Review: Washington State Fair – Holiday Magic
Washington State Fair is back again with its Holiday Magic carnival following its successful annual state fair and Oktoberfest. The Holiday Magic carnival runs for 13 days: Dec. 6-8, 12-15, and 18-23, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. But the question is: did this family-friendly fair quench the thirst that the Washington crew has for fun holiday events?
The activities at the Holiday Magic carnival include ice skating, face painting, “Gingerbread Lane,” “Gnome Scavenger Hunt,” “Santa’s Express Train,” “Wonder Wheel,” “Enchanted Castle,” a merry-go-round, a singing and cooking show, a holiday market, fun characters, a variety of tasty food and so much more.
The experience starts with Santa’s tractor taking you to the main area where the holiday magic begins. Guests are given a map to follow to experience the magic. The map serves as a guide that takes participants everywhere, including the gnome scavenger hunt, which offers the full experience in the creator’s intended order.
A path is also laid out for visitors, starting at Santa’s village, which unlocks a whole new realm of fun and exciting things to do, see, and put in stockings. Mrs. Claus’ milk and cookies are always available at the end to replenish the tired adventurers.
“Let It Snow” was a pleasant highlight, followed by the “Twinkle Tunnel.” However, I’d suggest that the holiday selfie studio, while offering good lighting, should provide a stand for visitors to place their phones for photos. The Enchanted Castle is also a stunner.
Most activities were included in the entry pass, except for the Yeti Bar, VIP Lounge, and the Ice Skating Rink. However, I feel the other experiences outshine the ice skating rink.
The venue offers a variety of tasty snacks and food, along with a bunch of candy. The Wonder Wheel and the Sugar Plum merry-go-round are, of course, always pleasant activities for all age groups. For any animal lovers out there, the Manger is a must-visit. It is the perfect place to experience Christmas in its true essence and is an especially huge adventure for children. Kids will always have the best time here, making this the perfect way to bring in the holidays.
I really appreciate the attention to detail at every location of the venue, as they strived very hard to make it look and feel like Santa’s home–but it felt like more. In fact, it felt like a warm hug from Grandpa Claus.
The staff at the venue were fully in the Christmas spirit with fun sweaters and a warm, helpful, and welcoming nature that makes you never want to leave.
The evening concludes with the world’s best hot chocolate with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and more friends from the North Pole.
This short and sweet experience is an all-inclusive, nice little present before all the presents. An evening well spent–the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit and bring in the festivities.
Vrindha, an international student from India, is fueled by her fervent love for diverse art forms such as dance, drama, music and theatre. Eager to immerse herself in new experiences and broaden her horizons, she sees her involvement with the Collegian as a gateway to both sharing her passions and delving into new realms of knowledge.
It was a good event, but I really wish they had a more flexible ticket exchange (time) policy. The Gingerbread Lane, Twinkle lights, Snowflake walk, Fun House, Mini Train were all good. The ice skating was awful at $10 pp. It’s not ice but a clear floor with simulated material for ice. It did not glide well at all. Wish I could get my money back. The lady taking care of the waiver was too busy talking to her friend, she was really rude when asking us for our signature. Really ruined our night.