As parents, events and activities are often thought of within the framing of, “Is it worth the money, time, and effort?” That question is raised quite often during the holiday season, when both spending and the pressure to make lasting memories are at an all-time high. After the opening weekend of the highly anticipated JINGLE! in O’Fallon, Missouri, spurred widespread negative responses, SLM’s Ryan Krull dug into the reason this event looked so different than its Kansas City predecessor.
By the time my family and I attended JINGLE! this weekend, it seemed like the major opening weekend hiccups had been smoothed out. Although the festival is still a pricier ticket for the holiday season, starting at $26, the core attractions—twinkling light displays, snow-tubing, ice-skating, and Santa visits—deliver the kind of festive fun you’d expect from a winter wonderland plopped in the middle of CarShield Field: cheerful, charming—even delightful—but not exactly the North Pole.
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Know before you go:
- During the dry day we attended, the slick spots that drew complaints opening night weren’t an issue. But if you’re visiting after snow or rain, you might want to tread carefully on the plastic field cover, as it could turn into a sleigh ride you didn’t sign up for.
- Improved signage made navigating the stroller-friendly event clearer than the weekend prior, but staff still seemed fairly disorganized and confused about a variety of details, mainly to do with VIP access.
- The lines remain long at JINGLE!, which makes the fast-pass access attached to the eye-poppingly priced VIP tickets ($99 for kids and $109 for adults) almost a necessity if you or your children get Grinch-y with substantial wait times.
- Both the Santa and Mrs. Claus experiences were a pleasure. They took their time with each child in a way that any parent who has experience a rushed A Christmas Story-style visit can appreciate.
- The snow-tubing hills are exhilarating but steep, and the ice-skating trail zips along at a brisk pace—so hang tight if you’re not exactly Rockefeller-ready.
- The entertainment, particularly the dueling pianos, added a nice touch, and the shopping, food and drink, and fire-pit options offered areas for crowds looking for a spirited spot to relax and huddle.
Overall, we had a blast because holiday festivals are a joy, lights display always make us jolly, and we didn’t feel unsafe in any way. That said, this event comes with a hefty price tag, some organizational lumps of coal, and a potential weather-dependent wobble. So, bundle up and jingle at your own risk!
