One of the many changes taking place at the theme park, which merged with Six Flags last year, is the cancellation of Kings Dominion’s annual WinterFest pop-up series this year. Why it’s important This year marks the park’s 50th anniversary as a destination for generations of Richmond residents. The Times-Dispatch was the first to announce that Kings Dominion had released its “Golden Anniversary” itinerary this week, with Winterfest conspicuously missing from the list. “Sadly, the answer is yes. “The 2025 event schedule will not include Winterfest,” park spokesperson Geoff Zindren told Axios. Instead, he said, the park will concentrate on its “core operating seasons.”

In order to compete with a comparable holiday series at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Kings Dominion started its December-long Winterfest in 2018. The park briefly tried a year-round program in 2023 before calling it quits the following year. Notably, some KD supporters posted on social media that they had purchased season passes prior to learning that Winterfest would not be taking place. The park is “addressing this change directly with those passholders who are impacted,” Zindren stated. Zoom in: The park laid off an unknown number of staff members last week, according to media sources, which prompted the cancellation of Winterfest. Over 30 positions were eliminated across departments, a source told WTVR.

According to the Times-Dispatch, KD is also tearing down the Anaconda and Berserker, two of its iconic roller coasters. Yes, but: Rapterra, the park’s newest ride, will be the tallest and longest-launched wing coaster in the world. Additionally, it will open on March 29, the first day of KD’s 50th year of existence and its 2025 opening day. After Oktoberfest concludes on November 2, the park will close for the year.