On the evening of Saturday, October 24, SkyPark at Santa's Village held its last themed Fantasy Forest Skate Night of the year. The theme was Monster Mash. Guests skated from 4 to 9 p.m., and a $25 ticket covered skate rental, Silver Bells Arena, the Fantasy Forest trail and light show, the B-Rail, Royal Games and free parking. SkyPark calls that rink "the mountain's only outdoor skating rink." Since May 23 it had run a different music theme every Saturday, from British Pop to K-Pop.
Two weeks later the same property at 28950 Highway 18 in Skyforest runs very differently. SkyPark's Santa's Village page calls the holiday season the busiest time of its year. It warns that tickets may sell out and same-day tickets are not guaranteed, and it says paid admission and waivers are required for every guest, whether or not they ride anything. If you live in Rimforest, that's the big shift. The park down the road goes from casual Saturday nights to planned-ahead visits, and one pass offer now on sale decides how much the planning costs.
The calendar hands off between October 24 and November 7
Here's how the park moves from one season to the next, using SkyPark's own posted dates:
- October 24. The last themed Fantasy Forest Skate Night on the 2026 Saturday schedule.
- October 31. Pumpkins in the Pines, the fall season, ends.
- Friday, November 6. The park is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and SkyPark's calendar marks the day as Veteran Appreciation Weekend.
- Saturday, November 7. The holiday season begins.
- Thursday, November 26. Closed for Thanksgiving.
- January 10, 2027. The holiday season ends.
Daily hours change through the season, so check the specific day. The posted calendar lists 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 8, November 12, November 22 and December 27, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving.
The November 6 listings don't agree
Friday, November 6 is the last day before the Christmas crowds, and it shows up two different ways online. SkyPark's own event page calls it part of Veteran Appreciation Weekend, with free admission for veterans who bring proof of service.
The Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce calendar lists the same date as "SkyPark Local's Day." It says to bring a local ID for free entrance and promises "Annual Pass specials!" A second Chamber listing for that day gives different hours, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead of 12 a.m. to 9 p.m., and describes it as a day "all about celebrating the people and organizations that make our mountain communities so special."
SkyPark's own Locals Day page shows one 2026 date, and it's May 8. That day required proof of residency from the Crestline to Big Bear area for free entry. If you're planning around free local entry on November 6, call SkyPark at 909-744-9373 before you go. If you're a veteran, SkyPark's own posting covers you that day.
What runs differently from November 7
During the holiday season, nearly every part of a visit has a rule that the October skate nights didn't.
Tickets. SkyPark strongly recommends buying online in advance, since holiday tickets may sell out and same-day entry isn't guaranteed.
Santa. You can only reserve a Santa visit in person at Santa's House after you check in. Reservations are first-come, first-served, and there's no phone or online booking. A limited number are given out each day, then there's a Standby Line, and SkyPark says visits are not guaranteed.
Breakfast with Santa and Tea with Mrs. Claus. These need their own ticket, bought online ahead of time, plus park admission for the same date. You can't add guests at the door.
The Village Tree. SkyPark describes an evening tree lighting with Santa and the park's characters every night. Check the entertainment schedule when you arrive for showtimes.
Skating. Silver Bells Arena, the rink from those Saturday theme nights, becomes a frozen pond in winter. SkyPark says skate rentals come with park admission and socks are required.
General admission covers available activities, rides, entertainment and SkyPark Bike Park access. Parking, rentals, food and retail cost extra, and so do add-ons like mining, crafts and cookie decorating.
The neighbor math
Those rules matter most to someone who lives close enough to stop by for an hour. SkyPark's ticket page lists these day prices, and it notes that prices vary by date:
- Adult, 18 to 64: $59
- Child, 4 to 17: $49
- Senior, 65 to 74: $49
- Children 3 and under with a parent or guardian, and seniors 75 and up: free
- Parking: $15 per vehicle
At listed prices, one adult with one car pays $74 a visit. The adult annual pass is $249, with free parking and no blackout days. Children and seniors pay $229. Three visits at $74 come to $222, so the pass costs less than paying at the gate by the fourth visit. That's using the listed price, and holiday dates may cost more. The pass covers the Santa's Village Christmas season, Fantasy Forest Skate Nights, the hiking and Bike Park trails, Annual Passholder Appreciation Days and 10% off extra guest tickets.
The timing changed on October 2. That's when SkyPark posted a 2027 pass offer at the same prices, and buying a 2027 pass now includes the rest of 2026 for free. You can use the pass right away, and it's good through December 31, 2027. That means one purchase covers the whole 2026 holiday season, all of next year's summer and fall programming, and whatever part of the following Christmas season falls before that December 31 cutoff. The offer page lists no blockout dates, free parking, 10% off extra guest day tickets, 10% off select food and retail, and 20% off the SkyPark Camp + RV Resort.
There's also a discount for living here. SkyPark's annual pass page offers local discounts to mountain residents from Crestline to Big Bear with proof of residency, checked against your billing ZIP code. The page doesn't give an amount, so ask about the resident rate when you buy, especially if you're buying passes for a whole household.
Short visits from just down the road
A pass helps most with the kind of visit only a neighbor makes. A pass lets you come for one evening tree lighting, or 40 minutes on the ice, without paying full admission and parking each time. Parking is $15 per vehicle whether you buy it online or at the door, and current Annual Passholders park free. SkyPark's parking FAQ mentions a main lot and an overflow lot across the street, and parking fees apply to both.
A pass doesn't skip the Santa process. Reservations are still made in person, first-come, first-served, with a daily limit. Living a few minutes away helps here, because you can be at the gate early without leaving home before dawn.
The drive itself was clear at the start of the week. As of the evening of Monday, October 26, Caltrans road information for SR-18 showed no traffic restrictions in the Southern California area, and the SR-189 page showed the same. That's a one-day snapshot, and winter changes it fast. SkyPark tells visitors that icy roads are possible in the cold months and points them to Caltrans QuickMap and the state's chain control guidance.
Snow at the park is also up to the weather. SkyPark says it can't promise any particular conditions and asks visitors to drive only when it's safe. Living close means you can wait for a clear evening and go then.
If you have questions about life near SkyPark, or you're thinking about what owning a home this close to Santa's Village means for you, Crestline Real Estate is right here on the mountain. Schedule a free home consultation with our local mountain experts.
