On the morning of Monday, Nov. 2, a crane lifted a 45-foot Norway spruce onto the northwest concourse at CarMax Park. The tree came from Egan Acres Tree Farm in upstate New York. Organizers first planned to put it on the ballfield. It ended up beside the left outfield, between the VIP entrance and the Atlantic Union Bank Lounge, where anyone driving down Arthur Ashe Boulevard can see it. "We just wanted it to be very visible and sort of a beacon to the event," 804Live president Chris Yancey told Richmond BizSense. A Ferris wheel was standing on the grounds by that evening.
The tree is meant to catch the eye from the street, and that matters because the ballpark now has to stay busy in December. WinterWorld opens Thursday, Nov. 19, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027. Its prices and its calendar of themed nights show where the organizers need crowds, and those same nights tend to be the cheapest ones for a Richmond family to go.
A ballpark that pays rent in January
When the Flying Squirrels announced WinterWorld in July, owner Lou DiBella explained the business reasons to Axios Richmond. The team's lease requires it to produce community events in the off-season. Paid off-season events also help cover CarMax Park's $3.2 million annual rent. DiBella said the team would need 65,000 to 70,000 visitors to break even, set a first-year goal of 100,000, and said the team was prepared to lose money at first if that helped start a new holiday tradition. By early November, BizSense reported that Navigators Baseball, which owns both the team and 804Live, was putting more than $3 million into the event and expected more than 75,000 visitors.
Those totals have to come together over a 38-day run. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m. The park is closed on select Mondays and Tuesdays from Nov. 19 through Dec. 17. Longer daily hours apply Nov. 25 to 27 and again from Dec. 18 to Jan. 2. Weekends will likely take care of themselves, so the harder job is filling a Wednesday in early December.
Getting in is no longer an issue. Diamond District infrastructure work had limited or blocked the ballpark's centerfield entrance since September. According to the Richmond Economic Development Authority, that work wrapped up around Oct. 23. Concrete pavers now sit where the asphalt used to be, and the EDA says the gates will stay fully accessible for all of WinterWorld.
Where the theme nights land
804Live released the WinterWorld promotional calendar on Nov. 5. Laid out by day of the week, most of the December theme nights fall on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, when admission is lowest.
| Date | Night | What's attached |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 19 | Opening Night Celebration | Donate new hats, scarves, mittens and gloves at the gates for the Salvation Army |
| Wed., Dec. 2 | Paws and Claus | Dog-friendly night with Santa photos for your pup; pet-item donations for Richmond Animal League |
| Thu., Dec. 3 | Celebration of Faith | Musical performances on the SERVPRO Community Stage |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Rivalry Frost-Off College Night | 20% off admission with a valid college ID, plus movie night |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Light the Night, A Celebration of Chanukah | Menorah lighting, kosher food, local performances |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | Bon Secours Christmas Tree Lighting | The 45-foot tree is lit |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | Hometown Heroes Night | 20% off for active military, veterans, first responders, nurses and hospital staff |
| Fri., Dec. 11 | Invierno Maravilloso | Latin music and performances with the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce |
| Thu., Dec. 17 | Pride Night, "Sleigh, Queen!" | With Diversity Richmond, UGRC/Black Pride RVA, OutRVA and the City of Richmond |
| Fri., Dec. 18 | Educator Appreciation Night | 20% off with a valid school ID |
| Wed., Dec. 23 | Red Cross Blood Drive | Every donor gets a free admission ticket |
Fridays also have a recurring deal. From 6 to 7:30 p.m., 12-ounce domestic draft beers, sodas and bottled water are $3, and a classic holiday movie plays on the ballpark's big videoboard. WinterWorld is also open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve it closes early, at 9 p.m.
Some visitors will get in free no matter which night they pick. Organizers are handing out 5,000 free tickets through local nonprofits, including Special Olympics, Virginia Pride, Peter Paul Development Center, the Autism Society of Central Virginia, the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Richmond Animal League. As of the Oct. 28 announcement, 2,000 had been given out.
What a Wednesday costs a family of four
Axios Richmond reported the ticket structure in September. Admission starts at $14.95 for adults 13 and older and $9.95 for kids ages 4 to 12. On weekends those prices rise to $19.95 and $14.95, and holidays add another $5. Taxes and fees are extra, and organizers say prices vary by date and demand. At starting prices, here is how a weeknight compares with a weekend for two adults and two kids in that age range:
- Weeknight admission: $49.80 before taxes and fees
- Weekend admission: $69.80 before taxes and fees
- Skating: $13 per person on top of admission
- Ice slide: $10 per person
- Ferris wheel: $7 per person
Axios estimated that a family of four doing all the premium attractions could spend more than $150. Admission alone covers a lot of the event, though. The 90-foot light tunnel, the Christmas tree maze and the 21-and-older Below Zero bar are all included. Santa's Workshop and Mrs. Claus crafts and storytime are listed with the rest of the event's attractions, and families can take their own photos with Santa for free. Axios also reported discounts for seniors, first responders and military members. Children 3 and under get in free.
A few rules from the WinterWorld FAQ are worth knowing before you buy:
- Admission tickets have a one-hour arrival window. Skating and Below Zero use 30-minute windows, and there is no set time you have to leave.
- Tickets can't be refunded, but you can exchange them online for free up to 24 hours ahead, depending on availability and on any price difference for the new date.
- Ice slide riders must be at least 4 years old and at least 42 inches tall. Ferris wheel riders under 54 inches need an adult with them, and skaters 12 and under must be with an adult.
Parking costs $8 if you buy it in advance or $10 on the day, in the Yellow, Green and Red lots. ADA parking is in the Black and Gold lot. The rink measures 12,500 square feet. The Ferris wheel is 60 feet tall, and the light display uses more than a million bulbs.
Saturday, Dec. 5, starts on Broad Street
The Dominion Energy Christmas Parade runs a new route this year, and its last stretch ends close to WinterWorld. The parade steps off Saturday, Dec. 5, at 10:15 a.m., with festivities beginning at 10. According to WTVR, it starts at 10th and Marshall streets and passes the Children's Tower and Pavilion at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. It then turns right onto Broad Street and heads west through downtown to Allen Avenue. That is the reverse of 2025, when the parade started at the Science Museum and traveled east on Broad to 10th Street. Parade Director Tara Daudani told WTVR the change grew out of last year's hospital visit. "Beginning the parade at CHoR allows us to ensure every participant, from marching bands and floats to balloons and Legendary Santa, shares the magic of the season with these remarkable children," she said. This year's free ColonialWebb Fan Zone, with activities and food vendors, is near 8th and Broad.
Because the route now ends at the west end of Broad, a parade-and-WinterWorld day is easier to plan. The Flying Squirrels' transit directions say Pulse riders can get off at the Science Museum or Scott's Addition stop and walk about a mile north to the ballpark. You can also transfer to GRTC Route 20 northbound and get off at The Diamond stop, #291. WinterWorld opens at 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Keep in mind that Dec. 5 is a weekend date, so the higher weekend prices apply.
If skating is the main reason you're going
CarMax Park isn't the only place in town to skate this season. The seasonal rink at Stony Point Fashion Park runs Nov. 14 through Jan. 11, and its rink page lists general admission at $16 with skate rental included. At WinterWorld, skating on the cheapest weeknight costs an adult $27.95, which is $14.95 admission plus the $13 skating add-on. For that higher price you also get the light tunnel, the tree maze and the 45-foot spruce, which you can already see from Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
A new event like WinterWorld can make people start asking how all the activity around CarMax Park and the Diamond District affects nearby homes. Our team at Simpson Realty Group watches these changes across Richmond and is happy to explain what they mean for your home. Request Your Free Home Valuation, and we'll walk you through what your house would likely sell for this winter.
