Holiday in the Park (known as Christmas in the Park at Six Flags México) is a Christmas event that takes place at several Six Flags parks. The event features Christmas lights along with live entertainment, and usually follows Six Flags Fright Fest in October. In 2020, Holiday in the Park was re-imagined to Holiday in the Park Lights for certain parks following the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
The 'Best Time of the Year' is one of the many holiday traditions that make up Six Flags Over Texas annual Holiday in the Park celebration.
Six Flags started Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas in 1985. The event ran from late November to early January.[1] During this time the park was transformed into a gigantic holiday festival, with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights as well as special holiday shows, rides, merchandise, foods, drinks, and a giant Christmas tree in the center of the park. The event was expanded to Six Flags Astroworld in 1988.[2] Six Flags Over Georgia held the event in 1989 and 1990 but discontinued it after 1990.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom opened this event in 2007, and Great Escape in 2009. Six Flags Astroworld's last season for this event was in 1997, and the event was cancelled in 1998.[3] The Great Escape's event ran only for the 2009 season as Six Flags stated that the event was successful at the park, but also claimed a "business decision" was the reason behind the cancellation of the "Holiday in the Park" for the 2010 season.[4]
In 2022, Holiday in the Park was removed from the event lineup of several parks, including Six Flags Great America, Six Flags New England, Six Flags America, Six Flags St. Louis, and Frontier City.[10][11]
After 2021 season, Holiday in the Park was reimagined and rebranded as "Holiday Square" heavily toning down the operation, but still including the core elements of lights, entertainment, characters and treats. It is paired alongside a drive through lights show, run by Worle of Imagination.
Six Flags operated Winter Lights at Six Flags Great Adventure for the 2002-2003 and 2003–2004 seasons in November through January. It was a drive through (like the previous incarnation of Safari Off Road Adventure called Six Flags Wild Safari) with Christmas lights along the road and also with holiday rides, food, and shops.[14]
The event re-operated one last time at Six Flags Great America for the 2021 season with the re-operation of some rides, indoor theater venues, along with the Drive-Thru experience. The event ran from November through December.[19] After this, the event was completely cut out for the 2022 season, with no word on if the event will ever happen again.[20] At Six Flags New England, the lights-only event also ran for the last time from November through January.[21]
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