywood Junction is transformed into Gingerbread Junction. Here, you can find five rides, a frosted wonderland, a light show synced to holiday music, and character meet & greets.
Gingerbread Express
Gingerbread Express is an all-new train ride through a life-size gingerbread village.
Santa Experience
Want to make a picture of yourself or your kids with Santa even better? Then get a picture with Santa at Kennywood!
In fact, there is an all new Santa meet-and-greet this year. It takes place at Celebration Station in Gingerbread Junction.
Santa’s Arrival on the Gingerbread Express
Fifteen minutes after the park opens, Santa will be arriving to the park on the Gingerbread Express. So head to Gingerbread Junction, where you can welcome Santa Claus and his friends from the North Pole!
Rudolph & Friends
For the first time ever, you can meet Rudolph and friends at Kennywood! You also get to meet his friends Bumble, Clarice, and Sam the Snowman. This takes place at Christmastown.
Model Trains
One of the best holiday train displays in Pittsburgh would have to be the massive model train display in Kennywood! This opens on November 21st.
Holiday Highlight: Local Performance Groups
There are also live performances by local choirs, dance groups, and other performance groups at the Garden Stage. This takes place on select nights at 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM.
Celebrity Reading
Do you love ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas? Then catch a local Pittsburgh celebrity reading their rendition of this beloved Christmas tale.
Jingle Bell Jamboree
Get on the dance floor with your favorite Kennywood characters at the Jingle Bell Jamboree! It takes place nightly at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM & 8:00 PM.
Train Display
I don’t know about you, but ever since I was a kid I loved looking at train displays during the holiday season. And they have a great one at Kennywood!
Letters to Santa
In addition to visiting with Santa at the event, you can also drop your letters to the North Pole off here.
Doc Dixion’s Holiday Magic Show
Doc Dixon, an award-winning magician, will be performing a comedy magic show nightly from December 27th to January 4th. The shows are at 4:00 PM, 7:30 PM & 8:30 PM.
Crafts
Holiday Lights at Kennywood has great holiday craft opportunities, such as making your own personalized Santa hat or making your own ornament.
Rides
It wouldn’t be a trip to Kennywood without the rides, right? Well, weather permitting, a number of rides will still be open:
- Gingerbread Express
- Ghostwood Estate
- Kangaroo
- Kenny’s Cargo Drop
- Aero 360
- Noah’s Ark
- Merry-Go-Round
- Coal Haulin’ Convoy
- Crazy Trolley
- Dizzy Dynamo
- Kenny’s Karousel
- Lil’ Phantom
- Red Baron
- Steel City Choppers
- Turtle Chase
- Whirlwind
- Wacky Wheel
- Jack Rabbit
- Pirate
- Auto Race
- Parker’s Cloud Cruisers
- Potato Smash
- Fire Bustin’ Brigade
- Musik Express
- Spinvasion
- Turtle
You can see some of these attractions in our Kennywood video:
Food & Drinks
There are also delicious seasonal foods and drinks available at this event.
They are available at the following locations:
- Kandy Kaleidoscope:
- Famous homemade fudge
- Caramel apples
- Hand-dipped chocolates
- Gourmet candy
- 1898 Coffee Company
- Signature Candy Cane Latte
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Salted Carmel Latte
- S’mores Hot Chocolate
- Holiday Pastries from
- Patti’s Pasticceria
- Nancy B’s Bakery
- Midway Refreshments
- Holiday Candied Popcorn
- Hot Chocolate
- Festive Colored Cotton Candy
- Carousel Burger Company
- Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
- Peppermint milkshake topped with crushed candy canes & whipped cream
- Star Refreshments
- Seasonal funnel cakes, like:
- Holiday Candy
- Candy Cane
- S’mores
- Hot Chocolate
- Seasonal funnel cakes, like:
- Parkside Cafe
- Traditional turkey dinner
- Assorted holiday desserts
- Bread Bowl Mac & Cheese Topped with Pulled Pork
- Pagoda
- Red Velvet Waffle Cone
- Cherry and Lime Dole Soft Serve
- Holiday Shops Around the Lagoon
- Turkey legs
- Mississippi Pot Roast & Mashed Potato Bowls
- Fried Ravioli
- Walking Tacos
- Loaded Thanksgiving Sandwich
- Mozzarella Wedges
- Fried S’mores
- Warm Apple Pie with Ice Cream
- Hot Chocolate
- Jeeter’s Pub, Beer Garden, and Punts
- Signature mixed drink
- Seasonal beers
- Seltzers
- Mrs. Claus’s Hot Toddy
- Golden Nugget
- Red & Green Sprinkled Dip Cone
- Pizza Warehouse
- Cheesy Breadsticks
- Hot Chocolate
Dinner with Santa
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat Christmas buffet with Santa and Mrs. Claus in an amazing Chirstmas experience!
Can I Save Money on Kennywood Holiday Lights Tickets?
Yes, you can! We always keep you up to date on Kennywood coupons and money-saving deals!
And it just so happens there is a great coupon for Kennywood Holiday Lights here. You’ll save 50% on your ticket. No promo code or discount code is even needed since this saving is automatic!