Winton Woods Farm & Equestrian Center at 10073 Daly Road is swapping its usual pasture routine for twinkling lights, hayrides and pony rides this December as Great Parks brings back Holidays on the Farm. The event runs select days from Dec. 3 through Dec. 23, with gates open from 4 to 8 p.m. each operating night, according to the official event listing.
Great Parks describes the event as transforming a 100-acre farm into a winter wonderland, according to WLWT. The official event page lists hayrides, pony rides, farm animals, a holiday beer hall, hot cocoa, photos with Santa and holiday merchandise among the attractions this season. The station's report also notes the event will feature lighted trails and old-fashioned hayrides, though the full details of those additions weren't available beyond that description.
Tickets, Passes and Pony Rules
Ticket prices for Holidays on the Farm range from $12 to $15, per the WLWT report, while the official listing specifies that kids ages 3 to 17 and seniors 65 and older can get in for $10 online or $13 at the gate. The park district is also offering a new multi-day pass for $20 this year, according to WLWT, and the official listing notes that a season pass is valid for one entry per person, per night throughout the event's run.
Families hoping to let little ones saddle up should take note of the fine print: pony riders must be at least two years old, stand no taller than 48 inches, and weigh no more than 85 pounds, according to the event listing. Tickets and full details are available through the Great Parks website.
A Holiday Tradition Born From a Canceled Deal
Holidays on the Farm isn't new to Winton Woods. Great Parks debuted the outdoor festival at Parky's Farm in 2022, running it through Dec. 23 that year as well, according to WVXU. The park district launched the event after deciding not to renew its agreement with The Alleen Company to host Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods, WVXU reported at the time.
“We wanted an outdoor event — we are in the outdoor business — and what better way to celebrate the holidays and being outside at Parky's Farm,” Great Parks CEO Todd Palmeter told WVXU in 2022. Palmeter said the district expected 1,500 to 3,000 visitors each night that first season, with crowds growing larger as Christmas approached.
Pricing has shifted since that debut. In 2022, advance tickets cost $12 for anyone 13 or older, with gate tickets running $15, admission for children ages 2 to 12 set at $10, and free entry for kids under 24 months, per WVXU's reporting. That first year's event also ran later into the evening, with hours of 5 to 9 p.m. on operating dates, compared to this year's 4 to 8 p.m. window. The original lineup included hayrides, hiking trails lit by twinkling lights, live entertainment, holiday movies, farm animals and reindeer, according to the same WVXU report.
