Belmont Park is bringing families and friends together for the holiday season with its fourth annual Winter Wonder holiday spectacular now until Jan. 1. Come see how Belmont Park has transformed itself into the ultimate winter experience with one million lights strung, oversized winter sculptures, and holiday-inspired treats, with rides and attractions including strolling carolers and characters.
Steve Thomas, Belmont Park’s general manager, said the winter festival “encompasses the entire park. We do tons of winter décor that is really fun with photo opportunities all over.”
Thomas noted there is a giant hot cocoa cup in front of Draft Coffee, and a snowman in front of Fit Athletic. The park has also turned its Go Karts section into a “candy cane lane.”
The park has also added one million Christmas lights. “I started counting the number of strands and said, ‘Holy Cow, we’re over one million here,’” Thomas said adding, “It has grown quite a bit since our first year in 2019 when we started out probably with only half as many lights.”
Winter renovations include seasonal culinary delicacies. Draft Coffee in the park is offering a tiramisu latte and a peppermint mocha. There are seasonal cake pops there as well. And the Sweet Shop ice cream parlor is offering candy apples and snow-dipped waffle cones.
Belmonty’s Burgers & Pizza has a bacon and beer-cheese burger, to go along with a cinnamon roll funnel cake.
There will also be a food truck on the park grounds offering soft-serve ice cream made with Artic cookie dough. Draft at 3105 Ocean Front Walk has a shepherd’s pie on sale for the holidays made with Brandt beef purchased from a local ranch. Cannonball is selling roasted lamb chops, and Beach House is serving some seasonal cocktails including a pumpkin margarita.
“We have live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night, and trios and bands on our stage and in our food court,” noted Thomas adding country, acoustic, and Christmas music is played Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. “We also have roaming carolers through the park on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-7 p.m., and 1-3 p.m. on Sundays,” he added.
There are roving customer characters in the park too. Buddy the Elf is on hand from 1-3 p.m. on weekends making twisty balloon animals for kids. On Saturday and Sunday, from 4-7 p.m., a “winter princess” will be walking around the park available for photo opps. Free face painting is also offered in Snowflake Alley from 1-6 p.m.
And don’t forget the winter sculptures. There is a giant surfing snowman in the midway. Besides the Jack Frost and the giant hot cocoa cup, there will also be a ’63 Chevy Suburban in the food court. “It has four beers and spiked hot cocoa dispensed from taps coming out of its side from kegs that are inside,” noted Thomas noting, “It’s pretty slick.”
Thomas pointed out there is a “Mary Kiss Me” sign with the Giant Dipper roller coaster in the background. There is also a giant snow globe ornament folks can choose to take a photo under.
“There is something for everybody down here, great photo opps, amazing food, and beautiful views of the ocean,” said Thomas. “We’re open every day, so come down and check out the lights and get a great cinnamon roll funnel cake.”
BELMONT PARK
Since opening in 1925, Belmont Park, San Diego’s iconic beachfront boardwalk, has offered year-round fun for generations of guests. There are beachfront shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences for guests of all ages. Admission is free. Prices for rides and attractions vary. Rides and attractions are open at 11 a.m. daily and close anywhere from 8-10 p.m. Visit belmontpark.com for more information.
