The So-Cal Six Flags theme park brought back its bright lights and spacious festive offerings in time for Thanksgiving to kick off the holidays. The evening event starts at 5 pm illuminating the coaster environment with a cheerful seasonal overlay that will run until January 2nd.

Having enjoyed how Magic Mountain kept the Christmas spirit going last year with their Holiday drive-through in the park, I was looking forward to seeing it all up close at Six Flags Holiday in the Park! Particularly the ever-elusive Looney Tunes in their holiday outfits. No, really it’s something my family has been trying to accomplish since realizing they were a thing and when we visited as general guests during the drive-through event, missed them by a minute. We did see a Bunny tail in a big red coat but that was it.

Admittedly, I’m not a coaster person and Ninja is likely my max at Six Flags but I did finally get to ride their DC dark ride Justice League: Battle for Metropolis. It’s one of the few family rides that you can ride without children. All the Bugs Bunny world rides require a kid to ride. Being a kid at heart who loves Looney Tunes doesn’t count. But hey! There’s a super awesome DC laser blaster ride that takes you on a mission with the Justice League which is fairly new and includes original animated voice actors returning to voice heroes and villains. Yes, Kevin Conroy is THE BATMAN. And honestly, this ride is a good option for those of us who aren’t too keen on huge thrills and love the Warner Bros. IP presence in the parks.

This brings me back to the search for Santa Bugs while at Six Flags Holiday in the Park. We definitely looped through the park to find where meet and greets would be but found it challenging because it’s not listed on the map. Eventually, a firepit attendant did direct us to try the front of the park while we were pretty much on the opposite side. Before heading there, we just had to make our own s’mores at these warm and toasty firepit stations. So perfect to warm up at as the sun went down. The great thing about Magic Mountain is the sheer space. It’s great to have a festive day trip option that allows for not just rides but experiences like roasting marshmallows by a fire. They can get busy though and I definitely suggest wandering to the next one as they’re EVERYWHERE.

Definitely be sure to wear comfy walking shoes! No, really I cannot stress this enough, there are hills, and even if you used to frequent the parks before quarantine don’t underestimate the workout in store. There is a trolly that can help you cut through the middle of the park to get to the front but does require a fair amount of stairs to get to from the rear.

Unsure of what times characters would be out, we hurried back to the front as the lights turned on. And sure enough, we found Bugs and Daffy near guest relations but not in their holiday outfits. While it was crushing, there’s a level of expectation when it comes to Six Flags that as a local park it comes with a lot of chaotic charm. Which honestly I’ll take over the rigid obstacles and stressful levels of disappointment at the place just south that’s been making masses quite unhappy. We’re actually looking forward to going back if the Tunes do appear in their holiday gear and really loved the spectacle of the nighttime event itself.

The park transforms when the sun sets and becomes a glowing wonderland with various themed areas with performers and live music sprinkled about. We really loved the new additions to the entertainment like Holly Rock! — which featured classic retro holiday tunes and vintage cars. We did find that as we circled back to explore the lights and find festive foods, a lot of options closed down early. We were bummed to not get to try some of the treats advertised for the event. So definitely hunt those treats down first to enjoy as you wander the park after dark. And if you’re hoping to meet characters, know they’re currently available in a limited capacity for now. It’s likely due to the ever-evolving pandemic we’re in so while we did miss out on a few things we were looking forward to, we were just happy to return to Six Flags Holiday in the Park. And definitely recommend it as a more accessible day trip option for locals and tourists to check out this December.

As always, be sure to note the safety protocols of the county and state you visit. As of this article’s publication, Six Flags Magic Mountain has the following posted:

On a limited number of designated days through December (which can be found on the park hours and schedule page), guests 12+ will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen) within 72 hours prior to visiting the park, per LA County mandates. On such days, all guests 2+ will also be required to wear a face mask at all times including while outdoors. To assist guests on these designated days, FREE rapid COVID-19 testing will be available near the park entrance, while supplies last. Additionally, effective November 1, all visitors 18+ will also be required to show a photo ID. On non-designated days, vaccination or negative test verification will not be required, however, everyone 2+ will be required to wear face masks at all indoor locations regardless of vaccination status.

For more information on Season Passes, Memberships, or Holiday in the Park, please visit here.