Seasonal Guide
Holiday in the Park 2026: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Every winter, Six Flags Magic Mountain trades its screams for snowflakes and strings about two million lights across the park. Holiday in the Park 2026 opens Thursday, November 26 and runs through January 3, 2027, and it is the closest thing the SCV has to a hometown winter wonderland. Here is Sam's complete guide to the lights, the shows, and the best nights to go.
Nov 26, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia Sam Silver
What to Expect at Holiday in the Park
Holiday in the Park turns the entire park into a winter nightscape: roughly two million twinkling lights strung among the park's 19 roller coasters, oversized ornaments, snow-dusted evergreens, and themed walk-through lands. Most of the big coasters keep running after dark, which is the real magic of the event: riding Twisted Colossus or West Coast Racers with the valley lights and the holiday glow spread out below you.
The themed lands change slightly from year to year. Recent editions have included Holiday Square, Jingle Bell Way, Peppermint Path, North Pole Junction, and The Wishing Well, each with its own lights, music, and photo spots. Expect the same warm, family-friendly lineup for 2026, plus holiday food and drink throughout the park.
2M+
Lights across the park
19
Coasters glowing in the dark
Nov 26
Opening night, Thanksgiving
Jan 3
Final night of the season
Shows & Entertainment
The event is more than lights. The headline show is "Oh Santa," a holiday spectacular starring Jack Frost with music, dance, and comedy from the Snow Belles and Holly Jollies, and there is a nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony in the DC Universe area with dancers and singers. Both are worth building your evening around, especially with kids.
"Oh Santa" Holiday Spectacular
Jack Frost headlines a music, dance, and comedy show with the Snow Belles and Holly Jollies. Check the park app for showtimes on your visit date.
Nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony
A festive countdown with dancers and singers in the DC Universe area. Arrive a few minutes early to grab a spot near the tree.
New for 2026: Looney Tunes Land
The park's big 2026 addition, Looney Tunes Land, opened in June in the space that used to be Bugs Bunny World, and it will be dressed up for its first holiday season during Holiday in the Park. It is the perfect zone for families with younger kids: gentle rides, character meet-and-greets, and holiday decor that photographs beautifully at night. If you have not seen the new land yet, a Holiday in the Park visit is a great excuse.
Sam's honest note: the park's next new roller coaster slipped to 2027, so Holiday in the Park 2026 is about the lights, the shows, and the new family land, not a brand-new thrill ride. Plan for the atmosphere and you will not be disappointed.
When Should You Go?
The event runs on select days from Thursday, November 26 through Sunday, January 3, 2027, so Thanksgiving weekend is the natural first window for many SCV families. Sam's standing advice, and it has not changed in years: go on a weeknight in early December for the lightest crowds and the shortest ride lines. The first two weeks of December, Monday through Thursday nights, are the sweet spot.
Weekend nights from mid-December on, and especially the week between Christmas and New Year's, are the busiest of the season. If you can only do a weekend, go early in the evening and plan to stay late, the park is often at its most magical after 8 PM when the little ones have headed home.
Sam's Planning Tips
Buy tickets online in advance
Holiday event pricing is dynamic, and online tickets beat the gate price. Check the Six Flags site for member and season-pass rates.
Arrive before sunset
The lights come on at dusk, and the first hour of darkness is the best for photos and the least crowded rides.
Dress in layers
Valencia nights in December run cool, and you will be outdoors most of the evening. Warm layers beat a single heavy coat.
Pair it with a valley holiday night
The valley's light displays and holiday events calendar make it easy to build a full evening around the park.
More Holiday Guides for Your Season
Holiday Events in SCV 2026
The full valley calendar from Fright Fest through New Year's, with every date Sam has verified.
Holiday Light Displays
The best neighborhood light shows, the trolley tour, and where to drive the kids for the biggest wow.
Christmas Tree Farms 2026
Choose-and-cut Monterey pines, fresh-cut Oregon trees, and the lots worth the drive.
Making the Valley Home for the Holidays
Sam has lived in the SCV for 22 years and watched Holiday in the Park grow into the valley's signature winter event. Whether you are new to the area or just looking for the best neighborhoods near the magic, he would love to help you find your place in it.