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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 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from November 15th, 2024 through December 15th, 2024. Then, it takes place nightly from December 20th, 2024through January 1st, 2025 (though it will not be open on Christmas or Christmas Eve).
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: almost 2 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.
Holiday Music & Performances
And if you love holiday music, you’ll love being here! And that is because of the brand new show, Spirit of the Season: A Holiday Celebration.
Spirit of the Season: A Holiday Celebration takes place over at the Garden Stage. You can hear music by beloved artists like Ariana Grande, Michael Bublé, and Bruno Mars.
It takes place at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. It also takes place at 4:00 PM on days when the doors open at 3:00 PM.
There are also live performances by local choirs and dance groups.
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! You can get good views near Pizza Warehouse or elsewhere in Kennywood’s Lagoon area.
Santa & Friends
Want to make a picture of yourself or your kids with Santa even better? Then get a picture with Santa at Kennywood! This takes place in Lost Kennywood.
You can also meet Santa’s friends at the event, too!
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.
Model Trains
One of the best holiday train displays in Pittsburgh would have to be the massive model train display in Kennywood!
Parker’s Dance Party
Parker (Kennywood’s beloved mascot!) and some of his best pals will be present at a great dance party at Kennywood stage. It’s a great party with singing and dancing to some of your favorite holiday songs. It takes place at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM (as well as 5:00 PM on days when the park opens at 3:00 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.
Here is the schedule:
- Friday, November 22: Ron Smiley, KDKA
- Saturday, November 30: Mike Clark and Kelly Sasso, WTAE
- Friday, December 6: Bob Pompeani and Celina Pompeani Mathison, KDKA
- Sunday, December 8: Josh Getzoff, Play-By-Play Voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins on SportsNet Pittsburgh
- Saturday, December 14: Rick Sebak, WQED
- Sunday, December 22: Jennifer Tomazic, WPX
Holiday Scavenger Hunt
This year, there is an all-new holiday scavenger hunt which is not only a great way to have fun and work as a team with your family, but explore the park as well!
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.
Bear Factory
Take home your very own souvenir from the event at the Bear Factory.
Rides
It wouldn’t be a trip to Kennywood without the rides, right? Well, weather permitting, a number of rides will still be open:
- Steel City Choppers
- Journey With Thomas
- Flynn’s Fire Training
- Pirate
- Wave Swinger
- Jack Rabbit
- Musik Express
- Lil’ Phantom
- Dizzy Dynamo
- Aero 360
- Whirlwind
- Ghostwood Estate
- Crazy Trolley
- Auto Race
- Kangaroo
- Noah’s Ark
- Cranky’s Drop Tower
- Potato Smash
- Racer
- Turtle Chase
- Turtle
- Kenny’s Karousel
- Wacky Wheel
- Merry-Go-Round
- Harold’s Helicopter Tour
- Diesel Drivers
- Spinvasion
- Whippersnapper
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
- Holiday cookies
- Hand-dipped chocolates
- Take-home dessert platters.
- 1898 Coffee Company
- Hot, cold brew, and iced coffee
- with seasonal flavors like:
- Irish cream
- Pumpkin spice
- Maple
- Cinnamon
- with seasonal flavors like:
- Hot, cold brew, and iced coffee
- Midway Refreshments
- Loaded corndogs topped with:
- Cheese
- Chili
- Jalapeños
- Loaded corndogs topped with:
- Carousel Burger Company
- Carousel Shakes, including a peppermint milkshake.
- Star Refreshments
- Seasonal funnel cakes.
- Parkside Cafe
- Traditional turkey dinner with assorted holiday desserts
- Punts
- DIY gingerbread cookie decorating.
- Available on Saturdays and Sundays
- Holiday Shops
- Roasted turkey legs
- Pot roast
- Hot beverage bar,
- Assorted flavors of fried s’mores.
- Jeeter’s Pub, Beer Garden, and Punts
- Mulled wine
- Seasonal beers
- Spiked hot chocolate
- Hot toddies
- Small Fry’s
- Golden Nugget dip cones sold at the Star Refreshment Stand
Dinner with Santa
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat Christmas buffet with Santa and Mrs. Claus in an amazing Chirstmas experience! Your cost even includes a photo with Santa along with a children’s holiday cup. You can book this on:
- Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 PM & 5:00 PM from November 23 – December 22
- Friday, November 29
- Monday, December 23
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!