[tarheel1231]

This has been brought up many times before, but will we ever see an extension in Carowinds' operating season to include winter events?(Caroll-winds? ).I imagine it's warmer here than it is in Tennessee, but is there a reason Carowinds doesn't have a Christmas Event? Did Winterfest not do well? Do they prefer having a longer off-season? Would too many of the rides be closed? I imagine having the event would increase attendance.

[uscbandfan]

My guess is that attendance income wouldn't outweigh the cost. I rode FURY in 40 degree weather back in March during opening week. While I loved the ride, that would NOT go down as a favorite experience. The wind-chill at 95mph was FRIGID!!!! WOW that was cold!

[FamousAmos]

I couldn't agree more. Me and my friends froze to death on Opening day. I don't understand though. Media day wasn't cold at all, then three days later, it felt like the middle of winter (to me anyway).

[brownpa68]

SFoG is doing it now. Park was crowded. They are open til Jan 3rd. I went there last year and dressed appropriately for the cold. Loved riding the coasters in the cold. I would love for Carowinds to do something similar.

[cwgator]

Carowinds is a coaster-heavy park that has fewer flats/shows than some other parks. It makes it a hard sell to bring people in when the park is cold and the coasters can't operate. I'd say give it a few years or so with more additions and perhaps we will see a regular winter event come back. Dollywood and BGW both have a whole lot more to do than rides and is able to offer a better overall experience when it is too cold to have the coasters they do operate during those events.

[jeffdavis]

I would think just extending the season by two weeks on each end of the calendar for a couple of years (weekends only, of course) would give the park an idea of whether it would work or not. Open in mid-March and close in mid-November a couple years and if it works, add on a little more to the schedule. I've always enjoyed outdoor activities in the crisp air of fall and spring. Forecasts are usually close enough that I can dress for the weather. And if it's like many Carolina days when it starts off cold but gets pleasant by mid-day then locker sales should be pretty good!

[Jarsh]

Plus, from what I can remember, Carowinds didn't go all out on their Christmas theming. Dollywood is a full fledged Christmas park and SFoG is a little bit over half done up I believe. Expanding a Winterfest event would help bring in more numbers.

[Jonathan]

Winterfest was not successful at Carowinds before. It was also completely half-assed. I don't think it was given a chance to succeed. I've heard they hope to try again at some point in the future. Six Flags may be paving the way as Great Adventure and Over Georgia (plus the Texas and California parks) will be doing it.

[tarheel1231]

Carowinds is a coaster-heavy park that has fewer flats/shows than some other parks. It makes it a hard sell to bring people in when the park is cold and the coasters can't operate. I'd say give it a few years or so with more additions and perhaps we will see a regular winter event come back. Dollywood and BGW both have a whole lot more to do than rides and is able to offer a better overall experience when it is too cold to have the coasters they do operate during those events.

It doesn't have to be ride centered. I know that's part of the appeal of the event, riding coasters during Christmas, but there would still be plenty of non ride-related this to do in the park. Plus I imagine families with small children would be the main audience so I don't think they'd be worried about some of the headliners not being open.

[redrunner97]

Personally, I would love to see a holiday event come to the park. I believe Cedar Fair has also expressed interest in this a time or two, IIRC. I feel like they would need to wait until later on, towards the end or even perhaps after the current expansion is finished before putting on an all-new Winterfest. Play up the shows, events, and flats -all of which Carowinds is lacking a bit.

[aoriole19]

I would love this. I might look into going to Dollywood when I'm home for Christmas break. I hope soon all Six Flags parks will do it because I'm near Six Flags New England and it would be a fun thing to do right after finals before I go home for Christmas!

But seriously I love the holiday season and would love to go to a Carowinds event. Even being a coaster enthusiast, I would care more about the theming than the rides honestly. If only half the rides were operating but there were other activities to do and the whole park looked themed, I would like that better than if all the rides were open but there was no holiday theme (we experience that in the summer, so why go when it's freezing outside)

[kirkgun]

I'm not sure a Christmas event makes much sense. I'm a northerner, so I find the winters here to remarkably mild (for winter). And there are some days that would be fairly enojoyable to me (high temp of 60). I'd go. But then, on those same days, my neighbors here in Charlotte will be out starting their cars and letting them heat up for 10 minutes before driving anywhere...

But are those warmer-than-average days going to fall on the weekend? Carowinds would have to pay a lot of wages, for zero customers, if the temp is below average (and it will be ~50% of the time).

I think they'd do better for staying open for a couple more weekends, and then for the long Thanksgiving weekend. The weather would certainly be more favorable. And maybe open a weekend or two earlier in the season. The chances for good weather would be much greater, and would be more likely to get people out to an amusement park.

[pproteinc]

^ I agree I'm from NYC and lived in Chicago for 3yrs so winters down here are funny. Just seeing everyone bundled up for 60 degree weather like it's 10 degrees out just makes me lol. I've always said carowinds should push operation to mid November hell even to early December. To me it doesn't get cold for southern standards until late December early January. Last year it was hpt up until the week before Christmas. I don't see an issue with being open longer. I also feel the dry side should stay open until 11pm and the water park 8pm Friday Saturdays and Sundays during summer. It doesn't get dark until 9pm.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

It was always said that Winterfest would not return, but maybe Mike will have a change of heart some day. I would love to see winterfest come back or at least a few extra weeks in November if nothing more, only because the temperatures don't really get very cold until December/January. Like it was said before, it wasn't very successful so I just dont see it coming back due to costs etc. but we can only hope! Maybe they could open the park to just enthusiasts for one extra day

[Jarsh]

Six Flags Over Georgia used to (might still do it) have a season pass day that was the last day the park was open for the season. Food and merchandise was ridiculously discounted and it helped the park clean out the warehouses too! There usually wasn't a crowd so the few times I went I had a great time. This would be something cool that Carowinds could do.