PB Film

The 17th Annual Winterfest returns Friday, December 4th at the National Polo Center, and this year we've completely reimagined this incredible holiday tradition!

We heard your feedback, and we're bringing you an experience that's bigger, better, and more interactive than ever before!

First and foremost, thank you.

For 16 years—and now as we prepare for our 17th Annual Winterfest—you have helped make this event one of Wellington's most cherished holiday traditions. We are incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm, your support, and yes, even your feedback.

We also want to sincerely apologize to anyone who experienced inconvenience during last year's event.

We heard from guests who were disappointed with the stage placement, and we heard from those who arrived after our on-site parking had reached capacity. We understand how frustrating that was, and we want you to know that we listened.

The truth is, we could never have anticipated the overwhelming response. Tens of thousands of people came out to celebrate with us, making it one of the largest Winterfests in our history. While we were thrilled to see such incredible community support, we recognize that some aspects of the event simply could not accommodate that level of attendance.

Rather than accepting those challenges as "the way it is," we went to work.

Over the past several months, we've held numerous productive meetings with our incredible partners at the National Polo Center and community stakeholders to completely reimagine the event footprint. Every decision has been made with one goal in mind: creating a better experience for our guests.

Here's what you can expect for Winterfest 2026:

A completely redesigned layout, with the main stage relocated to the center of the polo field, creating an expansive viewing area where thousands of guests can spread out with lawn chairs and blankets while enjoying an incredible view of the concert and holiday festivities.

Improved lighting throughout all on-site parking areas, with additional stadium lighting to enhance safety and visibility.

Significantly expanded parking, thanks to the generosity of several community partners who are providing nearby parking locations. Complimentary shuttle service will once again be available, and additional parking details will be announced very soon.

A more immersive festival experience, with sponsor exhibits, holiday attractions, food vendors, and family activities surrounding the stage so that every guest becomes part of the celebration.

Like many of you, we were disappointed that some guests experienced inconveniences last year. We care deeply about this event and about our community. After all, this is not just another festival—it's a tradition that has grown alongside Wellington for nearly two decades.

As Winterfest has continued to grow, we reached a point where change became necessary. We could have chosen to relocate the event outside of Wellington to accommodate the crowds. Instead, with the incredible partnership and commitment of the National Polo Center, we worked tirelessly to keep Winterfest right here in our hometown, where it belongs.

We can't go backward—but we can continue moving forward, learning, improving, and creating an even better experience for our community.

Based on last year's attendance, we fully expect another tremendous turnout this December, and we are preparing accordingly.

Most importantly, Winterfest remains what it has always been:

FREE admission.

FREE children's activities.

FREE off-site parking and shuttle service.

FREE live concert featuring hometown hero Vanilla Ice.

Our goal has always been to provide an unforgettable holiday celebration that every family can enjoy, regardless of budget.

We sincerely hope you'll join us on Friday, December 4, 2026, as we unveil an exciting new Winterfest filled with new experiences, cherished traditions, and holiday memories waiting to be made.

If you choose to celebrate elsewhere this season, we completely understand and wish you a wonderful holiday experience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, for helping us improve, and for being part of the Winterfest story.

We look forward to celebrating with you this December

This year, YOU become part of the show!

Bring your lawn chairs, grab your family and friends, and enjoy front-and-center seating for an unforgettable night of live entertainment, holiday fun, and—of course—our hometown hero... Vanilla Ice!

Get ready to sing, dance, and celebrate the holidays under the stars!

We've also expanded our parking footprint with multiple convenient parking locations, plus continuous shuttle service to the venue.

And the ride is part of the fun! Our shuttles will feature singing holiday elves to get everyone into the Christmas spirit before you even arrive.

Kids will love our expanded Snowy Stables, there's more delicious food and beverages than ever before, multiple entrances for faster access, exciting holiday shopping, festive activities, and surprises around every corner.

This isn't just another holiday festival...

It's Wellington's holiday tradition... reimagined.

Join us Friday, December 4th

National Polo Center

Bring your chairs, bring your holiday spirit, and come make memories with us.

The 17th Annual Winterfest... Bigger. Better. More Magical than Ever.