Kings Dominion cancels WinterFest as it launches its 50th anniversary season
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50 years of KD. Image: Courtesy of Kings Dominion
Kings Dominion is canceling its annual WinterFest pop-up series this year, one of many changes happening at the theme park which merged with Six Flags last year.
Why it matters: The park, a destination for generations of Richmonders, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Driving the news: Kings Dominion dropped its "Golden Anniversary" schedule this week and Winterfest was noticeably absent from the list, as first reported by the Times-Dispatch.
- "Unfortunately, yes. Winterfest will not be part of the 2025 schedule of events," park spokesperson Geoff Zindren confirmed to Axios. He said the park instead will focus on its "core operating seasons."
- Kings Dominion launched its December-long Winterfest in 2018 to compete with a similar holiday series at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
- In 2023, the park briefly experimented with a year-round schedule before canceling it the following year.
Of note: Some KD fans noted on social media that they bought season passes before they learned Winterfest would be canceled.
- The park is "addressing this change directly with those passholders who are impacted," Zindren said.
Zoom in: The Winterfest cancelation comes after news last week that the park laid off an unspecified number of employees, per media reports. A source told WTVR that more than 30 jobs were cut across departments.
- KD is also demolishing two of its longtime roller coasters, the Anaconda and Berserker, per the Times-Dispatch.
Yes, but: The park is adding a new ride, Rapterra, which will be the world's tallest and longest-launched wing coaster.
- And it'll open on March 29, KD's 2025 opening day and the launch of its 50th year in operation.
- The park will close for the year on Nov. 2, after Oktoberfest ends.